IT'S DONE!  WANDLE TRAIL COMPLETED 

The walking group took advantage of a day of fine weather to complete its walk of the Wandle Trail. Having covered the southern half last month, it tackled the northern stretch from Wandsworth to Mitcham on Tuesday February 18.

Near journey's end: Messrs Lee, Watkins, Mouat, Evans and Jones put their feet up at Riverside pub

The five walkers began at the point where the Wandle flows into the Thames, then headed south-east in the direction of Croydon. The grimy urban landscape around Wandsworth gradually gave way to parkland and water meadows. The recent flooding had rendered some sections soft and muddy but in general the going was firm underfoot. The Wandle itself was still high in places and crashed noisily over a series of weirs. Birdlife sightings included a heron and a cormorant.

Journey's start: four of the walkers at the mouth of the Wandle (Thames behind)

Lunch was taken at the riverside William Morris pub at Merton Abbey, where ever-loyal social member Ted Mouat joined walkers Dick Jones, Trevor Watkins, Roger Lee, Jon Evans and Peter Gillman. After lunch some of the group peeled off to take the tram back to Croydon, while Dick and Peter completed the walk to Mitcham – thus linking with the route from there to Croydon covered the previous month.

Mid-section of the walk, approaching Merton Abbey Mills

Fact: the Wandle Trail is 14 miles long.

Fact: this was the choir walking group's twelfth outing.

Jon's shot of walkers at Merton Abbey Mills

Four more photos by Trevor Watkins:

Walkers impressively cheerful with 4-plus miles to go

The team ponders the route somewhere in Tooting

....or are we in Colliers Wood?

On the home stretch (we hope)