Following the announcement and notes in DCA Bulletins 110 and 111, Peter Glover, Talbot Kirk (now aged 84), my Grandson and myself, with Peter Baxter in support, followed “London's Lost Route to the Sea” (Weybridge to Littlehampton) last July.

It was not easy and we did not achieve all that we hoped. The weight of our available boats, the unsuitability of our portage trolleys and, most of all, the low Summer water levels were against us, but at least we did substantially narrow the gap left by the last known attempt, that by Jack de Manio in 1967. Jack is understood to have hauled out at Stonebridge and re-launched at Pulborough. We pushed up as far as Bramley, and put in again at Newbridge, clipping many miles off the gap.

Talbot has since back-packed the stretches we had to miss. This means that he has canoed, portaged or back-packed from Bath to Littlehampton since last year.

The local paper carried half a page on our story. Further details will follow when space allows.