A few reflections from today. The days start to blur into each other: up early, hearty breakfast, pack the bags, load the furgoneta (now working seamlessly for 5 days running!), rush to the meeting point, first steps, get into the rhythm, talk about local struggles and global challenges, lunch, photos, wave our flags, speeches, samba, …
We arrived in Coventry on a local road accompanied by a veteran Californian hippy. We crossed the city at the head of about one hundred activists with a samba band and elaborate Alice in Wonderland costumes (from XR Coventry´s Panto to Save the Planet). A morning celebration to welcome the March was held in the …
Having covered a third of our route, we were surprised that it hadn’t rained for a week. So much for the perennial cliché of non-stop British rain as people were walking around Coventry in T-shirts. The outdoor seating areas of cafes and restaurants were overflowing on Saturday. The marchers received a lot of attention with …
Our day in Oxford began in much the same as yesterday’s arrival in this prestigious university city. Climate activists saw us off with placards and banners to the rhythm of a joyful and loud samba band. To the sound of drums, we ventured into the green and damp English countryside to reach our next meeting …
For the last 15 km of our long 42-km day we walked along the Thames path: a well preserved area with the idyllic views of small boats moored on the banks of the river and groups of young people rowing. On entering the city, we were met by a large group of people with banners …
A very enjoyable day in which Carlos Buj was in charge of leading the group, equipped with three 1:25,000 maps as we didn’t have a local guide. Today we used pathways, footpaths, bridleways, and many other ways that are totally alien to the Spanish walkers, to avoid the busy roads. After walking 20 km we …
Day 5 (part 1/2): Leckhampstead – Abingdon – Oxford Read More »
Nicky’s notes show the amount of coordination and logistics required to make everything come together. At the end of the day, when we’re all exhausted, there are often misunderstandings and sometimes total confusion, but we’ve accepted it as an inevitable component of the march. Today we’re setting out from a ‘crossroads’ to ‘the middle of …
An exhilarating day! Before leaving Southampton, we visited a plaque commemorating the arrival of the Habana, which, in 1937 brought some 4,000 Spanish children to the, following the destruction of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. Luis Alejos, one of the ‘marchistas’ gave a moving speech. His mother was one of the 4,000 refugees aboard …
On Tuesday we got up in the early hours to reach Bilbao for midday and meet members of Extinction Rebellion and Ekologistak Martxan, as well as reporters from various media channels, for our leaving ceremony. Following lengthy negotiations we had got permission to hold it at the heart of the city in the emblematic Plaza …
