A 25-mile walk across 14 London bridges

My dad decided one day that he wanted to walk walk 25 miles in a day. Rather than let him walk loops around his neighbourhood, I suggested something more interesting.

A route around London crossing 14 bridges, judged (on categories we made up while travelling in) and then scored, taking in some of the best of the city. We locked in a date, invited two close family friends, and did it.

What was interesting was how many separate things it collapsed into one day.

A physical challenge: walk 25 miles without stopping and find out how you feel at the end. It is not easy (contrary to my earlier belief), and it is a reminder that the body is a thing to be looked after rather than transported.

Time with family and friends. Nearly twelve hours including stops. That is a long time to spend with the same three people, and you end up in conversations you simply do not have when you meet for an hour.

And a city I thought I knew, seen from fourteen viewpoints I'd never stood at before.

I got into bed that evening feeling as if the day had been properly used. Not just lived. Used.