"Ok, first time blogger here. My name is Steph Wehowski. For me this walk is an 'offering'. An offering to the land and landscape that we inhabit. And that in way of nurturing us - physically, emotionally and spiritually - makes us.
I live in London and have been living there for over ten years. I am originally from Germany and I am planning to do a similar journey in the place that I grew up (Lubeck, Germany) later this year. There has been a strong feeling for me recently that a cycle in my life is coming to a end. The cylce that is connected with London. So it feels right to do something ceremonial as a closure. The intention is to honour the place where I have lived for what it has given me.
Walking is a great passion of mine. The rhythm of the steps and paces puts me in a nearly trance like state - especially on long distances. Rivers are like life lines of a country. The first explorations went out on along rivers. Trading routes makes their way along them. Stories travelled along the water.
With walking from source to mouth we follow the birthing process - and end up at the return to the sea."
"My name is Mafe Valen. I have been living in London on and off since 1998, when I moved to England from my native Spain. I have always had a very strong connection with the river in the place where I grew up, spending many good, sad and challenging moments by its side and also travelling along it.
"My name is Mafe Valen. I have been living in London on and off since 1998, when I moved to England from my native Spain. I have always had a very strong connection with the river in the place where I grew up, spending many good, sad and challenging moments by its side and also travelling along it.
I just moved out of London, I think this time for good. When my beloved friend Steph told me and invited me to be part of her journey I immediately knew I wanted to be part of it. Like her, I feel that it is a good way to close a circle but mostly it was the travelling from birth to the sea (and, coincidently?, leaving around the time of my 38th birthday), what appealed to me the most. The reasons for this I can´t quite address yet.
Along this, there is an urge for me to return to myself after almost 4 years of dedicated motherhood. Particularly unfit right now I hope I can get the therapeutic benefits of walking at some point after the first few days, and even fit in some drawing along the way.
Lastly, I really want to thank my wonderful husband Deveril and daughter Orietta for fully supporting me on this enterprise."
