Caesar’s Well Walk

Saturday, 29th - Caesar’s Well-Wilberforce Oak-Darwin’s House Walk- Bill, 86, one of the respected elders of the London Borough of Bromley, offered to take us to Caesar’s Well, 'Wilberforce oak,’ and then direct us to Darwin’s house. This is an excursion to discover the magic behind the Natural water source, the power of the tree spirit, and inspect an influential theory of evolution. A few weeks back doing a Meetup walk on the London Loop, ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Outer_Orbital_Path ,) we came across the amazingly powerful Natural water spring in Keston Park ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keston .)

We learned from a local named Bill that it was named Caesar’s Well, a place where Caesar came to drink; Bill himself has drunk from the spring and people regularly fill up bottles of water to bring home. He’ll share his local knowledge and will lend us maps of the area. Not too far away is the famous 'Wilberforce oak,’ tree under which William Wilberforce made the decision to abolish slavery in England. Interestingly, knowing the influential qualities of the Oak tree on human the psyche, the Romans would gather under wise oak trees remain in equanimity during judicial decisions. We’ll meet Bill, do a short ramble around the three lakes that are filled by the spring, and come to the spring itself and enjoy some of the spring water. I plan to fill up on a few liters to bring home. After we will walk a short accent to 'Wilberforce oak,’ we will head to the home of Darwin--Down House,. ( http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/home-of-charles-darwin-down-house/rock .) Will visit the house,( vegetable gardens and surrounding area before we return to the spring. There is a café there, so I imagine people who do not want to do the tour can have a hot drink in the café. This will be a good point to take a break and refuel. Provided time, we will frock a bit in the woods, dowse the earth energies of the spring and of course forage a few wild edible herbs, berries and mushrooms. If you are a fan of cold water bathing bring your swimming trunks and a towel!

We will be meeting at Charing Cross Station at 9.45 am train departure at 10:17 on platform 1. The travel time is 44 Minutes. We arrive at 11:01 in Hayes (Terminus). You can travel with your Oyster card for 2.30 Pound each way or buy a Day travel card for 8.50 Pound. The visit to Darwin’s house cost 9.50 or 8 Pound if we buy a group ticket discount. The area we will be visiting is: ( http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4SMSN_enNL408NL408&q=Home+of+Charles+Darwin+%28Down+House%29+Luxted+Road%2c+Downe%2c+Kent+-+BR6+7JT .) Keston is a part suburbanpart rural area of the London Borough of Bromley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Borough_of_Bromley). It lies on the edge of Hayes Common (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayes_Common), to the northwest of Greater London's border with Kent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent). The River Ravensbourne (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Ravensbourne) rises at Keston Ponds, at Caesar's Well. The Ravensbourne flows through the London Boroughs of Bromley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bromley), Lewisham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewisham) and Greenwich (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwich). The "London LOOP" walk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Outer_Orbital_Path) passes the ponds on its way from Farnborough to West Wickham.

Bring a flash light, lots of snacks, liquids Containers if you want to fill up at the spring I suggest dressing in layers of all synthetic warm clothing Hat, gloves and an extra warm change of socks in a plastic bag to water proof them Running shoes should be fine for this walk, but expect to hit some patches of mud I always bring an umbrella I make and upcycle gear, so let me know if you need anything. The distance and time will depend on where Bill takes us, but you can anticipate a slow paced meander of 5-6 hours covering about 10 miles with frequent stops at points of interest along the way.

This is the only holiday event planned that costs 5 Pound; I also welcome any further contributions to communicate that you value my approach and want me to organize more events like it in the future.

Phone: 0756.4617311

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Disclaimer: By clicking “Join” on Facebook or Meetup and/or by arriving and participating at the private event you accept the following terms of agreement: the private activity planned over the holiday season are for cultural enrichment only. Prior to, during, and after the event you take full responsibility of your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health and well-being, and you make the organizer fully aware of any major health problems or ailments you have and any medication you are taking. You are not under the influence of any drugs, medication or alcohol. Hiking and swimming can be dangerous; you are aware that participation in this event may lead to physical, emotional, mental and spiritual injury and/or detoxification and healing crisis symptoms that you take full responsibility for and will thereby manage appropriately in the way you so choose. The organizer is not liable in anyway for your well-being.