La Revista’s intrepid explorer’s latest adventure takes him on a challenging nine-day journey by kayak and an intimate encounter with history and nature.

In May, I set out to complete a journey I had long dreamed of, the full descent of the River Thames, from source to sea. Alongside my steadfast companion, Albert Bosch, we armed ourselves with two sturdy sea kayaks and set out to paddle over 360 kilometres, from the river’s humble source in the Cotswolds to its wide, restless estuary in the North Sea. It took us nine days to stitch together the winding course of Britain’s second-longest river—a voyage equal parts physical test, historical immersion, and communion with nature.

There are few experiences more rewarding than seeing a city—or an entire country— through its rivers. From the water, landscapes transform into stages, and familiar skylines reveal themselves from privileged and unexpected angles. In the case of London, the Thames offers one of the most spectacular river perspectives in the world: Parliament and Big Ben reflected in the tide, the London Eye turning slowly in the distance, Tower Bridge rising like a medieval gate to the future.

But before London, there is the long, quiet beginning...

Read the full details of Pepe's Thames adventure in edition 267 of La Revista
Receive every printed edition of La Revista to your home by becoming a BritishSpanish Society member.

Note on the author:

Pepé Ivars is an intrepid explorer and Trustee of the BritishSpanish Society. He lives in Windsor with his wife and dog. If you want more information about this or any other adventures, contact him on: joseivars@britishspanishsociety.org