How did I sign up for this? (Star Log Vol 2 entry 2)

I don’t know how does “do you want to meet up for coffee?” become “are you fit enough to do a 15-mile walk?” How did I sign up for this…?

Meeting my friend at Waterloo, we took the train to Kingston for a 9am walking route with a group on Meetup. We got there and I noticed someone in running gear at the station. Were we the first ones there or were they? We stood around… waiting… waiting… and waiting… until the person came up to us and asked if we were part of the walking group which I valiantly replied we were (with puffed out chest)! We introduced ourselves but were very quickly joined by the rest of the group. 

So the Fellowship of the Ring’s journey has now begun! We all walked off into pairs. I paired up with a gentleman who happens to live in Croydon (my childhood), we both reminisced about memories we had of the Whitgift shopping centre and shed a few tears (well, the last part didn’t happen) but we quickly came to realise we shared a lot in common such as… gaming! The rest was history! 

We walked about 4 miles without even realising it. It was extraordinarily strange for the both of us as we were of course not accustomed to so much walking but we did it. It all went swimmingly until he had to take a pee in the bushes (we were nowhere near any loos). He came back holding his trousers together and said his top button popped off… classic! If only this was a Carry On film – comedy gold in the making. I lent him my Captain America belt that I only wore as an accessory (don’t judge). He even went so far as to compare my Blu-ray collection to the death of fax machines as thanks for my gesture of goodwill, but he did compliment my Marvel bag, which saved him (kinda).
 
For the most part of the journey, we alternated between the others. I also got chatting with a person who worked in marketing and worked super crazy hours. She travelled the world and we shared common grounds on being Chinese. We talked about the language and culture – the vast difference between the two of us. They mentioned that they lived in London for 10 years but didn’t feel like a Londoner. It’s so weird to think I know nothing of these people a few hours ago but now I know their full life story which I absolutely love (I should do it a bit more). We ended it by her giving me advice not to run my 10k in denim jeans (should we not look good running?).
 
I parted ways from the rest of the group as we were not making a pit stop at Holland Park which was part of the original trail – we were out of time! I headed into the Design Museum and Kyoto Garden. Funnily enough, as I entered Kensington Gardens, I saw someone wave at the corner of my eye… it was my workmate! I greeted her and then the sudden realisation hit me… I walked 15 miles!! I hugged her and went on my merry way smiling at my accomplishment.