Erin Williams

In autumn 2015, my friend Ged and I walked from Cardiff, Wales north to Gloucester, England and then south to the source of the River Thames. From the source, we followed the Thames Path into London, ending at Tower Bridge. We covered about 300 miles. The walk was a wonderful adventure, full of incredible people. It was a big challenge, in part because I have fibromyalgia, or widespread chronic pain. And it was an incredible privilege. I don’t take the privilege part lightly. While I love being outside and believe our bodies are meant for movement, I’m also aware that race, class, gender, and disability, among other factors, often impact accessibility and feelings of comfort in the outdoors, as well as our ability to walk in cities. It’s an issue about which I have much more to learn and one I’m committed to exploring and addressing more deeply.

Ged and I were invited by Hope & Homes for Children and adventurer Alastair Humphreys to speak at the 2016 Night of Adventure in London. We felt like small potatoes when it comes to the adventure community, but it was awesome to share our story in front of a packed auditorium and to encourage people to give slow travel a go.

In April & May of 2018, Ged and I went for another long walk, this time in Scotland. We traveled between the country’s seven cities: Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth, Edinburgh, Stirling, and Glasgow. If you’re considering going for your own slow travel journey, feel free to give me a shout!