10:06:21
Shortly after arriving at Princes Risborough. I found this short cut at one end of the station car park which was quite gratifying.10:12:50
For a while at the start of today's walk the Ridgeway followed a road, but it was not unpleasant.10:14:07
10:15:46
10:16:21
Still pleased to see Icknield Way finding its way into modern road names.10:18:35
10:18:55
Left the road here and headed across fields.10:25:10
Saw a lot of these berries today - what are they?
10:25:19
10:26:10
Slightly hair raising crossing over the railway.10:29:20
Nice collection of footpath signs here.10:34:59
10:35:08
Crossing over a road to the foot of Lodge Hill. From here on was one of the nicest stretches of today's walk.10:44:28
The view back down from Lodge Hill. Possibly the nicest spot on today's walk.10:47:06
10:49:17
A nice wooded bit atop Lodge Hill, where I paused for a while to enjoy the sound of the wind whistling through the trees.
10:49:42
10:50:23
More views from Lodge Hill.10:51:46
10:56:35
11:03:45
11:14:52
11:16:58
11:21:55
A smiley tree stump.
11:25:53
The Ridgeway passed some fairly remote dwellings here.11:27:49
Holly.11:34:10
11:37:24
From here on the Ridgeway followed a very long straight track for the remainder of today's walk. It got a tad boring at times to be honest.
11:39:57
Some explanatory signs along the way.11:40:02
...and most pertinently a very useful introduction to red kites.11:40:13
11:43:01
11:46:48
11:56:57
...and indeed as promised by the signs, a little further along the way I was greeted by at least two red kites.11:57:38
I stood and watched them soar for a while. Very majestic.11:57:40
Although as I started to walk off again I had the ever so slightly unnerving feeling that they were following me.
12:03:14
More of the long straight track.12:06:39
I was slightly frustrated that the Ridgeway here appeared to follow a route at the foot of an obvious ridge (part of the Chilterns here). Surely it should have been going along the top of those hills?12:07:38
12:07:51
12:16:28
More den building here.12:22:28
Lichen and mud.12:22:36
12:23:38
Again, a ridge off in the distance which I felt taunted by.
12:25:15
Snowdrops?12:29:56
12:38:29
12:42:34
This hill just before the M40 (yet another Beacon Hill I think) looked particularly tempting, and I almost considered a diversion to take it in. Perhaps I should, it would have been a better end to the walk than Junction 6 of the M40!
12:43:04
Passing under the M40 now.12:43:29
12:43:40
12:46:48
Left the Ridgeway here for today to head into Lewknor.
12:49:52
The little country lane leading to Lewknor. Barely metres away from the M40 and yet this was surprisingly peaceful.12:49:55
12:54:14
Hmmmm.12:56:15
Snowdrops on the way into Lewknor.
12:57:51
A nice cottage in Lewknor.12:58:22
Ye Olde Leathern Bottel, where I stopped for lunch. Not particularly Ye Olde on the inside, unless it was referring to the clientele.13:33:53
You had one job Church Lane. One job.13:34:29
The church to which Chuch Lane does not provide access.
13:38:30
Back under the M40 again.13:39:07
13:51:31
...and now on the Oxford Tube, a coach service between Oxford and London which conveniently stops at Lewknor.13:52:28
Although of course a coach is a bit of a step down in terms of comfort and efficiency compared to a train.
13:56:02
I cannot say I particularly enjoyed the journey.16:22:00
Back in London. After a failed attempt to meet up with Chie and Erika at North Greenwich I went to the Angel in Bermondsey to see if I could catch the sunset.16:22:41
16:26:31
16:26:47
Nice pre-sunset pink clouds.16:30:22
16:33:27
Zoomed in on Tower Bridge.16:47:14
17:08:04
Well, perhaps it wasn't the most dramatic sunset ever, but it was a lovely setting as always.17:08:14
A helicopter?17:08:38
17:10:11
17:13:55
17:24:02
London lighting up.17:30:39
17:36:50
17:38:59
17:39:12
17:41:33
I think I must be heading back at this point.17:41:51
17:41:57