A Xerox Hiking club day walk was scheduled for
Sunday 27th October in the Chilterns, along a small section of the Ridgeway,
one of the oldest 'roads' in Europe, dating from at least the Bronze Age 4,000 years ago.
Today the Ridgeway National Trail is an 85-mile route from Overton Hill near Avebury to
Ivinghoe Beacon, much of it following the ancient chalk ridge route used by prehistoric
man.
Our route was as follows:
Start finish point is the Icknield Way Path car
park at (955,150) on Ordnance Survey map 165. The total distance is 17km. Leaving out the
loop through Aldbury makes this 14km
Start/Finish Car Park 0 0
Ivinghoe Beacon 2.2 2.2
Ivinghoe (PH) 3.8 6
Canal 2.9 8.9
Village Green at Aldbury (PH) 4 12.9
Start/Finish Car Park 4 16.9
We were due to meet up at about 10h30 and though
my radio alarm did go off, I overslept only to wake up suddenly at 09h00, realising I had
to fetch Eva at 9h30, causing me to panic. In the midst of this Eva called me up to
remind me that the clocks were now set back an additional hour, which I had forgotten
about. This relieved the pressure somewhat and I relaxed. I had earlier called Jenny on
her mobile, thinking that I had probably woken her. Gale force winds were predicted for
Sunday. I looked out of the window and it was just that and more. It was positively
howling! Ah, I wasnt going to allow this to intimidate me and I probably needed
something to blow out the cobwebs. As I drove from Welwyn to WGC, the dry yellow autumn
leaves were being blown across the entire road in a wild, demonic frenzy.
Down the M25 and A41, we saw a couple of cars
miss the final turn-off to the car park, just as we had done, the occupants waving
frantically. One of them was Jenny. The crazy bunch who had decided to brave the elements
were John Adams and Louis the border collie, Martin Lighten (Vanda's partner), Lucie
Duverge (I found out later she was French), whom I had not met before, Chris Platten (Mr.
Digicam), Jenny van der Meijden (Mark Hicken was back home engrossed in D.I.Y), Peter
Karran, Eva and I. I donned my sunglasses to protect my eyes from watering, as they
usually do in the fresh morning air. Martin made light of this cool dude look, reminding
me that I was also up to being ribbed, as I may have appeared to have meted out to others
in my Yorkshire Dale write-up. The playing field was levelled and I was considered fair
game, too.
We set off up the hillside, when it
suddenly dawned on me that I knew the territory, in that it joined up with the path from
Ashridge Estate to Ivinghoe Beacon. I had walked this path from Ashridge on anumber of
occasions and cycled it once. How we made it up the hillside to the exposed hilltop of
Ivinghoe Beacon, is beyond imagination. Others were out walking too. The wind struck with
such force that we barely managed to stay on our feet. Games were played out as those,
brave enough to extend their arms and legs, were practically launched into space. Ivinghoe
Beacon hilltop, accustomed to an assortment of radio controlled aircraft, was now witness
to Harry Potter impersonators jumping around like lunatics, hoping a gust of wind would
carry them off into the skies above! As we struggled down the hillside into the fierce
wind, I found my face being stung by what I presumed to be tiny stones or grit. I looked
down only to see small hardened, round droppings on the ground, like tiny pellets and
could only assume the obvious, though I shall never truly know. Talk about the proverbial
sh hitting the fan! |
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We picked up on the road into
Ivinghoe and settled for lunch at the first pub we came across, The Rose and Crown. We no
sooner placed our orders and as luck would have it, the lights went out. The power had
failed as a result of the storm. The pub was plunged into semi-darkness, though the
candles did provide a touch of romanticism to the Sunday afternoons culinary
experience. Nice one, Jenny! The restaurant bravely stuck to a modified list of dishes.
Most settled on bangers and mash. Whether they were in fact attempting to dispose of
surplus food or not, the spread was superb value. The cider was going down well, too.
Would I make it out there for the remainder of the walk? The conversation was pleasant,
with an occasional touch of good humour. As I stated before, I truly enjoy the company of
those in the club. The Moscow hostage drama dominated the list of topical subjects. A gust
of wind caused the front door to slam, smashing the glass pane in the process. That must
have dented their profits for the day. More than satisfied with the meal, we thanked the
proprietors and headed off. Ivinghoe seemed a good place to live, the quaint little
village boasting an attractive historical stone St. Marys church building. |
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We crossed a field with a lone windmill. One
could be forgiven for thinking that one might be in Holland. Did this make Jenny feel
homesick? "No", she replied, "Im off home next week anyway"! We
entered the village of Tring. This was where the party split up. The rest of us continued
down the Union canal. The autumn colours were truly amazing. We stopped for tea. A rainbow
appeared. Peter Karran rushed off suddenly in an attempt to locate Chriss Ordinance
Survey map. A wild goose chase ensued. Chris still had it on him in one of his pockets
where he never thought of looking.
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As dusk approached, the light began
to fade and we re-entered Ashridge Estate. With the last sun bathing the windswept
landscape in warm light, we quickened our pace. We could see the rain moving in rapidly
across the sprawling plains below and we knew we were in for a soaking. Well, we got
what we bargained for. We had been riding our luck all day regarding the weather! It
was approaching 18h00 and turning colder. Suddenly we found ourselves in a downpour for
the last half-hour before reaching the car park at Icknield Way. Eva and I decided to head
off as soon as we could, making the most of the cars heater to stay warm and attempt
to dry off. We drove into WGC near the shopping area so that she could drop off a video.
It was then that we noticed two large uprooted trees in the avenue leading down to Howard
Centre. WGC had been one of the worst hit areas in the UK. Six people in total had died in
accidents in the UK as a result of the storm. Trains were severely disrupted and some
areas were still without power for up to 48 hours later. Yet we had had
tremendous fun all day and regretted not one moment of it. Jenny had done herself
proud yet again! I was a pity that those who had been on the Malham Yorkshire Dales
Hike were not present. I looked forward to meeting up with them again on the
Portland Hike. |
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