Tag Archives: Test walk

Test 02: 20 Feb 2016; Amersham to Wendover walk

Test 02: 20 Feb 2016; Amersham to Wendover walk
Walk descriptor Test Day 02
Date Sat 20 Feb 2016 Start to end time 05h 33m
Start point Amersham End point Wendover
Miles today 13.54 Cu miles 30.40
Ft today  1,099 Cu ft  2,797
Route miles left 0.00 Route ft left  0
Today’s weather Heavy cloud, rain most of the way, strong westerly wind, appx 9C
Photo 20-02-2016, 16 59 32 Photo 20-02-2016, 16 59 11
Today’s location
(the red cross in a circle shows where I am at the moment)
GPX based track of today’s walk
(click button to download file) GPX
Commentary

Today was the last chance to stretch the legs and test out kit before setting off on the Pennine Way next Monday.   Although it wasn’t a complete test as waterproofs and boots were left at home, as they are already packed for departure.   This wasn’t a brilliant idea as training shoes and non-waterproof jacket proved to be unideal for today’s outing, which enjoyed constant rain, endless thick mud and strong wind.

The walk from Amersham to Wendover via the Lee and Wendover Woods is a bit of a favourite as it’s possible to set off straight from home, have a cup of tea in a strategically located cafe midway, and then get the train back home again at the end.   So despite the rain, it was an enjoyable walk, with new things to see (or old things never before noticed), like the strange wooden graves, known apparently as “Hertfordshire bedsteads”, at the Lee old church, and a well preserved section of Grim’s Ditch, near Kingsash.

Even though the daylight hours were shortened by the rain and cloud, there were still people around in Wendover Woods – evidently enough to make it worth keeping the cafe open.   The cafe itself was a welcome shelter from the rain but was running low on essentials like millionaire’s shortbread.   However, a lurid pink cake, which tasted of food colouring and sugar, was left and provided much needed (well probably not) calories and was palatable when accompanied by a few cups of tea.

After the brief refreshment stop, we headed off downhill to Wendover and the train home.  It’s normally good to end a walk with a long downhill section, but today it was unexpectedly hazardous.   The rain, combined with the thick chalky mud on the downward slope had converted the path into a greasy mudbath which was about as grippy as a ski slope.

Despite the challenges, the walk was successfully completed and the final link in the PW preparation is complete.

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)
image image
A bit like being Atlas but with mud.   And feet rather than shoulders Chesham Model Flying Club airstrip.   Shortly to become “London (Bucks)” airport, no doubt
image image
Hawthorn coming into leaf.  You can eat the shoots but even Waitrose hasn’t diversified into hawthorn salad (yet) Curious wooden graves at The Lee old church.  Date to the 1860s
image image
Mmmm.. Essential healthy snack at Wendover Woods cafe
image
The Lee.   Complete with village pub, green and rain.  Very British
The previous day’s blog follows below the blue line

Test 01: 13 Feb 2016; Ashridge boundary walk

Test 01: 13 Feb 2016; Ashridge boundary walk
Walk descriptor Test Day 01
Date Sat 13 Feb 2016 Start to end time 06h 24m
Start point Bridgewater mon. End point Bridgewater mon.
Miles today 16.86 Cu miles 16.86
Ft today  1,698 Cu ft  1,698
Route miles left 0.00 Route ft left  0
Today’s weather Overcast, light rain all day, light W wind, gale on Ivinghoe Beacon.  Appx 2C
Photo 13-02-2016, 21 56 10 Photo 13-02-2016, 17 12 17
Today’s location
(the red cross in a circle shows where I am at the moment)
GPX based track of today’s walk
(click button to download file) GPX
Commentary

It’s always a bit hazardous trying to create a sequel, but this is exactly what this is.

I haven’t really had the time or felt the inclination to start blogging again, since my “LEJOG” hike finished in June 2014.   But after a gap of a couple of years, maybe it’s worth starting again, so here goes.

I’m going to be walking the Pennine Way in a week’s time, so today was just about the last chance to stretch the legs and test out the waterproofs.

And what better way than the Ashridge boundary walk?   It’s a decent-sized circular hike close to where we live, so it was possible to complete it without having to get up at ridiculous-o’clock in the morning, and still finish before the creeping winter gloom turned into night.

In fact, the depressing weather forecast had put most people off, so we had most of the route to ourselves today.   But although it was a bit dull, damp and cool, the weather wasn’t bad at all.   The route was muddy in parts but that just about goes with the territory in this part of the world and at this time of year, and it wasn’t unmanageable.

Although I have walked in the Ashridge estate hundreds of times in the past, this walk still managed to cover a lot of new territory.   The highlight for me of any trip to the estate is always the wind blasted ascent of Ivinghoe Beacon, and today was no exception. A brilliant cobweb-removing experience.

Along the route, we came across a million (approximately) trees in all states of repair and disrepair – laurels and cherry coming into flower, fallen beeches brought down by lightning and old age, and even a couple of blackthorns bursting into leaf.

Perhaps because of the absence of hikers and their attendant dogs today, deer and other wildlife seemed to be in abundance. We saw three or four herds of the ubiquitous muntjac, and even a light coloured spotty thing which I think was a fallow deer.

We finished this excellent excursion at just after 5pm, as darkness was rapidly falling, with the only disappointment of the day being the early closure of the café at the end.

Perhaps just time for one more hike before the big day on 22 February?

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)
IMG_9437 IMG_9446
Bridgewater monument (think “father of inland navigation“) at start and end of walk Looking a bit damp
IMG_9464 IMG_9480
First signs of spring Summit of Ivinghoe Beacon – seven counties supposedly visible from here, but not today
IMG_9515a IMG_9494
Tree destroyed by massive lightning bolt.   Feels like the carboniferous era Ancient beech hedge, which somebody obviously forgot to prune a couple of centuries ago
IMG_9501a
Not the best camping spot in the world
The previous day’s blog follows below the blue line