14:00:10
I had decided to economise on weight a bit, so had decanted this bottle of wine before leaving into the wine bag thing I have.14:52:46
Strangely quiet at Euston this afternoon, probably because only one train line was actually running.14:52:57
I thought the unusual quiet merited a video.14:56:49
I treated myself to a First Class ticket, as on this line it's only a few quid more than standard class. It really isn't worth it of course.
15:35:19
Passing Hemel Hempstead.15:45:30
Arrived at Tring. What an evocative name.15:50:50
The first hour and a bit of the walk would actually be following the Ridgeway National Trail, rather than the Icknield Way Path. The route of the Ridgeway conveniently passes by Tring station and starts/ends (depending on which way round you do it) at Ivinghoe Beacon, where the Icknield Way Path also starts/ends.15:57:02
It was actually quite a warm and sunny afternoon, so I appreciated these shady paths on the way to Ivinghoe Beacon.
16:01:51
Glimpses of views out from the woods.16:22:46
You can see Ivinghoe Beacon off in the distance now.16:22:49
Getting closer...16:24:17
Good view of Ivinghoe Beacon here.
16:26:23
Ivinghoe Beacon under the shadow of a cloud here.16:46:19
Part of the way up Ivinghoe Beacon.17:06:58
Made it to the top of Ivinghoe Beacon.17:07:04
17:10:26
The view down from Ivinghoe Beacon.17:10:44
Very happy to be back at Ivinghoe Beacon, windswept as always, a favourite spot of mine.17:12:00
More of the views from Ivinghoe Beacon.17:34:23
Now on the Icknield Way Path!
17:55:40
I rather liked this hillside the path went along for a while.18:03:51
I always assume every bird of prey I see on or near the Chilterns is a Red Kite.18:29:59
A quick pub stop in the Red Lion in Dagnall before the ascent of Whipsnade Hill.19:16:57
Passing Whipsnade Zoo, where I got a glimpse of camels through the fence.
19:21:31
The Icknield Way routes diverge here.19:56:01
Made it to Dunstable Downs in time for this rather nice sunset.19:58:47
Apreciating the sunset at Dunstable Downs.20:04:24
Lovely though the sunset was, my thoughts were now turning to where I was going to spend the night!
20:04:27
Still, lovely sunset.20:04:34
20:07:17
20:07:21
20:07:34
20:11:54
20:16:13
20:27:44
Nice tree here, particularly in this light.
20:32:49
Cool enough now the sun had set to put on a tweed jacket.20:38:47
This is at the Chilterns Gateway Centre, and although not pictured here there were quite a few people around!20:40:00
A beacon.20:40:04
20:41:29
20:51:45
I realised I had probably miscalculated, hoping to find a wild camping spot around this time, as by this point I had reached this fairly popular spot just outside of Dunstable. It was a nice evening and lots of other people were out to watch the sunset.20:53:19
Silhouettes of people standing atop the final hill before Dunstable.20:58:16
21:10:04
I decided I ought to just sit down for a bit, have some wine and make some dinner, and hopefully everyone else would clear off!21:12:03
Me atop a small barrow with a glass of wine.21:59:39
Boiling some water to rehydrate dinner.22:20:02
Tonight's dinner - a Real Turmat red Thai curry. I'm not sure it really tasted like a Thai curry, but whatever it was it was actually quite nice.
23:51:17
Eventually I decided having ran out of better options to just get into the bivvy and try to get some sleep, so here's a slightly ridiculous self portrait of me doing that.00:32:05
Attempted to do a bit of night photography while lying in the bivvy, trying to get some sleep. Not a particularly noteworthy result but gives a bit of a sense of the view I had overnight.