09:10:44
The rather inauspicious start to today's walk, at the bus stop for the Oxford Tube service next to Junction 6 of the M40. Look at the time though! Impressively early start for me.09:13:04
Back along the little country lane which connects Lewknor to the Ridgeway.09:15:29
Nice sky for the first little bit of today's walk.09:15:54
09:18:34
09:24:01
Back on the Ridgeway now.09:31:34
A fallen tree.09:46:35
09:51:16
Snowdrops.09:59:03
10:23:43
Here the (modern) Ridgeway and the (ancient) Icknield Way follow the same route.10:24:04
10:28:12
10:30:15
More snowdrops.10:33:14
It was here that I decided to part ways with the Ridgeway and go my own way to follow more closely the way the Icknield Way goes (a lot of "way" in that sentence!).10:38:48
Britwell Salome House.
10:44:15
10:53:33
10:56:52
Following the Swan's Way over Ewelme Downs, which looked a bit more interesting on the map, but turned out to be very agricultural.11:19:51
Passed through a farm.
11:24:58
11:34:08
11:36:33
Walked beside this very interesting junk yard.11:37:34
11:38:23
Passed through a field of cows.11:44:12
More snowdrops.11:53:49
As I approached the Icknield Way proper the weather also started to improve, and even these sections along country lanes were mae quite pleasant.11:59:34
Took this for Erika who recently has been playing a game at home where she pretends she is running a "pet hotel".
12:03:58
So this is on the Icknield Way proper now. Although this is technically a road, the couple of cars I met were going along at a snail's pace given the condition of the road surface, and it actually made for very pleasant walking.12:05:29
More of these berries - what are they?12:09:43
Here the Icknield Way crosses over the Ridgeway, but I was unswayed, and decided to stick to my chosen alternative route.12:10:13
12:10:47
12:13:09
I was quite enjoying myself at this bit, as hopefully this slightly moronic selfie attests.12:14:25
12:16:30
12:19:05
Looking back along the road I had followed here. From here on the Icknield Way left the road and crossed over fields.12:20:22
I deicded somewhere along here would make a pleasant spot to stop and eat my lunch.12:22:49
So I sat on this grassy bank and ate a sandwich.12:23:02
12:30:57
Continuing along the Icknield Way through these fields now.12:42:00
12:42:04
12:44:20
Odd place for a clump of snowdrops.
12:46:35
What's this flower?12:48:10
A section where the Icknield Way seems to go between very high hedges. Felt a bit out of character for a route traditionally used for droving livestock.12:49:20
12:50:57
12:52:28
A memorial by the path.12:53:09
I liked the silhouette of the branches here.12:57:48
The was to be the last section of footpath on today's walk.13:00:39
13:10:27
13:13:40
13:19:38
From here on I would be following the road the rest of the way to Goring.13:21:01
It wasn't a wholly unpleasant road though.
13:22:40
I think this spot is called Catsbrain Hill (?!). Nice sense of open space here.13:24:00
13:27:32
13:28:36
Views to the Wessex Downs in the distance I think?
13:32:18
Another red kite?13:32:41
13:33:00
This water butt or whatever it was looked oddly picturesque.13:33:05
Beginning the descent int Goring now.
13:35:23
The edge of Goring.13:41:26
Nice to see the Icknield theme continuing.13:42:20
13:44:56
14:02:39
Ended today's walk at the wonderful John Barleycorn.14:04:45
...which I'm pleased to report is still largely unchanged from how it was when I first came here about 20 years ago.14:06:59
14:08:12
Lovely.
14:47:50
The former Thames Trains (now part of GWR) seem to have been tarted up a bit since I lived in the area!14:51:08
Passing through Pangbourne on the train from Goring.19:41:12
Later on, back in London, took Erika out for a hot chocolate after dinner.