What a difference a day makes. After yesterday's wind and rain today was a total change with sunshine for the final leg of the walk.
Leaving Wendover, the path was flat at first but then started steadily climbing. We got slightly delayed at a farm as some sheep were being moved into a field across the path. I couldn't help smiling as one sheep had other ideas about where it wanted to go. Then it was a case of carrying on climbing up through the woods to the top of the ridge. The path was level(ish!) for a while but then it inevitably started descending. Then it did a strange thing .. The signs pointed down into a large ditch running up the hillside and then up the centre of the ditch. We took the easier option of the path running along the top of the ditch.
Some level walking across fields and through a small village and then we were entering Tring Park. This was where we had arranged to meet my sister, her husband and my brother. My sister brought along some lunch for us and we had a nice break looking out over the park and Tring beyond. Then we set off again and the three of them walked with us until we reached the edge of the park. They had already said they would meet us at the end of the Ridgeway so we agreed a rough time when we thought we would arrive.
Some downhill walking and level paths brought us to Tring Station and then we inevitably started to climb again, this time in an area called Aldbury Nowers. The path steadily climbed up and I recognised the paths where I had run last October when taking part in the Tring Ridgeway 10ml run. The path eventually levelled out for a while but then as you may guess, we were soon climbing up again.
At the top of the path we were walking on a grassy ridge. We were now getting glimpses of our final destination but before we would reach it the path had two stings in its tail which we had to negotiate. The first was after we descended off the grassy ridge and crossed a minor road. We were by now heading for Inchcombe Hole, a steep-sided valley which the path winds around the end of. At the top we looked back to see the line of hills we had negotiated during today's walk.
We made our way over the top of the hill above Inchcombe Hole and met up with my sister and brother-in-law. Then it was time for the final section. A short steep descent brought us to a minor road where my sister had seen a sign saying "Overton Hill 87 miles". She took some photos then we crossed over and started the very steep climb up onto Ivinghoe Beacon itself. My BIL walked ahead and took some more photos of us climbing up the last few yards (at a very slow speed it has to be said!). We were both getting very tired by now and our legs and feet were sore.
And then - we were there. We came over the final small ridge and found the trig point marking the end of the path. Some more photos to record the event and time to celebrate finishing. Unfortunately the car park at Ivinghoe is some way from the finish so we hadn't quite done our walking for the day. We went back to my sister's afterwards and she produced a bottle of bubbly to celebrate our achievement (and took a few more photos!). My mum and brother had driven up to meet us and congratulate us and afterwards my BIL drive us to the hotel in Aylesbury where we are staying tonight.
Back home tomorrow and I will try and write down some final thoughts. But one final fact before I sign off. On a clear day, from the top of Ivinghoe Beacon, if you look in the right direction, you can STILL see Didcot b****y power station!!! :-)
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