Jerome had to pull out as walk leader due to illness and a problem on the West Coast Main Line meant that some people were stranded at Euston and Milton Keynes and were unable to join the walk. So not the most auspicious of starts. Nevertheless, 10 walkers from BBN and London Groups were able to get to Ridgmont for Part 2 of the Second Pilgrims Progress. A special welcome to Sophie on her inaugural walk with the group.

 

As we left Ridgmont Station, the sky was grey and overcast and it wasn’t long before the rain started. Our route towards Ridgmont soon joined the Greensands Ridge Way and for those familiar with this route will know the derelict church at Segenhoe where we paused for our group photo. Tea break was at the cricket pavilion in Eversholt which offered some protection from the drizzle. From Eversholt we were soon in the grounds of the Woburn Abbey estate. We passed one particularly tame deer who seemed quite happy for us to pass within a few feet of it (despite the presence of Alfie the dog). The sun came out as we reached Woburn Village and we had intermittent showers and sunny spells for the rest of the walk. We continued along the Greensand Ridge Way over the busy A5 and into Stockgrove Country Park. Lunch as taken at the café during one of the sunny interludes. Not far to go now. We left the park and headed down to the canal and Leighton Buzzard was just 2 miles away. When we got back to Leighton Buzzard station, the trains were running normally again and the walkers were able to complete their respective journeys home without further incident.

 

Looking forward to Part 3!