Sharpness and Kennet & Avon Canals

The ‘Big Hitters’ Conquer the Sharpness and Kennet & Avon Canals

In June 2005 Ev and I headed out to explore the route of the Sharpness Canal by mountain bike.
After a train journey to Gloucester on Monday afternoon 6th June, the first night was spent at digs and exploring the town before the magnificent two headed south.

Gloucester to Bristol

Gloucester Docks awaited us the next day, with a sunny 70 degrees all the way to Bristol.

Sharpness Canal viewed North & South.
	Left: Saul Junction where the Stroudwater Canal entrance once was on the right. It then went on to join with the Cotswolds Canal, and will again in the future as it is under restoration. The Sharpness Canal is 15 miles long and so a large part of the Sustrans route to Bristol is by way of “C” roads with occasional rights of way granted by land owners./td>
We “iggy wigged” our way to the bridge over the Avon and with a slow gradual ascent we rode to the top and stopped 200ft above the Avon.

M5 Bridge over the River Avon

Along the South side of the River Avon path.

A climb of about a mile took us up the 300 feet to the top of the Avon Gorge and our digs in Clifton, Bristol. During this ascent a refusal of Paul’s granny ring to engage thrust whilst on a technical bit of the climb resulted in a little bit of walking. (A welcomed “chain suck” I can tell you! - Paul) Of course the other “Big Hitter” went steaming off again likea lunatic. The tradition cannot be broken - every K & A is the same: “They all go steaming off like a bunch of lunatics.” 50 miles under our belts and a well earned rest, wash and brush up and a pint in the Smiles Brewery pub down the road from our digs. The bikes were tucked up for the night in the hotel’s conference room out of the way.

Bristol to Devizes
We awoke to an “all you can eat type breakfast,” and unusually we ate responsibly! Another sunny day with promises of 70 degrees - lush! We retraced our steps and dropped back down to the River Avon using the same trail we ascended the afternoon before to take us under one of Brunel’s masterpieces: The Clifton Suspension Bridge. Ev commented that it had taken us 45 minutes to climb and only 7 minutes to descend. That might have been something to do with my having to read the map “on the fly” and missing a turning which lead us on a less-than-straight route.

Our route took us along the Avon past Brunel’s steamship *SS Great Britain* through the docks and past the last working steam crane in the country.
I had decided that this time the conditions were good for riding the River Avon path rather than taking the first section of the Bristol to Bath Sustrans path. So we cycled our way along the river - a bit bumpy, but nothing to the “Big Hitters."
	Across the sunny fields and then a small ascent followed by one stile found us outside the preserved Avon Valley Steam Railway at Bitton.
We picked up the Sustrans path to Bath here and also picked up the pace. In no time at all we reached Bath and were heading up the minor climbs by the locks of the Kennet & Avon Canal in Bath on our way to Bradford upon Avon for lunch. With a screech of brakes we skidded to a halt in a cloud of tow path dust when we saw that the Claverton Pumping station museum was open.
	Claverton was built by John Rennie at the same time as the canal to supply and cure this troublesome leaky 13 mile section of the water. A 25ft dia water wheel turning at 5rpm pumps 100,000 gallons of water from the River Avon up 50ft to the level of the canal - all this with only the river’s water providing the pumping power - eco friendly or what?! On to Bradford upon Avon suitably impressed by our forefathers and sadly lamenting about the demise of Britain’s industrial might and all that put the “Great” in Great Britain.

The “Big Hitters” were once again on schedule and despite the 40 minute stop at Claverton were still rolled into Bradford on Avon at the scheduled 1pm. A leisurely luncheon was enjoyed by the canal at “The Barge Inn.”
After lunch we hurtled along the path at “Big Hitter” speed getting closer and closer to the climb at Caen Hill Flight...where “certain-members-of- the-Clarencourt-who-are-never-known-to-complain” about the 28 or so locks they have to climb along side right at the end of the ride!

	The “Big Hitters" soon arrived in Devizes town. The town was sunny and warm. After a quick wash and brush up we were headed for another one of our favourite hostelries: “The British Lion.”

Devizes to Newbury
The next day we were off again onto the “technical bit” - the grassy bumpy bit, which can give “certain-members-of-the-Clarencourt- who-are-never-known-to-complain” a little trouble for the 18 miles to Bruce tunnel. We steamed along once again at “Big Hitter” pace to Honey Street, but alas Ev lamented: “not as fast as the time he and Paul Martin did it.” Some people are never happy!
	Honey Street and beyond are some of the most peaceful and beautiful stretches of the K&A to be found, and with the exception of the odd moored boat with their owners mooching about we never saw anyone for miles. Luvverly! At Bruce Tunnel we climbed up and under the GWR line. On top we spotted a photographer by the line. Ev enquired as to what was due to come through? For those of you not in the railway (Anorak) know this means: “What special train is coming?” To our delight, or mine, as Ev’s into those dirty Diesel boxy things, the photographer was expecting a steam locomotive to come thundering past. Our hearts rose and then dropped a little knowing that our pal in the Clarencourt Dr Ayliffe was not along to enjoy it. You may not know Mick is a life long lover of all things steam.

So as not to disappoint him here is a larger size picture of “GWR King Class locomotive” “King Edward I” thundering past Crofton at around 75mph. After our thrilling experience and Ev’s conversation with a fellow motor biker regarding bikes, leather etc, we headed on our way to lunch at “The Three Tuns” at Great Bedwyn.
	We passed the Crofton steam pumping engines, the oldest working steam engines in the world. The two engines were built in the 1700’s to pump water from a nearby storage reservoir into the canal’s summit level one mile to the west. With the exception of twenty years of inactivity during the late early 60’s and 70’s, these engines have been operational at all times and were running at the time of the Napoleonic War. Both engines are in steam on the Bank Holidays each year. The rest of the time electric pumps provide the water to the summit lock.
The Three Tuns at Great Bedwyn is run by an ex Royal Navy officer and his good lady wife. The pub is hard to beat, for the retired officer was a Royal Navy Chef. The fare here is always varied and of excellent quality. Along with the friendly atmosphere it also comes with a nice Doggy who lives there too. The Doggy comes highly recommended by Dr Ayliffe on his last visit with us. But I couldn’t eat a whole one myself personally! It was a little cloudy when we left Great Bedwyn; however, still no problem for the “Big Hitters” as they rolled along at their usual rapid pace. For the dynamic duo had ridden this route in extreme heat, torrential rain, plagues of flies and even floods in the past.

For our last night, the usual visit, to the Hogshead pub down by the river. One pint there, and with our noses turned up as disgusted CAMRA members, we decided that the establishment had not improved since our last visit and strode our way out.	Within an hour we had reached our next objective: Newbury and our final hotel layover on the trip. I was recognised by the landlord running “The Beacon Arms Hotel” who informed me that: “It’s Room 5, you remember where that is?”
Ev spies a potential hostelry, and with a casual glance in the window as we walk past, all looks lush and we spend a little time sampling their fine ale. The Catherine Wheel has been officially recognised by “The K & A Big Hitters Club.” The night is rounded off at our one of our usual Curry Houses (not the one with the nice beer glasses PM!)

Newbury to Reading
	The next morning the weather was still hot although skies were overcast. I commented to Ev that it had been a welcome change to spend an evening in Newbury when it wasn’t raining. In my case it seems every time I visit the town the weather’s bad. We slipped back onto the tow path heading east towards Reading. There is a minor rough patch between Newbury and Thatcham for around three miles, but after this the path is relatively smooth all the way.

We past through Woolhampton, then on to Aldermaston Wharf
	Past Theale, at Sheffield Lock. Theale in the old days was a Sunday stopping point for the club’s Bourton on the Water weekends.
	A couple of miles further and we’re rolling into the outskirts of Reading passing right through the middle of town alongside the canal, which has recently seen an upturn in its fortunes due to the redevelopment of the city centre. It is now promoted as part of the waterside entertainment scene with restaurants, cinemas and other various fine establishments.
	Finally we reached the end of our trip along the canal with Blakes Lock, the final lock before the water drops down to the level of the Thames into which it flows. The end of four days good riding, good food, good beer and good company. Viva the K & A, until next time! Paul White

“The Big Hitters”