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All riders arrived at a timely fashion at Reading Station to catch the 13.57 hrs to Bristol on Tuesday 3rd May. Train journey went without major incident and we arrived at our digs in Bristol the night before the ride without any undue hassle.
All riders that evening explored Bristol’s history, including a look at Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s wonderful masterpiece, The Clifton Suspension Bridge.
We explored a few of the many public meeting houses to be found in a town with a history of docks, (slavery, but we won’t mention that) and shipping commerce. Including the birthplace of the SS Great Britain, Brunel’s iron hulled, screw driven steam ship (www.ssgreatbritain.org/)
On a bright, cloudless, but gusty Wednesday, winds from the NE and chilly. We started our ride winding our way through the Bristol Docks and through to the Bristol to Bath Railway Path.
Good surfaces, and we were soon “tapping along” at a comfy 12mph, to warm the legs. Someone called for a “tea stop” after a mere fifty five minutes riding, but the organiser put his foot down and we carried on. If any money was going to be spent on tea it was going to go into the coffers of the Avon Valley Steam Railway a mere two miles on (www.avonvalleyrailway.org/)
With the wind dropping, and the sun more warming, we headed into Bath and onto the entrance climb of the Kennet and Avon Canal. Dundas Aqueduct passed by and then Avoncliff Aqueduct with its historical sag (www.avoncliff.co.uk/history/canal.htm)
With its steep climb under after passing under the aquaduct as the tow path changes banks…
Lunch was at The Barge Inn – sitting out upon the grassing bank of the canal. (Don’t google it there are four Barge Inn’s along the route of the Kennet and Avon Canal. Ride it next time and see what you’re missing.)
The afternoon, thirteen miles to Devizes were at a relaxing twelve mph with time for yours truly to take a few pictures as our big hitters rode towards their digs for the night in Devizes.
Alas as soon as I’d taken a picture, just east of Tewkesbury, my unusually sexy butt wiggling told me that a rear puncture had taken place. Historically I believe I’m cursed, as of all the rides the organiser seems to be the one who’s had the most rear wheel punctures. At least one every ride for the last four years.
The puncture was repaired, in what I can only describe as one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever stopped to change a tube. Whilst the others had ridden on, I just slung the bike over a gate and repaired at my leisure with not a care in the world. Fifteen minutes late Ev arrived on my spot, it appeared someone had noticed I was missing. With puncture repaired, the two seasoned veterans of the ride put the hammer down and “made revolutions for seventeen mph” along the path and soon were back with Messer Kelly and Martin.
The Devizes Caen Hill Flight (www.envf.port.ac.uk/kacanal/html/KAC0043.HTM) some thirty odd locks in a row went without incident and we were soon at The Castle Hotel arguing about who had the choc chip cookies and who had the Viennese fingers with their tea. The usual Public Meeting Houses were visited to help local trades people in this time of recession, and a lovely meal was had at our hotel.
The next day was sunny, less windy and a little more humid. Our ride would take us from Devizes to Newbury. Traditionally this length of tow path, some twenty two miles to Bedwyn, is the roughest over grassland with unmade path. Quite a contrast from the smooth well-made path from Bristol to Devizes. Fortunately since this is now part of a Sustrans’ route it has become progressively easier from the old days ten years ago when we had to “bunny hop” tree routes etc.
Through Honey Street and into the wilderness – as if travelling back through time, as no manmade machines can be heard in this section – so you could be riding in the 1870’s for nothing has changed there.
Pewsey Wharf passed and we began to climb in small increments to the summit at Crofton. Then off the bike and the walk up and over the Bruce Tunnel (www.envf.port.ac.uk/kacanal/html/KAC0035.HTM) The path here is narrow and dips under the main Westbury railway line and the steps cannot be ridden from the west. On dropping off the east side of Bruce Tunnel we rounded the summit area and passed the Crofton Pumping Engine House. The oldest, continuously working steam powered beam engines in the world. (www.croftonbeamengines.org/about.html) We were over the summit of the canal and just over half way along the canal. We began to drop along with the locks to our lunch stop at Great Bedwyn and the Three Tunns Public Meeting House. After a pleasant lunch we continued passing Hungerford,
Kintbury and finally into Newburyto our digs for the night, but not before…
With bikes safely stored in The Beacon Arm’s Hotel’s Bottle store it was off to argue again as to who got what biscuits with their tea before showering the dust off. Again history was observed in Newbury, and some historical Public Meeting Houses were visited before our meal at an excellent Nepalese restaurant was consumed.
The next day, very little wind, warm and sunny. We “tapped off” down Newbury High Street and on the the canal path with Paul M wear his commemorative jersey in memory of a previous ride that ended in a little spill at Reading.
The Swans on the canal were busy munching up bread the locals where tossing in, and everything was right with the world. We passed through Thatcham, Woolhamton and then a tea stop at a charming little cottage at Aldermaston Lock, owned by the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust.
Then on past a place that events in November 2004 would cause a memorable diversion. The Great Western Railway line naturally follows the course of the canal from Pewsey all the way to Reading. On the ride in 2004 we were diverted from the canal onto the A4 road due to a rail crash at Ufton Nervet. (Google it for more)
On across the cow fields and on to Theale lock, with happy memories of the past “Bourton On The Water” training rides always flooding back at the sight of the village name of Theale.
Closer to to Reading we passed under the M4 and found ourselves in a field of Cows. There were calves with them so we took it easy to avoid any unnecessary distress to the animals. They’re bigger than us after all!
Burghfield lock passes and ever closer to Reading and civilisation. The last few miles and we burst into Readings’ town centre and the pace dropped to avoid collisions with the usual people with mobile phones growing out of their ears and no idea of what’s going on around them.
We finished the ride at The Fisherman’s Cottage at Blake’s Lock (The last lock before the Thames) and a pint to celebrate the 106 miles we’ve done from Bristol to Reading.
Isambard White and Ev “the dog” Quistorff
This ride was sponsered by Barley, yeast, hop and water, makers of quality energy drinks.
All of the above was written by Paul White and edited for spelling and possible court action by Ev!
I would like to thank Paul W for organising such a good ride once again which was carried off without a hitch. He even managed to avoid dog poo on his tyre when he punctured!
The pubs were good, the food was good, the weather was good and the path was good too. Let us hope that the Hare and Hounds in Devizes is open next time.