Bath – Bulford
I started the day with a cafe breakfast, outside, watching the world go by – bircher, juice and coffee. Once packed, I reversed the end of yesterday’s ride out of the center and was soon onto the two tunnels greenway.
First some round the houses, then soon enough onto an easy going, gentle uphill track. Two tunnels, as promised – the air cool enough to make my breath visible. The second, a mile long – without ventilation along the way. This is fine for a few cyclists, but much have been rough with a steam train. There was just enough light to see, though I added a headtorch. The greenway was well used, by a range of people – and I got a wave from a small child. It made an enjoyable, different start to the day.
Then, onto lanes, past an expensive looking school, and quickly loosing most of the height gained as I arrive at the canal. There were lots of boats being lived in, or stayed on, and a few on the go. A mix of older and bright blue hair types. The towpath was mostly not muddy, but there were a few people about and some belongings surrounding boats so I took it steady, not wanting a swim.
I left the canal at Avoncliff. The clue was in the name really. This was hilariously steep, especially with luggage. I pushed a bit, after having let a car by. It also set the tone for the next section – stabby climbs on roads with gravel down the center, and hedges too high for a view for much of the time. On a more positive note, I did start to yo-yo with a pair of less laden riders going a similar way. I also saw a pair of huge centipedes crossing the road ahead – maybe 20cm long and finger thick – but gone before I got a camera out!
After a short section of busy road the scene changed and I was on the edge of Salisbury Plain and skirting Warminster and it’s military bases. The no-cars tracks round Scratchbury Hill fort were big and concrete. The views views opening up was very welcome. I paused for photos and a bite to eat by the hill, with Skylarks, butterflies and wildflowers making a beautiful scene.
Then down again, the close-up nettles of water lane and onto a good 20km of the benignly rolling lanes of the Wylye valley. Lunch was had at the Ginger Piggery cafe, sat outside with another cyclist for company – he was doing a 100 mile loop covering some of the same ground as me.
Then a busy road to cross and the hills were back. More open farmland rather than hedges though, and a sense of getting closer. A good thing, as I was getting tired by now – a good 70, hill, km in my legs and weirdly humid but not quite hot weather.
There was a group of women out for a ride as I was checking how far it was, then soon I was going through Amesbury, over the A303 on a bridge, a little byway and a short footpath to my bed for the next two nights. This was an AirBnB “shepherd’s hut” – on wheels, with a friendly host, great shower, little kitchen, G&T in the fridge, a raised bed and peacock theme to go with the birds outside. After a wash and change, it turned out the peacocks had chicks and the dog was friendly in a non-demanding way.
I had Chinese takeaway and a beer by my hut for supper as the pub didn’t particularly appeal, but 82.5km and 920m climb in a bit under 7 hours had left me hungry – even though that was a bit less distance than I’d expected.
Between & Beyond 