A week`s journey by bike towards           Birmingham 2021

Cycling to Leamington Spa mainly by canal towpaths... June 2021....... David Johnson

I wanted to cycle towards Birmingham mainly by canal towpath from Southampton. I had to cycle to Hook near Basingstoke by road, to begin with.

 

I had to take the Red Funnel ferry from East Cowes to Southampton, then I tried to follow the cycle route 24 towards Hook. I got hopelessly lost with the signs but headed north towards Winchester. Later headed towards New Alresford, then Preston Candover, and into Hook.

 

The Innkeepers Lodge

I stayed at the Wight Hart Hotel that had another name the Innkeepers Lodge. I was allowed to keep the bike inside my room. The distance from Southampton to Hook was 50 miles so I was quite pleased to get to the hotel.

                      King John probably left from this castle to sign Magna Carta

 

On day 2 in the morning cycled to Greywell and onto the Basingstoke Canal. I looked at the Greywell Tunnel and then King John`s Castle. I then cycled along the towpath for over 30 miles. The towpath was firm and dry, but narrow in places with vegetation making the towpath narrow. Arrived at the junction with the River Wey near Weybridge. Cycled into the town and stayed at the Oakland Chaser Hotel.

 

 

                                The John Pinkerton2 Used to take guests for trips on the

 

                                                         Basingstoke Canal

 

 

Wasn`t allowed to keep the bike in my room, but it went into the hotel`s spare room. In the morning discovered I had a puncture. Replaced the innertube outside then tried to leave. The tyre soon deflated so I took it to a bike shop and they repaired the puncture.

 

Cycled towards Brentford. First took the route along River Wey towpath, then the River Thames` path, and on reaching Brentford the Grand Union Canal towpath and headed towards Uxbridge. Just past Uxbridge at Denham booked into the Falconer hotel and had a meal.

Stayed at the hotel all day as the weather forecast was poor and the rain was continuous. The proprietor allowed another night for half price. Stayed on and watched tennis and England and Scotland play.

 

The next day set off from the hotel at 9.30am and got onto the towpath and travelled north. It was cloudy and threatening rain but stayed dry. In places, the towpath was wet and muddy and a bit slippery in places. The weight of the rain the day before had caused branches to break and block the towpath. One trouble with an electric bike is the weight, especially with panniers on the back. To get around obstructions the panniers had to be removed to lighten the bike. People on the towpath are generally friendly and always ready to help.

 

Duck Dodger was my son`s boat. After asking me to take her to Birmingham

 

she sank in a lock and had to be refloated by the Trust

Came to the Aylesbury branch of the Grand Union and found myself on the wrong towpath and had to go back. Passed Slapton, Leighton Buzzard, Stoke Hammond and stopped at Fenny Stratford just before Milton Keynes. Stayed at the Peartree lodge hotel for the night.

 

On Sunday left the hotel in the morning and carried on north along the towpath. Near towns, the towpath was very good but not so good in the wilderness which made riding difficult at times. In fact, went along the road for long periods. Finished up in Leamington Spa and stayed at the Premier Inn for the night.

 

The canal at Leamington Spa

On Monday caught a train back to Southampton with the bike after 6 days of riding and one day of rain. It only took two and a half hours by train. I then caught the ferry back to the Isle of Wight. 

 The total mileage was about 228. Generally, you can cycle along the towpaths. The Basingstoke Canal towpath was good although overgrown in places. The average speed was about 8mph but where it was very good and wider you could raise your speed. 

 The Grand Union that began at Brentford was good near the towns but narrow and slippery in the country. I had to push the bike sometimes. I nearly fell in once or twice but survived. People were generally friendly and helpful but often people with earphones on didn`t hear the bell and jumped when you got close and had to utter `Excuse me`

                             

                            The End