DAY 2 – Devizes to Reading (65 miles)
Up early, had a shower and took stroll around Devizes before the world was up – Weatherspoons was open from 7 for tea, but most other places were still asleep. I following an old guy who was obviously on his daily walk around the town, not for any weird reason – just to kill some time (!!), then got back for breakfast at 8:30.
Me and GD had pretty much finished brekky when the others came on down, Brendon had apparently slept the moment they got in the previous night, and hadn’t woken until 8:30 – we saw them at 8:37. We left them to it, and after a number of #2’s we were ready to leave. After some confusion with the thickest hotel bod in Devizes -who insisted on shouting your card details down the phone to Mombai – we were ready to go on.
About a third of the trip today was on the canal path, the rest, and most of the first 40 miles was on roads adjacent to the canal. This was a real pleasure instead on rough canal path we had smooth(ish) tarmac. Unfortunately when you are not on the canal you have a couple of ups and downs. GD with his entire house packed into his oversized panniers would begin to see the flaw in packing heavy, panniers are great – unless you go up..
We followed the cycle route which took us off the path, and although the map showed otherwise, we criss crossed the canal a number of times – it was becoming more and more apparent that GD really truly did not like the grads. We decided after around 25 miles that a stop was in order, so we happened upon the beam engine at Crompton ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crofton_Pumping_Station ) and stopped for a brew.
Once refreshed, and after a number of photo’s against a big chimney which Brend was after we were back on the road “downhill” to Newbury. By the time we got to Hungerford, we had navigated around 15 slight inclines, and we drafted a thesis on theology from Plato through to the 14th Century whilst we waited for GD to catch up. ( and not one person mentioned Michael Ryan, or giving Taxi drivers a tip at any point – honest.. !). From Hungerford we rallied down the canal to Newbury where we stopped for nosh.
Found a nice place a gain by the river, which unfortuanlty only had parking for bikes on the otherside of the river, which worried Brendon considerably. But we had a nice pint, and a burger. GD had whale and chips – the biggest battered fish I have ever seen. So big that GD only managed half, and the remaining half Brendon didn’t think he could finish – he did.
Back down the canal path, and Greg took the lead, 5 minutes later we crossed a bridge and he and Brend took off back down the path – Marsy looked worried, then looked at his map – hmm, they have gone the wrong way was the verdict. Unfortunately flush with their newly discovered independence they were off. I waited for them to return, Marsy set off in chase – in the end I followed. There was a reason the cycle path didn’t go over this part of the canal path – it was shit.
Travelling at 15 mile and hour over exposed tree roots on a road bike is not a good idea, especially if you are carrying a few too many pounds (;o) I crashed and smashed my way to catch them, and when I did I discovered that I had snapped a rear spoke, we were quite a way from anywhere, and it was Sunday. Luckily Marsy ripped it out, and utter those re-assuring words – “get your arse on the bike, it’ll be fine”. Well as Marsy is an engineer, who am i to argue. So after a tentative 10 minutes I was back in the groove.
We arrived into Reading after about 60 miles, and it was probably the worse part of the journey, really took us through the arse end of the place, but after a while we emerged at the “Oracle” and we were off to the hotel. I had heard some bad reviews about the travel lodge here, mostly around its location – it was fine in the day light, when dark I think it was probably a bit “gangsta” of an evening. Rooms were large, and it was cheap – but very warm. After a quick shower we walked the mile or so into town.
Marrsy had heard about this “hob-goblin” place, I was slightly worried – but by means of gentle persuasion (the best kind) we found ourselves outside it. It played rock music, it had served over 3000 guest ales, and had a single lager on tap. They quoffed ale, I drank a lager – it was nice. Had a Nandos and another pint back outside the ‘goblin then another bus (two in two days!!!) home to bed….