Mmmmm...when your other half, the co-habitant, decides upon a gentle cycle ride using the not so local towpath, say "no"! I did not and so we set off, me, him and daughter on what was to be a muddy, tree-root lined, bumpitty bump, skid, slide, oh CRIKEY ride out. The omens were not good to start with. Firstly my seat and handlebars needed raising. This took forever. Then daughter wanted hers doing too. This ate up some more time. Eventually we set off...thunderous sounds started to rumble. We rode by the river, missing the first entrance for the cycle path, which we subsequently found. Following the cycle route signs, we ended up down a dead end on a rabbit hutch housing estate (you know the ones - soulless Barratt Homes boxes). U turns abound we went back onto the main route towards the cycle path entrance, located behind a pub. Prior to that we stopped for water and mints at the Co-op, where I bumped into an old school friend. She too was on a bicycle - seems we are all at it these days! Bidding her goodbye, we found our entry point for the towpath easily enough and negotiated mainly flat grass and dog walkers initially. Once we had left urban terrain behind it seems all thoughts for a continued flat run and dreamy, easy glide rides were but a distant memory. Puddles started to appear across our rather narrow track; deep ones at that. Marsh marigolds and reeds crept closer towards my nearside, blurring the edge of the canal. Brambles and hawthorn edged my offside. The more I concentrated on steering a straight path, the higher my paranoia at the potential for falling into the water. Tree roots across the track like sleeping policemen every few feet did nothing to aid my sore back. In fact by the time we reached our watering hole destination at our turn around point, dismounting became a rather unsightly tumble off onto legs that could barely stand; all in front of a fairly large crowd in the beer garden. Twas not good! A G&T later and feeling was starting to return to my body. Dinner was eaten and very pleasant it was too. We continued on towards home, declaring that returning down the towpath was not a good idea for the Pashley bicycles or our sanity. Several villages later and three exhausted individuals reached their end point.
Using the towpath was a great way to be traffic free. We also saw many points of interest, flora and some very nice properties fronting the track. Not sure what they were built for, but they reminded me of station houses alongside railway tracks. Rather substantial dwellings. Completely hidden away, unless you own a narrow boat. On the downside were all the other things mentioned. Would I do it again? Probably, but let's wait for my body to recover.
Poppy and Cherry Propped At The Green Man Inn
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