Warwickshire Ring Canal – Sunday 11 August 2013

Stats

Route: Coventry to Solihull (anti-clockwise), via Nuneaton, Tamworth and Birmingham

Distance: 90.8 km / 56.4 miles

Time: 5 hours 54 minutes

Average speed: 15.5 km/h / 9.6 mph

Weather: 17C, overcast, light rain and sunny spells

Segment One

With the early alarm call, a substantial buffet English breakfast awaited prior to starting day two at 8.20.  As we collected our bikes from the linen room, the gregarious receptionist gave reassurance towpaths were all gravel and no problems would be encountered.  Rejoining the Oxford canal at Ansty, yesterday’s towpath conditions were in mind as this morning’s objective was to make good headway, but concerns turned out to be unjustified as tremendous progress was made; the only challenge to take the correct turn at the Coventry canal junction.

We breezed along in to Nuneaton the only downside was breaking the bell on my bike as I remounted after a gate.  Quite how I managed it, I don’t know.  Anyhow, after two hours pedalling a pit-stop was required to top up drinks levels and munch on another energy bar.

Segment Two
Back pedalling at 10.40 and making significant inroads, all was going well until after three attempts of trying, it started to rain.  Thankfully it was not a heavy shower, nor would it last long.  The principal obstacle of this stint was ensuring the correct turn was made at Fazeley to join the Birmingham & Fazeley canal, which would guide us to England’s Second city.  Taking lunch at a pub or stopping to buy sandwiches was contemplated but neither was obvious to see from the canal, so it wasn’t until the towpath closed unexpectedly at Minworth the next quick pit-stop occurred.  It was now 12.30 but following the substantial cooked breakfast, the hunger pangs had not yet kicked in.

Segments Three & Four

Rejoining the canal further down the A38 proved simple, and so the third stint of the day got underway at 12.50.  Surroundings became increasingly industrial as Birmingham loomed large.  A quick pit-stop at Spaghetti Junction was taken, affording the opportunity to take stock of progress and double-checking the map to ensure we took the Grand Union canal south.

Now travelling away from Birmingham the towpath became increasingly muddy in places but didn’t impede progress.  Rob knew of a pub in Catherine-de-Barnes, The Boat Inn, where it was agreed to stop for lunch.  Shortly after here we exited the canal for the last time at the point of arriving some 30 hours earlier.  Finished!

Conculsion

Without doubt, the biker gloves were a crucial investment.  Although palms were sore on Saturday evening due to the earlier punishing terrain, the feeling was less severe than after the Leeds-Liverpool cycle.  Unlike that cycle it was difficult for me to appreciate the progress made over the course of the weekend; whereas the North-west and Yorkshire are familiar to me, the West Midlands isn’t and so arriving in Tamworth, Warwick or wherever meant little tangibly.

Being armed with Lucozade (two litres consumed each day) and energy bars was imperative as both provided a timely boost during afternoon lulls or times when energy abated.  In terms of weather, despite a light, short shower luck was on our side and it made towpath conditions all the better than what it would have otherwise been.

Due to the nature of this route, there was no obvious start or finish point.  To that end, arriving again at the start point, it was difficult to feel a sense of accomplishment.  However, during the stops and chats throughout the weekend, we knew good progress was accrued, even with the difficult second stint on Saturday.

The key take away from such a long trip would be to try and do some research into conditions of the towpath prior to embarking on the journey – it was fortunate Saturday’s tough stints did not occur a day later, as a late Sunday finish would have been unwelcome with the need to end the day in good time in anticipation of the drive home.

The experience was great fun and challenging in equal measure.  With the knowledge of a previous long canal ride in the fore of our minds, it really helped from a psychological point of view during the more difficult phases.  The sense of achievement has developed in the days that followed, which will increase further as the saddle sores simultaneously subside!

Final Figures

Distance: 184.0 km / 114.3 miles

Time: 11 hours 50 minutes

Average speed: 15.8 km/h / 9.8 mph

Warwickshire Ring Canal – Saturday 10 August 2013

Stats

Route: Solihull to Coventry (anti-clockwise), via Warwick, Royal Leamington Spa and Rugby

Distance: 93.2 km / 57.9 miles

Time: 5 hours 56 minutes

Average speed: 16.1 km/h / 10.0 mph

Weather: 19C, sunny spells

Segment One

Having travelled to Solihull the previous evening and treated to a bowl of sausage pasta by Rob’s wife to provide some energy in the initial morning push, we set off at 09.50 full of hope and enthusiasm for the weekend ahead.  A short navigation followed to join the Grand Union canal just south of Junction 5 of the M42.  The towpath was clear of obstacles and solid progress was made.  Having to cross over a bridge as the towpath shifted to the opposite side of the canal, we were subjected to some perilously close encounters with the water – overgrown bushes on our right-hand side meant there was little room for error, and thankfully we didn’t succumb to the brown murk.

Progress continued rapidly and it wasn’t long before the towpath improved and we entered Rob’s university town of Warwick before stopping at Leamington Spa to take an early lunch at 11.30.  Sandwiches from Co-op were enjoyed in the town’s park, just off Parade, and the pair of us were sitting pretty with the distance covered in this first section.  It turned out to be a false sense of hope.

Segment Two

Returning to the canal where we left it, at Clemens Street, at 12.40 looking forward to our second stint of the day which would take us towards Rugby.  However, not long after Leamington the towpath deteriorated significantly; gone was the smooth gravel, only to make way for single-track mud paths that eventually became bumpy grass.  The gel-palmed gloves acquired would really prove their worth during this section.  What they couldn’t prevent, though, were the nettles and brambles attacking us from both sides as they left their unpleasant marks on our arms.  With Rob leading the way, I was often hit squarely with a bramble he’d pushed aside!  Directing our way through this section proved mighty challenging.

Fortunately the towpath did improve somewhat but energy levels due to the ground were stagnating.  A decision was made to stop at the next pub for refreshments and take stock of progress.  The Old Royal Oak, Hillmorton was an extremely welcome sight and we stopped at 15.30 for a pint, energy bars, and to analyse and dissect just how bad this section had been.  Advancement had been disappointing and our average speed had tumbled.

Segment Three

Having commenced the post-lunch session full of optimism, the torrid conditions of the towpath meant the final sector of the day was anything but welcome.  Recharged with liquids and energy bars, we were back on it at 16.20 as it was feared conditions ahead, if the same as before, would impede progress and arriving at the hotel for the night at a reasonable hour was desirable.  Navigating northwards along the Oxford canal, unfortunately the towpath remained challenging – it was still grass, although there were no more brambles or nettles.

Dismounting to walk through the long Newbold tunnel and stopping at the other side for some fluids, a man – almost out of nowhere – carrying a large stick accosted us.  He enquired as to where we had cycled from and on hearing the word ‘Solihull’ proceeded to go on a rather bigoted rant, that neither Rob or I quite knew how to respond to.  Thankfully, the subject was changed to the rather more mundane topic of Slime inner tubes, which I had fitted to my bicycle.  In a hurry to end the conversation we bid the gentleman – whom we later gave the moniker ‘Rugby Racist’ – goodbye and pedalled on.

The next target was to look out for the M6 as once passed it the hotel for the evening, Premier Inn, Coventry, would not be far away.  Arriving at 18.30 and able to store our bikes in the linen room, a quick rest and shower was in order before walking to Frankie & Bennie’s for well-deserved burgers and pints.  A visit to Tesco to stock up on Lucozade and energy bars followed before the evening was over at 21.30 as tiredness kicked in following a long and tortuous day in the saddle.  It was agreed to set alarms for 7.00 and make an early start as another 18.30 finish would not be welcomed.

The Warwickshire Ring Canal

Background

Following on from the success of our last canal trip along the Leeds-Liverpool canal in 2011, a new challenge was overdue.  Rob Ambrose, my old school friend and companion of the last adventure, came up with the idea of cycling around the Warwickshire Ring canal, which passes close by to where he lives in Solihull, Birmingham.

Whereas last time there was a useful website, Towpath Treks, to aid the planning of the trip, it was impossible to find an equivalent site covering the canals making up the Warwickshire Ring in similar detail.  So much so, we go into this experience without even knowing the exact distance to be covered.  Estimates from various websites vary from 100 miles upwards.

In preparation, a quick review of my previous canal blog shows there were lessons to learn if it were attempted again.  We are doing it again and have both heeded the advice from last time out: invest in some biker gloves with gel patches.  Armed with these we’re ready to go…