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