The south is a foreign country, they do things differently there.
Given the choice of going up to Scotland or going abroad we decided on the latter for a change. Take a map of the UK and draw a line from the Humber to the Severn estuaries, say Hull to Gloucester and we’ve done basically SFA riding below that line. So ...
Note that this is very picture heavy as it’s some years since we did the ride and a lot of the details have faded.
That's nice
The initial lanes out of Reading wove their way around industrial estates, the M4 motorway and occasionally woodland.
Cath decided to get a move on.
After a while things got a little more rural.
Which eventually led to lots of this:
Supposedly this section didn't have many opportinites for bivvying, but there were loads of spots.
And this:
The route skirted a lot of posh houses.
But also some of this:
Chalk heathland is one of the rarer UK habitats.
Cath wanted better radio reception and deployed her secret aerial
One of the few sections that wasn’t totally dry.
Whilst waiting for our meal at a pub Cath decided to perfect her three colour daguerrotype technique with me modelling some BB produce. The cyclist in the background now has a certificate from Guiness for the longest trackstand in a racing position.
Plenty of time for a pint or two. We had to wait ages for our meal.
After a top up at another pub we bivvied for the night. The morning brought the only “bad” weather of the trip. The mist cleared within an hour or so.
This camp spot was within earshot of the A3 and also just off a lane used by off-roaders though none spotted us.
A nice long descent included some sunken lanes
A sunken lane near Hindhead.
Some beech woods, I like beech woods, they have a nice calm light.
Riding through beech woodland is always pleasant.
Irish sign writer at work!
I suppose you just need to be sure to turn the right way.
Big hill
This is Butser Hill and is one of the biggest climbs on the route. It's rideable all the way.
Looking down big hill
Looking down Butser Hill with the A3 in the background.
Ah Winchester! We went a bit wrong here and followed the SDW into town rather than the KAW
Some pleasant riding along the South Downs Way leads into Winchester.
Some bloke being celebrated for showing the locals how to open a tin of spam
The statue of King Arthur.
Country lanes
Riding through beech woodland is always pleasant.
Our second bivy. The track is running along the right edge of the shot but there’s a bank between it and the tent so we couldn’t be seen by someone walking along it.
Riding through beech woodland is always pleasant.
What have the Romans ever done for us?
Following the line of the old Roman Road towards Salisbury.
We were running a bit low on supplies so headed off-route to find a Co-op.
Our steeds.
Old Sarum hill fort just outside Salisbury
Looking back towards Old Sarum hill fort.
On Salisbury Plain working our way around the firing ranges.
On Salisbury Plain.
On the long descent to Avebury, it’s just hidden behind the trees above Cath’s head. The Ridgeway begins on the hills in the distance
There's a big climb out of the Vale of Pewsey with a long descent back down to Avebury.
Early versions of the tarp poles weren’t as portable
Some rather large, though not the largest, standing stones at Avebury.
Typical Ridgeway track
The Ridgeway provides some excellent gravel friendly riding (in the dry).
A long grassy descent
Again, very steady riding entirely suitable for a gravel bike.
Early morning on the Ridgeway
Getting going after our third bivy.
So home counties
No idea why this was painted on the lane leading back into Reading.
Finished off with some wandering around Reading trying to find our underground car park. It was actually only about 200m off-route.
Summary & Postscript
Daily summaries along with links to the relevant Strava activities
