Nantwich to Birmingham
I had quite a restless night. To be honest, I think I was a bit concerned about whether I would be able to follow up the previous day with another day on the saddle. So about 6:00 am I got up and packed all the clothes and other stuff into a range of carrier bags and dry-bags. With panniers packed I had another shower and dressed for the day.
Bike out of the room. Bags out and fitted. Telephone call to Sue. Iphone X fitted to handlebars and ride with GPS set up with the route for the day. Garmin fitted to handlebars and ready to start. Strava beacon set up. Go Pro fitted but not on. Lights On. – this was to become my routine for the next few days.
So I set off in the early morning light. It was a cold morning with mist rising from the ground and from my breath. It was quiet as I cycled back down the Crewe Road and around the town centre until I rode past the park and out onto the road towards Whitchurch.
Ride with GPS (RWGPS) announced turn left and I turned onto the road towards the bunker at Hack Green. I had ridden this road in the opposite direction a few weeks before and so was confident that I knew where I was going. I passed another high-via clad figure who was sorting out the lights on his bike but he soon passed me as I began to make my way up the gentle climb. The sky to my left was getting lighter and betting pinker as the dawn broke. Early morning dogs ruined their owner’s sleep as they reacted to my passing. It was otherwise very quiet and still.
After about four miles I reached the canal. Decision time. I thought the tow path would be OK from my previous ride her but after the previous day I wasn’t sure. I cycled to the top of the bridge and checked. Towpath it was to be. Back down and down the steps. First picture of the morning and GoPro on. I set off along the towpath.
RWGPS became confused as I was now off the route which I had entered to navigate. I had planned alternate road and towpath routes and had loaded the road route. Fortunately it is a well designed app and did not spend the next five miles telling me to turn around – just the occasional musical note.
The towpath was good and I enjoyed a steady ride looking over the misty fields and mist rising from the canal. I soon reached Audlem and met my first dog walkers of the day. Lots of “Bike” “Thank you” “Good morning” shared as I climbed the flight of locks leading from the town. I hoped the GoPro was recording my progress. Having reached the bridge after the final lock I had another decision. I remembered the towpath beyond as grassy with a thin track so I decided to go onto the road. Once again, short yellow bits on the OS map turned into long steady plods especially after I turned onto the road leading to Norton-In-Hales where there was a gradual climb. The only time I increased speed was when a driver coming in the opposite direction stopped to wait for me to pass by. It does happen.
I reached the village of Norton-In-Hales and discovered that it was time for the school run. Suddenly from complete loneliness I was surrounded by huge 4*4’s approaching from random directions, suddenly stopping and parking on the pavement. In between them, parents with children were crossing the road or getting out of cars. Clearly, one group of the children were going away on a residential trip as the children were carrying rucksacks. I weaved my way through the throng and passed the school gates. As I made my way out of the village I was then overtaken by the same 4*4’s taking parents home to repeat the process later in the day. I suppose the logic is that if you are looking after your children you need a big car to protect them from the other big cars – by that logic school runs will soon be typified by tanks and other armoured vehicles. Sorry, I get a bit grumpy about these things.
The road onto Market Drayton was a gentle descent and I crossed the canal and the main road and made my way to Morrisons for breakfast. I was the first customer. Veggie sausage sandwich with extra toast. Two coffees. At least I didn’t have to feel guilty about the food I was eating – something I was to remember later in the day!!
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I set off after about half an hour and retraced my path to pick up my RWGPS route. This was following NCN Route 552 and so I was able to follow the signs and was soon back at the canal. A pleasant ride on the towpath convinced me that all would be well and rather than follow my planned road route I stayed on the towpath. Mistake. As I left the town it deteriorated and as I ventured further I was once again struggling to stay upright as my wheels slid sideways as well as sinking into the muddle I managed to cling on until Tyrley Locks where although the canal looked lovely and peaceful I decided to rejoin my road route. This was when I made the realisation, obvious really, that canals are generally in valleys and leaving them involves hills either direction. I soon found use for my 34*34 set-up as I laboured back up the short yellow road (muddy hill) to rejoin the NCN. But I got there.
I rejoined my planned route. RWGPS was happy. Soon after I passed another cycle tourist. Not only did she have additional front panniers she was towing a small trailer and even I managed to pass her on a hill. I thought of her often as the day passed – her “good morning” had sounded trans-Atlantic and I wondered how she progressed.
The next hour or so passed and almost became routine. Despite all the mud now covering her, Shirley was easy to ride, RWGPS was happily navigating, Werthers were being consumed and although the roads were muddy with puddles there were no floods. There was some traffic but it was generally courteous and aware of me. The scenery was pleasant and slopes were gentle in both ways. I passed through the villages of Chipnall, Cheswardine and Soudley without event.
I knew that I had to turn off the NCN which was leading me to Newport and as I reached a crossroads RWGPS suddenly had one of its moments. The NCN was going right and the navigation was trying to send me that way. However, when I looked on the screen the “Route” was to the left. Time for a double check and this confirmed the route but not the oral prompt. Once on the left turn it settled down and led me to Norbury and Norbury Junction on the canal. Time for a picture although I had to force myself not to have another breakfast at the very tempting tea-room.
The next part of the route to Gnosall was interesting as the road descended under a tunnel under the canal, a steady climb through some woods and then under the canal again. I did wonder about the tow-path but wasn’t confident. On reaching Gnosall I followed the back lane directions of RWGPS and was just leaving the village when I saw a mobile window cleaner. I stopped and rather cheekily asked if he would mind “giving my bike a squirt” which he did willingly. So I got rid of at least some of the mud. The next part of the ride was back to the routine and I soon picked up the route I had tried last December when planning a 100 mile ride to finish the year. A steady ride, parallel to the invisible canal until after a short climb I emerged onto the main A5. What a contrast as lorries and cars thundered past me at considerable speed. This was a preview of later in the ride but after considerable solitude for 4 hours it was all a bit of a shock. Fortunately I only had about 100 yards to cross and I was back onto relatively quiet roads although from here to the outskirts of Wolverhampton I was on busier roads and much more aware of traffic. I passed through Brewood and Coven and it was only when I came into Pendesford that RWGPS had another “wobble” and tried to send me westwards. I ignored it and followed the cycle path and suddenly arrived at a Morrisons. I was ready for a break after nearly three hours from Market Drayton and I was dismayed to discover that it must be one of the few Morrisons in the country not to have a cafe. So I had to set off again but then found the Staffordshire Canal and came to the junction leading up the flight of locks to the centre of Wolverhampton. Time for a another picture.
I then encountered the first of what I shall call “Bike Traps”. At some point it has been decided that cyclists need to be slowed down and so the local authority has installed barriers which you have to wheel your bike around a sort of enclosed capital E. This may work with an unladen bike but with full panniers it was almost impossible to manoeuvre Shirley without catching on either the middle or outside of the barrier. Each of these gates took about three minutes to negotiate and I was to encounter several more between here and Birmingham.
The climb up the locks was also slow (if scenic) as I had to keep dismounting to pass under the various bridges as the paths were steep and slippery. So I was very grateful when I emerged near the “Transport Interchange” (Rail and Bus station to ordinary people) and was able to stop for a late lunch at the Sunbeam.
I was very thirsty so I enjoyed a pint of lemonade and also water with my macaroni cheese. I also did some emergency phone charging as both my navigation and beacon phones were running low. But I appreciated the rest.
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And so, feeling quite refreshed I set off on the final part of the day’s ride. I had again “rehearsed” this in December and therefore know what to expect. I had however, forgotten the number of small bridges to climb up and over (sometimes I was able to ride up and over) which often involved getting off and pushing Shirley (which made me appreciate how heavy she was) and also a number of Bike Traps. I reached Coseley Tunnel and dismounted to push trough which I managed without incident.
All was going well until I reached the place where the tow-path was closed just after passing under the M5 due to an unsafe building. I had encountered this problem in December and managed to get lost and I managed to get lost once again before finding my way onto the parallel canal. IN December the grass towpath here had been very muddy and once again this was the case. But this time there was the additional hazard of a group of young men riding motorcycles along the towpath initially from behind me but then coming back towards me. I had to get off and push Shirley for about 300 years before emerging on the Mainline Canal where I was able to get back on and continue my journey.
I soon reached the NEC Arena and decided that rather than immediately aim for my hotel I would do the loop of the Grand Union around the city centre to save going back in the morning. This is an interesting if slow section with lots of locks but also lots of getting on and off to negotiate steep ramps to bridges and the Summit Tunnel. I finally emerged near Digbeth and had a pedestrian avoiding ride around to the IBIS hotel. Negotiating the bike and my bags to the room was a bit of a chore but managed well.
Time for a shower and a sleep!
I know this is really a blog about a cycle journey but I cannot finish Day 2 without talking about the meal that I had that evening. I wandered around the Arcadian Centre deciding that I did not really feel like eating Chinese or Wetherspoons. I found what I thought was a Greek takeaway but then saw it had a few tables at the back. I ordered a starter (Spanakopita) and main course (Veggie Moussaka), a glass of Greek wine and some lemonade. The man serving was very welcoming but I was surprised when he brought me a tray loaded with flatbread and some savouries. I initially thought that I had forgotten what I had ordered but then my actual starter arrived. After eating this I was already full when my moussaka arrived together with fries, rice, potato wedges and salad with olives. I worked my way through most of this but was unable to finish and told the gentleman that this was the case. I rested a while and then he brought me a free piece of chocolate sponge with whipped cream and liquor. I made myself eat it consoling myself that I had used a lot of calories on the day. I waddled my way back to the hotel and fell asleep almost immediately.
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Two days done, not halfway yet but actually now further south than home!!
More pedalling tomorrow!
| Day Miles | 70.3 |
| Overall Miles | 117 |
| Day Time | 7 hrs 19 mins |
| Overall Time | 10 hrs 53 mins |