The White Hart Inn in the centre of Andover dates back to the 17th century and shows signs of its age. I don’t know how long Marstons have owned it but it could do with a bit of tlc, certainly with the carpets in the common areas. I booked in and asked where I could leave the bike, having been told by Marstons central that there was a cellar. The receptionist scratched his head and said no to the cellar; but if I was leaving before 10 it could go into the function room which was going to be used for a tabletop sale later. So that’s where it spent the night. Panniers, battery and I were banished to Room 28 which was the furthest possible point from reception and up and down a few flights of stairs. However, the room itself was large and airy and the bathroom not too bad. It’s interesting that nearly all the hotels I’ve stayed in have had bath tubs with a shower over and this was no exception. The major plus point was that there was a fan heater in the room, and I was able to dry out my shoes, socks and bib tights ready for today.
Having washed and put everything on to charge I decided to go to Wetherspoons which was just around the corner. Marstons menu and prices were very similar but in ‘spoons I got a free beer thrown in and the second pint only cost £1.79. I ate sausage and mash with some extra roast veg and garlic bread followed by ice cream with shortbread and blueberries. All absolutely fine. On the way I ditched the cycling jacket that I had got so covered in mud. It had seen better days and 2 of the 3 zips were broken, so it went in the bin. I do like the Wetherspoons app. You sit down at a numbered table, put in your order on-line, pay for it (in this case with Paypal} and a minute or so later a beer magically appears followed by your food when it’s ready. All very efficient. What’s not so good is the ambience with a lot of noisy lairy people around you: you can’t have everything.
I skipped breakfast this morning and still didn’t get on the road until 0900. It was distinctly chilly and remained so all day. I regretted the fact that my full cycling gloves were at the bottom of one of the panniers (I couldn’t remember which) and I was wearing mittens. It took me a little while to pick up on the route out town but, once on it, Rita gave clear instructions. I arrived at the tunnel under the A303
And was soon on the road to Salisbury. I stayed north of the main road making my way through some charming villages. I found myself passing by the farm of a good friend of my son and the tractors were out working. For almost ten years they organised a charity bike ride called Nelson’s Tour de Test Valley in memory of a son who committed suicide. Over those years they have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for CALM, the campaign against living miserably. I participated in three of the events, on one occasion cycling to Grateley from home and then cycling the 50-mile organised route giving me a 100 mile day in the saddle. I then grabbed a lift home in the car.
Plenty of big arable fields in Hampshire with many of the old hedges grubbed out to make room for the massive equipment that is now de rigueur and the old open grass downs now growing cereals and oil seeds instead of grazing the traditional Hampshire sheep breeds.
I wound my way through Cholderton, Allington, Idmiston and Porton, staying south of the secretive Government laboratories that have dealt with all sorts of chemical weapons over the years. There was a long three mile slog along the arrow straight Portway before I arrived at Old Sarum. I crossed the River Avon, one of eight by that name in Great Britain.
Unfortunately my plotted route took me up a path so narrow and steep that I had to GOAP for about 200 yards but once over that I made my way past Old Sarum Castle
Originally built as a Motte and Bailey by William the Conqueror within an old Iron Age fort which dates back to 400 BC, the structure was added to and strengthened until it lost its defensive value and was allowed to deteriorate until sold by Henry VIII. It’s now administered by English Heritage and is a popular destination for tourists and locals.
Once past Old Sarum I was on entirely familiar roads that I have travelled often, so the navigators went to sleep, and I kept pedalling until I thought I’d better stop for a bit of nourishment at Barford St Martin where the Budgens supplied a Costa Coffee and some cherry Bakewells to keep me going for the second half of the journey.
Now in Wiltshire (the final of my 10 counties) The scenery changed back to smaller fields and more hedges as corn gave way to horn.
After that the camera stayed in my pocket as I wound my way home. I dropped in to see son Rob for a cuppa on the way past and was back at Home Farm by 1530hrs.
It’s been an interesting journey with highs and lows. I’ve done an awful lot of climbing and I’ve come down some steep hills with dodgy brakes squealing in protest. I haven’t seen much sun and I’ve been absolutely drenched, but that’s probably because it’s late in the year to be adventuring. I’ll piece it all together over the next couple of days and let you know the total travelled