Team Friendwards embark on the epic King Alfred's Way...
Ingredients:
One experienced KAW rider - prefers wild camping
One blissfully ignorant bike packer - prefers a hotel
One carefree teenager - happy as long as fed regularly
Two gravel bikes, one mtb
One small tipi style tent, - three sleeping mats, three sleeping bags,
1 stove, spare bike bits, power banks, spare shorts
‘Evening’ attire
Garmin– later referred to as this ‘****’ thing
Sand, Grass ruts, gravel, brambles, stingers, festivals and fantastic views
Day 1: Train to Reading (drizzle which later cleared) 74km
Turned out to be easiest day once we managed to get out of Reading, through the surprisingly pleasant Green Park. All good. Stopped at what we later referred to as the Heart attack Shack – a greasy spoon on a road outside Hook. More pleasant stop at Farnham Brewing Co, nachos and beer/cokes.
Few camping options in Surrey, so ended up on a farm near Frensham Ponds with one rough shower, grim toilets and no charging points. (Name of site provided on request). Other campers took pity on us and bought over their leftover BBQ food.
Day 2: Frensham – Alresford 93km
Slow start as we got used to repacking bikes and an even slower start as we battled with the sand. Who knew the horror of sand slipping! By lunchtime we had done a depressing 10 km. Stopped in Queen Elizabeth Park café to recalibrate after obligatory photo at the Devil’s Punchbowl.
Lovely afternoon and evening riding the South Downs Way. Dinner at the Shoe Inn pub, highly recommended before a semi dark dash to campsite which was the awesome Holden Farm right on the route. Charging points, showers, tables and café in morning for breakfast. A good end to a long day in the saddle on very different terrains but with beautiful views.
Day 3: Alresford – Tileshead 90km
Bad start with terrible bridleway diversion around Boom Town festival which ended with us riding down a dual carriage way with lorries nipping at our wheels as only one lane was open.
Composed ourselves in Winchester and stocked up on snacks for the day. We had been warned about the brambles and stingers outside Winchester so wore sleeves but soon got too hot. A day of learning to cycle in grass ruts if I remember correctly.
Spent night at Brades Acre campsite, pub was shut so we got some basic food at garage and Andy got more than he bargained for in the kitchen in the morning (details proved on request)! Charging points and good showers.
Day 4: Tileshead – Bishopstone 70km
Rain in a tent always sounds worse, but my weather watcher and coach back at Specialised shop told me it would stop by 9, so we were packed up and on road by 10. Restocking on sweets at the garage.
We headed up to Salisbury Plain which was a very cool to ride, apart from the terrifying descent from it (see this ***** thing).
Cycled through the beautiful Avebury where we witnessed a very angry tourist shouting at poor Susan that she should have been on the bus 30 mins ago, not sat in the pub.
We started the climb up on to The Ridgeway but soon boys lay down for power nap, I took photos.
Met some great people walking and cycling The Ridgeway that day. Had dinner at the famous Indian restaurant The Burj, right on KAW route, then rolled into our final campsite of the trip; Daisy’s Farm, basic but sweet – meditation available at 7.30 am and compost toilet.
Day 5: Bishopstone – Reading 60km
More brilliant Ridgeway riding, slightly less fuelled that normal so happy to arrive at the greasy spoon in Goring, where we met several other bike packers. Battled through the fallen tree with other riders help.
Steamed through on to Reading. Stank out the train to Thatcham to arrive home feeling triumphant.
No mechanicals, no major falls (some slight side stepping off bikes), total accommodation costs £80, fuel/food costs tbc! Total 386km with diversions, some planned, some not.
Learning:
Trust the bike even if you don’t trust the rider
… but walk if you have to
Charge gadgets and fill water bottles whenever you can
Teenagers recover quicker than adults
KAW is an absolute blinder of a route – DO IT however you can/want.
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