STRATFORD-UPON-AVON
20th April 1973 to 23rd April 1973
A journey of over 240 miles, camping en route, through Oxfordshire to visit Stratford-upon-Avon
which we had been told was an interesting and pretty village
Friday 20th April
Cycled 74 miles from Waltham Abbey, travelling through Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire to arrive in Oxford by late afternoon. Oxford town centre proved to be very interesting with fine old buildings although we didn’t have much time to spare to look round. We left Oxford by a long straight road lined with very large old houses, to reach the camp site at Cassington. This was, in fact, a caravan site but was quite pleasant, although very full, with a river running alongside.
Day - 74 miles Trip - 74 miles
Saturday 21st April
Moving on this morning we headed for Woodstock and stopped in the main street for tea and toast at a café which consisted of the front room of somebody’s house. It was raining slightly although we were not really wet. Fortified, we headed on for Stratford-upon-Avon along straight country roads climbing steadily and dipping gently. No dramatic hills until we came upon Compton Wynyates which, all of a sudden, appeared below as we sped down a steep hill. In its own grounds, amongst the trees, it appeared a quite magical old mansion and was a considerable surprise. We discovered at the front gate that visitors could enter at 50 pence per head but we pressed on. Shortly before arriving at our camp site on a farm at Halford the heavens opened and a heavy fall of hailstones stung our faces and made it difficult to ride. The storm quickly passed however and we found the farm and trudged wearily to the top of the field, above the mud and water, to pitch the tent while the sky, once again, threw down gallons of water.
When it had stopped raining we cycled to Stratford-upon-Avon making very fast time and arrived shortly before the shops were closing. Although we saw the cottage where Shakespeare lived, on the whole the town was very disappointing being much like any other middle sized town. We returned somewhat disillusioned to the farm.
Day - 53 miles Trip - 127 miles
Sunday 22nd April
Being only a short holiday it was already time to head for home and we started wearily on a wet, dreary, morning. The rain fell down and lay in heavy puddles along the roads so that shortly we were wet through and very miserable. We plodded on desperate to stop and brew some tea but could find no shelter. We pedalled on, the rain spraying up from the roads filling our shoes, up a steep hill where there ahead of us was a telephone box. Not much room but at least it was dry and warm. We leaned the bikes at the back, got out the stove and brewed up a lovely cup of tea inside gradually thawing out as the stove heated up the air. This set us up for a while and we braved the weather and headed for Banbury.
Banbury was quite a pleasant market town and although we didn’t expect to be able to buy any Banbury Cakes on a Sunday we were lucky to find a café open to shelter from the rain. We were now thoroughly fed up and decided upon the drastic action of catching a train towards London so went to the station to check. There was no convenient service so, after a rest at the station, we had to press on. Through Bletchley and Milton Keynes we made our way towards Dunstable and found a site on a farm immediately below the Bison’s field at Whipsnade Zoo. Although this had not been a happy day, the rain had now stopped and the site was quite pleasant. In view of the weather we had neglected to keep a record of the mileage.
Day - approx. 60 miles Trip - approx. 187 miles
Monday 23rd April
Merely a day for getting home along familiar roads we had cycled many times. The journey was fairly quick and we were able to arrive home safely to unpack and dry out.