My human found room for me in one of her bicycle panniers enabling me to go from Bristol to Devizes on an off-road bicycle adventure. I stayed tucked inside the pannier as the bicycle rolled along the Bristol to Bath cycle path until I heard the sound of a steam train. I got out very quickly and managed to wave to all the people on board.

My human stopped for me to pop up again at the entrance to the first of The Two Tunnels. Trains used to use the tunnels many years ago but now they are for cyclists and walkers.

I had a peep through the tunnel before climbing back into the pannier to be transported through.

After emerging from the 2nd tunnel, which is a kilometre long, we stopped for a picnic lunch.

The humans pedalled on following signs for Bradford on Avon. At Monkton Coombe they had to take the bicycles down steps that go through the school. I got out of the pannier to get a closer look at the cricket pavilion which is thatched and very pretty.

We got onto the canal path at Brassknocker Basin. I do like that name!

Just along from the basin the canal goes over the river Avon on the Dundas Aqueduct.

I peered over the edge to see the river running underneath. There is something fascinating about aqueducts.

With me back in the pannier the humans pedalled away until we arrived at Bradford on Avon. It was refreshment time so we went into The Lock Inn.

I opted for a banoffee ice cream, which turned out to be much bigger than expected. It was absolutely delicious. I don’t have ice cream often but when I do I really enjoy it. Yum yum yum….

I also enjoyed some iced tea which I shared with my human.

The canal path alongside The Kennett & Avon canal gets quite narrow and bumpy on the way to Devizes. I popped up out of the pannier on one of the many bridges while the humans were having a rest.

There is lots of wildlife – the swans paddled over to see me but didn’t hang around when they realised I didn’t have any food!

A few miles on we spotted a heron. Can you see it?

Finally we reached the Caen locks, a flight of 29 locks, one of the longest in the UK. It takes a boat about 6 hours to get through them all to the top of the hill.

The bicycles got to the top of the hill in about 15 minutes. Here I am looking at the last lock.

Our hotel was just a couple of miles from Caen in Devizes.

The humans put their bicycles into the bike store then we all went inside.

After a good night’s sleep in a comfy bed I enjoyed a yummy full English breakfast.

After breakfast the humans were keen to get pedalling as the weather forecast was for a hot day. We didn’t stop until we got to Bradford on Avon again, this time at The Canal Trust Cafe. I managed to make room in my tummy for a cream tea…

It was very interesting just to sit and watch the various canal boats going towards the lock.

After leaving the cafe my human’s partner discovered that his bike had a puncture. Being a bear of many skills I climbed out of the pannier and helped fit a new inner tube.

The next stop was Avoncliff aqueduct.

It didn’t seem long before we were back at Brassknocker Basin.

The humans decided to cycle back to Bath along the canal. At Bathampton we had a picnic snack of pizza left over from the night before (the humans went out for pizza after doing so much pedaling).

My last photo from the adventure was taken in Bath. Bath was very busy with tourists everywhere so we didn’t stay there for long.

I got back into the pannier and rode all the way home along the Bristol to Bath cycle path. I do like it when the humans take me on long bicycle rides.

Details of the routes:

Bristol to Bath https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/bristol-and-bath-railway-path

Two Tunnels Greenway https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/bath-two-tunnels-circuit

Kennet and Avon https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/kennet-and-avon-cycle-route

A year ago I did another mini-tour, The Taff Trail, which was quite tough for the humans in places! See https://horacethealresfordbear.com/2022/08/12/the-taff-trail-brecon-canal-by-bicycle-pannier/

Horace the Alresford Bear 11/8/23