I had spent quite a bit of time in the Devizes area. It was time to move on.
When I woke up I checked the news. The UK had voted to leave the European Union.
I packed up my tent and headed off along the canal and up the flight of locks into the town for some breakfast. This soon turned into brunch.
Finding route 45
I continued east along the canal until route 4 crossed route 45 which heads to Salisbury.
The route took me along some quiet country lanes and through some picturesque villages.
Four blokes in a pub discussing the Brexit
I stopped in a pub in Upavon for some water and a beer.
There were four grey haired blokes discussing the Brexit result. Some of the stuff they were saying was extraordinary.
Late into Salisbury
I rode through some showers as I headed into Salisbury. I checked into the camping ground and quickly set up the tent. I am finally getting back into the swing of setting the tent up.
‘Meal’ at Harvesters
I walked to a nearby pub for a meal. It turned out to a pub that has been taken over by a chain called Harvesters. The place was packed, god knows why. This chain seems to specialise in selling very bad food.
I headed back to the camping ground. I wasn’t in the tent for long before I had to head to the toilet block to deposit the meal.
Sniffer Dog
In the morning I walked into the town.
The path took me across an open field. There was a black Labrador barking like crazy in the middle of the field. The owner was near to me. I asked him if he “knew why the dog was barking”. He told that “he used to be a sniffer dog used to find illicit drugs. He must have found some drugs in the grass”. He also said that it can be “embarrassing when he detects something on a person in the street”. “He barks at them and tries to follow them”.
Checking out the Cathedral
Salisbury is famous for its cathedral. It is a classic. The cathedral also houses one of the four original copies of the Magna Carta.
The grounds of the cathedral are interesting in that there are a number of sculptures. One of them is by Liz Frink.
Meal in Pub
After checking out the cathedral I had a very good meal a pub in the town square.
After lunch I went to the library. Again I was very impressed by the library. The small cities and towns in England all seem to have good libraries and they seem to be well patronised.
Sunday Lunch
The next day I decided to head back to the pub in the town square for ‘Sunday Lunch’ – roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. It was really good.
After lunch I stayed in pub for a quiet beer. There was really obnoxious drunk who was harassing other patrons. For some reason he took a particular dislike to me. He accused me of being a ”Russian spy”. After sometime the staff of the pub finally through him out and called the police.
His parting words to me were to effect that “he remembered my face and would deal with me in the street”.
After about half an hour, a policeman arrived. He asked to speak with anyone who “had any dealings with the drunk”. He told me that they had found him in another pub where he had been “racially abusing the staff”. He said that the bloke would “be taken into custody to sober up”.
Advice of How to Get to Portsmouth
Went I got back to the camping ground, there were two other cyclists. One was Dutch woman who was “riding in the UK for 3 months”. The other was bloke from the Isle of Wight. He gave me some tips on the best way to get to Portsmouth.
Flickr Link
https://www.flickr.com/gp/twwilko_photos/94A9G5
Garmin Link
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1227245858
Liz Frink
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisabeth_Frink
Salisbury Cathedral
billrider2013 