Thx to San Fairy Ann for a good day out. Bit windy but good route and good support from their volunteers manning check points. Never stopped so often and eaten and drunk so much on any ride in the past - but the frequent tea and home made cake went down very well.
Cant say that I am a great enthusiast for a 2.00 am start with a 2 1/2 hour drive to get there - but by the end I thought it was all worth the effort. Getting back across the Dartford crossing was a B***** - as the police had stopped all access to the northbound M25 from the M20.
Now about yACF members -- saw Scottlington at the start and was told that Greenbank was there - but failed to see him. Deneice was getting ready - but I am told missed the start by 10 minutes. Jane ( who posts as Jes ) and Ed ( not sure whether he is signed up or not ) but both regulars from Witham on East Anglian rides were away at the front of the first group. Many hours later as the first of the 200 riders caught up - I met Treborb of our old home, who I knew from Paris pre PBP - actually Simon Bennett - but he said work was now so demanding that he is a very rare visitor here - and probably under a different name.
The ride -- there was a front group of some 10 riders who galloped off down to the coast at Sandgate , where we had to turn back into the wind - ride along the sea front, before back tracking inland, uphill and back to the start, for tea and bacon rolls, after 100kms.
The moonlight on the Channel was great - silver dappled sea - quiet - just a memory to file away for good. First support stop with tea etc - and then the sky begins to lighten and there are masses of these pink tinged clouds -- beautiful- pity that we were riding with our backs to them - but you cant have everything !
Ed did all the work leading the group into the wind for a very long way. A role he was to perform over and over again throughout the day. Fantastic help for us weaker riders. There were a couple of nasty hills as we left the coast - and I am left way behind - but Ed has decided to keep the group together - so slows down - and finally I make it back on.
Leg 2 - I leave early so as to minimise the risk of getting seriously dropped - and have a good trundle along flat quiet country lanes for some time - before the group, now about 7 strong, catch up - and I hook on again. Good views to the North at the top of some of the hills. Too early for the garden centre at Mark Cross - so tea and cake at a volunteer manned stop.
Leg 3 now to Dungeness - a new experience for me - never been there in my life. Another volunteer manned stop at Iden Green - and we are getting mixed up with the 150km riders, which adds to the friendliness of the ride. A very brisk gallop across the marshes - wind quite strong on our right shoulders - our group is down to 4 now. Ed , Jane and an unknown - who does things like the 12 hour TT etc + self ( still being helped whenever it is into the wind or hilly) More food and drinks at the Railway cafe. Treborb the first of the 200kms appears as we are leaving.
leg 4 - short leg across the marshes - wind assisted to Hythe - not much to add - just flat and quiet.
Leg 5 just 32kms - back into the wind - Ed and unkown take on duties at the front, Jane and I lurk. Not as hilly as I expected.
Finish at 16.26 - fastest ever 300 for me - and that includes virtually 2 hours of stops - just 12hrs 27 riding time.
Query to self --maybe I should deliberately choose to take on more food and fluid than I usually do -with lots of little stops.
Real thanks to Ed and Jane for their support - and to Ed for all his work on the front into the wind, as well as controlling the group early on , so that I could rejoin them on several occaisions.
