A pootle in Kent - Sunday 1st August

[Adam]

I'm thinking of doing another ride in Kent, although this time it will be a bit less strenuous.   

Take the HS1 from St Pancras to Ashford (only 38 minutes!), and then do a casual loop taking in Lymne, Dymchurch, Lydd-on-Sea, have a look at Dungeness, then onto Rye, and then back up to Ashford.  About 53 miles, mainly on minor roads, on this sort of route, and finding a nice pub for lunch.

Anyone interested?

[Pippa]

Sounds good. I'm in 

[Jurek]

Interested.

What sort of time were you thinking of departing from Ashford?

[Adam]

Good question.  How does 10.30 start time in Ashford sound?

There's an 09.40 departure from St Pancras arriving Ashford 10.18.

Of course other, (slightly cheaper) train services to Ashford are available, just not as nice. 

[teethgrinder]

Dungeness!
 
It's not the nicest ride IMO

I'll be at Sonisphere in Knebworth 

If you were doing a morning ride in that area, I'd be tempted...

[Jurek]

Dungeness!
 

Oi!    Dungeness is  in a not-from-this-planet kind of way 

[teethgrinder]

Dungeness!
 

Oi!    Dungeness is  in a not-from-this-planet kind of way 

It's a windswept dump with a crappy rough road and a chav magnet. The cafe isn't bad, but not worth the trip.
Kent has much better places to go IMO.

So there!

But, I suppose it's an experience to go there...

[Adam]

I'm now aiming for the flattest possible route, as shown here!  48.6 miles in total with a whopping 402 feet total climbed, with a maximum elevation of 152 feet above sea level!

The plan will be to head out from Ashford Station, meander on the back roads to Dymchurch, go along the sea wall, maybe paddle in the sea a bit, then head back inland for a spot of lunch in St Mary in the Marsh, then head back to the coast, all the way down to Dungeness lighthouse, have an ice cream or two, admire the glory of the world's second largest shingle bank, then marvel at the post modern architecture of the power station, before heading back via a 1,000 year old yew tree in Old Romney, to the station.  

It shouldn't be too exerting.

[jane]

It shouldn't be too exerting.

That's what you said about the Loughborough ride. 

[Wowbagger]

I would, but I'll be camping at someone's wedding.

[Adam]

It shouldn't be too exerting.

That's what you said about the Loughborough ride. 

I'm sure I never put that in writing.......................



For the lunch stop at the Star Inn, St Mary in the Marsh, they've asked for an indication of what food people will want. Although they do a full roast menu, there's also bar snacks, baguettes, chilli, vegetarian lasagne, cream cheese & broccoli bake and other stuff. The full menu is shown here  - let the pages scroll over to view the roast menu and bar menu, and let me know in the next couple of days what you're all likely to want.

[Jurek]

That was a really good ride.
Thanks Adam, and all the others who made the ride what it was.

[ianrauk]

Nice ride today Adam, cheers.

Jurek left his Van Nick at home for this ride and bought his posh bike.



My route today. From Orpington, to meet the peeps at Ashford and Adam's Loop to Dungeness and back to Ashford..