Stayed the night at the Premier Inn at Gravesend (!) This ride was to make up for missing an Essex ride earlier due to ill-health, and a need to get a 300 in for that PBP dream. Thanks for letting in the late entry.
So I have barely even visited Kent let alone ridden around it, so all new for me and a very pleasant experience (apart from the obvious fatigue of course)
Spent the first part in the company of Mr Aussie who I met before on flatlands last year. How'd you go?
One of those Audax moments - being buzzed by a couple of loons on a scooter, one without helmet, at 6:20am. All very well them effing and blinding but I don't think they would have stood a chance against a 130 frisky cyclists at that point, so no worries there.
After all the hills and drizzle the sun came out and the lovely scoot around the coast began - very nice in the tailwind it was. Spent a bit of that chatting with Malcolm Darcy about steel bikes and writing - very learned company we were.
Had to stop in Dover to buy a new cache battery as old one died just as my Garmin ran out of juice. Quite worrying as I had carefully left the printed route sheet in that Premier Inn... Halfords to the rescue.
The bit from Deal around was really great, all new scenery, flat and sunny, all good. The turn into the headwind was a small wake up call, but I had survived the gale force winds a few weeks ago on the Start of Springtime from Stevenage and thought I would be ok..
Milkshake at Whitstable... Yum. Good control! But feeling a bit dead now. Knew I would make it but it wasn't going to be easy. Luckily formed a posse on the road with two guys - Mr Penge Cycles who I will see again on A+S 400 in a few weeks time I believe and another chap. Sorry, I always forget to ask names. The riding here was hard but even though we didn't chat much it was great to have the company - would have dropped off the pace severely without your company.
Quite entertaining that last bit on Pilgrims way, ducking and diving down dark unknown lanes into the unknown... Missed anything to do with that car crash thankfully.
The very last gentle climb into Meopham got to me and with a couple of k to go I just dropped off the back and crawled into the finish at 10:40. Then got on the 11:17 train to London, a crazy midnight ride through packed London to Liverpool St and from there to bed at about 1:30am, after copious cups of tea and slices of toast.
A very satisfying ride and a reminder how good it is to get off your usual patch.
Many thanks to the team for a great route with nicely spaced controls and a warm welcome at the finish.