Haven't done a 300 for a few years so not sure what to expect of myself. Felt fine most of the time (easy does it up Jib Jack's) and made good progress, especially flying along the Marsh with that tail wind. I thought the climb out of Folkestone was a bit of a slog on a not too interesting bit of road, but the climb up to Dover castle better - I guess because I knew that would be the end of climbing for a while.
Went a bit wayward at Deal and ended up on the worst cycle path you can imagine - next to a gravelly road, strewn with gravel and full of walkers enjoying the sun. Front tyre split and blew while negotiating one group, but fortunately the tyre was intact so was able to repair.
Rode with another guy through to Reculver in the head wind - thanks, whoever you were!
The coffee & cake at Macari's was sublime.
Quick detour to see if my friends were in their garden at Whitstable, to say hello, then back into the wind up to Faversham.
From here, things went downhill, just as I needed to go uphill again. Started feeling icky which slowed me down, but got to Hollingbourne before I needed my lights on. GPS ran out of charge so I no longer had the distance, then, as I was coming up to Boxley, heard in front of me a horrific crash, and arrived in the aftermath of this:
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/fatal-crash-in-maidstone-35820/Called the services as I was amongst the first on the scene but as I was speaking a Police car turned up - I still can't work out how they were on the scene so quickly - unless they just happened to be in the area - I might add they were coming from the opposite direction so weren't chasing. I couldn't add anything to help, so carried on. It was dark at this stage and I struggled to read the route sheet, which hampered progress.
Met up with some riders who were local, and steered me back through to the lanes leading back up to Meopham (thanks again guys). Got in around 10 I think.
Still feel queesy now, so think I picked up a bug along the way, however I hope I'll remember this ride for all the good parts, which was most of it.