Category Archives: The Trip

Day Four (iv): Folkestone to Hastings

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When we left the Dolphin I asked the Landlady if she could recommend anywhere local for food.

Supported with nods from the Chef and others, she suggested the George. Then I wondered if I should have asked the question ….

From outside, the George didn’t exactly ooze ‘appeal’ so whilst the others were locking up I went to check out the food situation inside.

I need not have asked for there in front of me was a board of so many choices for every taste.

But were they serving? This is rural life where food service is not as us metropolitans know it. Continue reading →

Day Four (iii): Folkestone to Hastings

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Amazing. We had GPS but couldn’t work out exactly where to head to. I can tell you it isn’t easy to work out where the road is and where you are heading when all before you is flat.

Cycling in the wilderness with 23c tyres is a strange experience on what I would call ‘grass’ but crunched under the tyres like freshly laid snow.

For those who are not au fait with what 23c means – its relates to the cross-section width/circumference of your tyre (someone help me here!) which translates to one of the skinniest tyres you can buy and what you would typically find on racers.

What would have been better on this terrain is mountain bike tyres. Continue reading →

Day Four (ii): Folkestone to Hastings

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Whilst waiting for Jim & Elisabeth, i couldn’t help but notice the sounds of sharp ‘cracks’ in the distance as if some sort of mass paintball battle re-enactment was going on or was it something else? I was curious to find out.

Finally united with Jim & Elisabeth our ride along the front was short-lived with no evident path ahead.

As we started heading away from the sea, Jim’s GPS showed the path continued along the front even though the road we looked down seemed a dead-end. Deciding it was worth a shot we heading down and as we got to the dead-end of bolted gates it dawned on us we were right next to a live firing range. Good grief! Suddenly it all felt too close for comfort. Continue reading →

Day Four: Folkestone to Hastings

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I woke with excitement and quickly fixed a hodgepodge breakfast of oats and Calamari bought fresh from the beach the day before which I thought would set me up perfectly for the day.

I was taking one of the first trains from Hove to get me to Folkestone for half ten where I would meet Mr Wallace.

Setting out from home the weather looked good even though there was still a nip in the air. Continue reading →

Day Three (iii): Ramsgate to Folkestone

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Arriving in Dover, we followed roads noting nothing of exception. Indeed it seemed that Dover is about getting people in and out as quickly as possible for soon we were tangled with the dual-carriageways abused by cars and articulated lorries. Nothing really appealed particularly the steep slopes to climb out of Dover. Continue reading →

Day Three (ii): Ramsgate to Folkestone

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Back on the bikes post lunch we carried on past many more establishments we could have eaten or drunk at.

Hotel we had lunch at was the first place we came across as we arrived in Deal after passing through Sandwich (cue joke of looking for a Sandwich Deal for lunch) . Even though it was a great place to stop it was clear that Deal is a surprisingly lovely and cool place. Think boutique rural. Amazing how what I can only call as the tone of a town can make such a difference to your choices. Continue reading →

Day Three: Ramsgate to Folkestone

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Most of the time a bicycle is the easiest of machines – you jump on, you pedal, you get off. So simple, so easy. Sometimes it is not.

The day started with me realising that I had forgotten my train ticket to Ramsgate so I left Sorrell’s house and pootled back home. When I got there I thought I would also pump up the tyres and tighten the back wheel. Half an hour later I am on the way for our next stage. Then DISASTER! The back wheel tightened up. The pannier rack came off and knocked some of the spokes loose – luckily no more than, oh, 10 metres outside the house! When I took it back to base and started to fix the wheel – BANG – the front wheel inner tube exploded! Continue reading →

Day Two (ii): Gravesend to Ramsgate

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Some times a little stretch of road makes my cycling heart sing. A gentle incline, a perfect pot-hole free surface, a light breeze and an amazing view; nirvana in my book.

The Romans (allegedly) first set up camp just outside Herne Bay. It is a place where history re-writes itself – a roman encampment and a medieval church sit happily ruined side by side. Reculver and St Mary’s Church. Overlooking the bay, it’s a stunning spot, but more stunning than that was the start of the “Viking Coastal Trail” – with a newly-laid path and views over the marshes of Isle of Thanet and the calm waters of the South Channel. What a way to burn off lunch. Continue reading →

Day Two: Faversham to Gravesend

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Deja-vu struck as we travelled by train from Lewisham towards Faversham.

Stranger still was remaining on the train at Gravesend where we had last alighted and started our tour. Carrying on through Sittingbourne to Faversham, time and memories of our first day travel were compressed as we sped through various scenes.

What was different was the weather. Continue reading →

Day One (iv): When are we going to get there? Sittingbourne to Faversham

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Back through the Travellers Camp we chose another cycle path that led us through new soulless urban sprawls being built as part of the Thames Gateway project. I wonder if one day the place will have a buzz. Will this place seem different on a sunny day?

Eventually we did find the NCN path and rode through bleak countryside marred only by the cold wind blasting against us. Continue reading →