London Sightseer Audax - 27 June

It is 9.30am and I am in Hampton Hill, Middlesex about to begin a 100 kilometre ride around London, not a race but an organised route with a few questions to answer on the way as proof I have covered the route. I am carrying no luggage to-day so there will be no pictures of this one.

About 20 riders set off in the direction of Twickenham and soon pick up the path alongside the river Thames. The view alternates (with the river always on the same side!) between fields and interesting looking houses, Victorian/Edwardian? I have no idea, but they are all very nice to look at as we ride along. On through Syon Park and Hammersmith to Shepherds Bush and Kensington then passing the famous Portobello Road market. Into Hyde Park I miss the memorial to Princes Diana, oh well, a future visit to look at it.

We pass the Albert Hall and on to Buckingham Palace, after which problems occur with road closures due to building work in connection with the up-coming Olympic Games.

Trafalgar Square, Fleet Street, Saint Paul's and the City are next on the list before we ride through Saint Katherines dock and into Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs.

From here it is a walk through the Greenwich foot tunnel under the river then to pass the Cutty Sark and another walk (due to the Olympics) into Greenwich Park.

The approach to and the ride immediately after 'The Dome' is not the best I have ridden, not yet having been developed as some of this area has. I can usually find interest in disused factory area's, but not this one. There is now a cable car over the river at this point, I had not seen that before.

The route follows the Thames path through Rotherhithe and Bermondsey along cobbled roads which are not the best to ride on (my map falls off on two occasions) to eventually take us along the river path through the masses of tourists at Shakespeare's Globe theatre and HMS Belfast - we cycle at walking pace, or walk (again).

Out of the crowds and over the bridges of Westminster and Chelsea before entering Battersea Park. As attractive as this and the next 25 miles is, after an uninspiring section and tourist crowds I have lost interest, I just want to get it over with.

The next destination is Putney then on to Richmond Park with attractive sights of the deer but to add to my lack of interest, it begins to rain!

From here it is another ride alongside the river and over the bridge at Teddington Lock before passing the film studio's and on to Hampton Court Palace.

The final section is through Bushey Park and on, after almost 68 miles, to the finish at Hampton Hill - at least the rain has stopped.

'Sightseer' is certainly an apt title for this ride, I cannot count how many important and interesting places I have passed to-day, apart from the cobbled roads after Greenwich it is a wonderful tour of the capital. Will I ride it again? Probably, but on my touring bike with wider tyres and and a little less pressure in them. Then again, do I really want to ride those cobbles again and then contend with the throngs of tourists along the south bank? Probably not.

As an antidote to the London ride I rode the 'Mid-week Tour of the Cotswolds' on 18 July. Another 100 kilometres on a circular route from Witney, near Oxford. I saw the first two hours of it through the rain, but what an enjoyable ride.
Taking in country lanes and villages to Chipping Norton, Stow-on-the-Wold, Lower Slaughter, Northleach, Burford and Minster Lovell - and a table heaving with home-made cakes at the end.

I have more planned for 18 and 25 August.

The Man of Kent

Well - Man in Kent.

It is Friday 8 June and  having cycled just 74 miles since I returned from the North Sea Route on 7 May it is with some trepidation that I set off for the railway station in pouring rain, not the best preparation for a cycle tour. Muscles have memories, I hope they remember things better than I do these days, but I do remember the way to the station. The train takes me to Gravesend in Kent, where it has stopped raining as I make my way out of town towards Rochester. There is a blustery wind blowing from all directions and at some points I have trouble cycling in a straight line (perhaps nothing new in that).

The route takes me along main roads but all have a wide cycle path and I look forward to an easy afternoon, I had not reckoned on the hills. The road is up and down all the way until I find Sustrans route 1 at the junction for the Medway tunnel. My route is over a hill on the off-road path then a very steep descent into Rochester. I'm not sure how long it is since this submarine last dived but perhaps if it is left alone it is not long before it will be doing it on it's own. It has a Russian hammer and sickle on the side.

The town itself has some interesting buildings and also a very long and slow climb out on the way to Chatham.

In Chatham it is once again a descent into and a climb out of the town along the main A2 road before a left turn to Capstone and the converted oast house that is now Medway Youth Hostel, an interesting building and a sympathetic conversion.

On Saturday morning I retrace my steps before making a short diversion through woodland to rejoin the A2 for a short run before turning left to the very small hamlet of Breach and to pick up route 1 in the direction of Sittingbourne, it's quiet country lanes, passing weather boarded houses, oast houses and thatched cottages along the way. The route in Sittingbourne takes me through an industrial estate and along a cycle path that looks more like the tip for recycled broken glass.

Still along route 1 through Faversham and on the the coast at Whitstable where the harbour makes an ideal place to stop for lunch.

Cycling parallel to the coast I see very little of it until Herne Bay before turning inland to the main dual carriageway towards Margate. It's a fast road but has a wide hard shoulder and traffic is not heavy. I take the chance to turn off onto country lanes for the final five miles and arrive in Margate before 2pm - time for another meal and a look around before booking into the youth hostel, a converted hotel overlooking the sea. Here I meet up again with Steve, a cyclist who lives in God's Country - the Yorkshire Dales. I met him last night at Medway, he is cycling the coast of Britain - in sections as he has time. As I go to bed I remember that rain is forecast for tomorrow.

Margate Youth Hostel

Do they still take patients?

Sunday dawns clear, no rain and very little wind. The first part of my ride back to Gravesend takes in the coast road, the road I take inland turns out to be a dead-end so it's back to the beginning again. I head out of Margate on the main road and along the dual carriageway A299 but have to turn off before Whitstable - no horses, cycles or pedestrians. The road I use has just been resurfaced, which turns out to be a good thing. I have to ride way into the road to avoid the loose stones but everyone is driving slowly to avoid stones flying up, I am the only one who gets by the road sweeper and get a couple of miles to myself.

It is then country lanes to Faversham after which I join the main A2 road again - I did not intend to but missed my turn for Sustans route 1 and traffic is light so I carry on all the way to Sittingbourne for a lunch stop.

From here I once again pick up route 1 and retrace yesterday's route to Chatham. Here I take advantage of the descent into town but once again suffer on the climb out. 

The down-hill road into Rochester should have been a place to break speed limits but a sudden head-wind puts in a appearance and the best I can manage is 28. The town is busy with Sunday shoppers and visitors taking in the sights. As I once again pass the (still floating) submarine I prepare for the steep climb that the cycle path takes. Logic then tells me that if I turn right, keep the cliff on my left I should reach the other side, it works, taking me on a level route through an industrial estate to once again pick up the off-road route. This is over-hung with low branches and passes an MoD depot before a mixture of quiet lanes and cycle trails works it's way to Gravesend. I pass a fox in a field at one point, we both look at each other but it is gone before I can get my camera out.

When Sustrans plan these routes they really do include a variety of things to see, first I am on a trail by a river, next passing between scrap metal dealers and ship repairers before riding between disused factories on cobbled roads just wide enough for a horse and cart, which is an interesting insight into an industry that has passed - whatever it was!

Arrival at the railway station is at exactly the same moment as my train is leaving, no worry, there is another one in 30 minutes.

Just short of 157 miles covered in three days. Apart from Friday with blustery winds and legs that did not want to go anywhere I have had a really enjoyable ride in very pleasant countryside.

The North Sea Cycle Route - 2012

This is the continuation of a route I began in 2011 - see separate blog for the details, also go to www.northseacycleroute.com to view the full route.

Day 5 - Friday 4 May. Ellingham to Dallinghoo.

Back at Ellingham, the point at which I ended last year. The route takes me to Beccles and on through flat countryside to the town of Halesworth, given more time this seems an interesting place to visit. It is market day, there must be all of six stalls.

Onward through Peashill and to the small village of Bruisyard. This place marks the parting of the ways (or the meeting if you are travelling in the opposite direction). Straight ahead takes the 'winter' route to Framlingham, turn right for the 'summer' route through Blaxhall and on to Felixstowe. As it is May it must be spring, so I take the winter route.

Despite nationwide drought warnings and hose pipe bans in Eastern England the roads are flooded in many parts, I am often pedalling with my feet under water. Onward through more pleasant villages and almost traffic-free lanes. My route for the day ends at the quaintly named village of Dallinghoo - I wonder what the origins of this one are? Is it an over-statement to say it is a quiet place? There is a notice pinned in the telephone box, the local doctors practise is advertising a 'Flu Jab Day' - on 6 October 2009 - missed it by two and a half years!

From here I head for Blaxhall and the youth hostel. Close to Wicken Market I encounter another flooded road, but I can see higher ground ahead. As the water reaches my knees I decide to stop on the high ground and look around. Ahead the road dips, the bottom rail of the fence vanishes below water at the point at which the flooded river crosses the road. It looks deeper and is fast flowing, I give it up and head back to take another route.

Day 6 - Saturday 7 may. Dallinghoo to Elmstead market.

From the 'Flu Jab Day' notice I head for Woodbridge, another interesting town and one I often stayed in many years ago when in the area on business, it is nice to be able to look around without the pressure of the next appointment pushing me on.

From here to Ipswich. The map indicates a route around the outside of the town, the waymarkers take me to the centre where I meet my old friend 'Route 51' again.

Out of Ipswich to Bramford and Hadleigh, at which point an 'all-day breakfast' calls me into a local cafe. Here the route offers two options, one seems to be a 'rail trail' and given the recent wet weather I take the on-road option to Colchester.

After Colchester the route heads along the 'Wivenhoe Trail' through the local park but as this is under an indefinite depth of water I take the on-road option. In the park I have a spectator as I read my map.

Once I reach the trail it is a pleasant ride alongside the river Colne. I think originally the track was rolled stone but repairs have been made using various grades of stones, this is about as exciting as I want my off-road riding to get. The reward is arrival at the small fishing town of Wivenhoe with it's steep and narrow streets. It is then a short ride to Elmstead Market, which I call the end of the route for to-day.

In a break with the youth hostel tradition I stay at the Premier Inn at Colchester for the night.

The advantage of staying at the Premier Inn

Day 7 - part 1. Sunday 6 May. Elmstead Market to Harwich.

I did not make such an early start to-day as I had wanted and decided to stop at the first garage and buy oil to free-up parts of the bike that were suffering from immersion in the floods of the previous few days.

With a headwind it soon became obvious that I was not going to make the 10.15am ferry at Harwich so with the oil having done it's job I settled back to enjoy the ride through flat Essex countryside to the  end of the route in Harwich. I had expected a more glorious finish - and more activity at the port.

Next stop Holland? Not quite on this trip!

To Harwich I have covered a total of 328.48 miles since I started in Woodhall Spa.

Day 7 - part 2. Sunday 6 May. Harwich to Bruisyard.

As mentioned earlier there are two routes to Harwich, a winter and a summer option. Having arrived via the winter route I intend to make my way back to Bruisyard using the summer option.

From the port the return is through Harwich to Halfpenny Pier, from which point a ferry is needed to Folkstone. The time is 11.15; the ferry departs at 12.15, giving time for an all-day breakfast at ‘The Café on the Pier’. After this, on a floating pier in the rain and wind I have visions of my bike and/or luggage vanishing beneath the waves but both them and myself are safely loaded for the 15-minute journey to Languard Fort and a landing on the shingle beach. The ferry, being part of the route has a Sustrans route number on the cab. I take my hat off to the hardly souls of Folkstone, the rain and wind are blowing in off the sea but they are walking along eating fish and chips, some even sitting outside cafes.

Three miles on I arrive at the Felixstowe Ferry which will take me across the mouth of the river Deben. To summon the boat it is necessary to wave a table tennis-type bat.

After landing at Bawdsey the route turns in-land to Butley (to avoid another ferry) and then to the coast again at Orton before once more turning east through Blaxhall, where I pass the youth hostel, my bed for the night and on to Bruisyard, the point at which the winter and summer routes split (in this case, join) to complete the journey.

This section is a ride of 43 and a quarter miles, giving a grand total of 371.73 since Woodhall Spa. Now the next section really is Holland.

From Bruisyard I retrace my route to Blaxhall where the hostel has been converted from the old village school. The conversion is first-class, as is the three-course evening meal.

Blaxhall Youth Hostel

After The Flood – The Journey Home.
Monday 7 May and I am pointing in the direction of Cambridge. Passing through Wicken Market for the third time on this journey I pass a converted mill over the river. On the first visit the water level was over the arches on the bridge, the second visit it had fallen to expose the arches and to-day, to the inexperienced eye, the water level seems normal so perhaps the floods are on their way out.

Before Market Needham I take a route which indicates a three-mile traffic free path to avoid two main roads into the town, unfortunately two of the miles are along farm tracks, which makes for ‘steady‘ progress.

Shortly after this I miss a right-hand turn and have to make a detour through Glemsford to get back on course. Here I pass a building named ‘The Old Horse-Hair Factory’. It has been converted to housing so maybe the bottom has fallen out of the market for old horse hair or perhaps horses are not living that long these days?

More quiet country lanes take me to Fulbourn from where the road is generally downhill towards Cambridge, I take full advantage of this and onwards to the youth hostel for the night

Next morning I join the rush-hour cycle ride through Cambridge, over the M11 motorway and along quiet roads to Gamlingay and Everton where I enjoy a steep downhill ride. This is normally a 40mph-plus decent but today with a loaded bike and heavier than usual traffic going up the hill I manage only 36 due to the tight bend at the bottom. Shortly after this a ride by the river Great Ouse takes me home for 12-noon, having covered 397.29 miles since leaving – perhaps I should have ridden up and down the road a few times to make 400!