May Long weekendWe had a great time, 4 days, 270km, the white chalk cliffs, beautiful Southern Downs, nuclear power plants, a visit Auntie Pam, head winds, rain, more rain and a spectacular crash!Hassock to EastborneEmily found out she had work and I was free so we headed off on the Friday and Pete joined later. We had a funny time getting the bikes on to the train in London, dragging them up and down stair cases, Emily getting stuck in the door with the trailer and throwing all the stuff the train before it left again! We started a small town called Hassocks in the South Downs. It was a beautiful area with picturesque rolling hills and very cute brown cows.The route took us on a windy path down to the coast Birling Gap and Beachy head. There we got our first glimpse o f the amazing chalk cliffs of southern England which were absolutely beautiful. There was a steady climb up Beachy head and then a rewarding down hill into Eastborne. We found a friendly camping spot on the out skirts or town tired we set out to find food which turned into an epic! They were developing the foreshore into an eye-sore of seaside apartments and marina and we got lost in a construction site, ending up at Argos and cooking about 8.30. Eastborne to Dymchurch
The next day Pete traveled down to Eastborne by train and we headed off along the coast to Hythe. Once again off through the rolling hills and then down to the coast at Camber where the scenery got interesting. First there was amazing area of caravan park cities situated along massive pebble beach.
Then suddenly a barbed wire fence appeared with fenced off a Military shooting range. And finally three large cooling towers appeared on the horizon, the Dungeness Nuclear power stations. All though one might think these three things would kill tourism, there was a caravan park situated in amongst the power towers, B&B’s that backed onto the Power station and the world’s smallest train chuffed past?! The nearest town of Lydd looked like it had seen better times but there was an amazing little pub on the water which was packed.
We then headed down the coast and at Littlestone on the sea we left the road onto a beautiful bike track by the sea side. The tide was out exposing some lovely jetty ruins. Tired and hungry, we decided to call it a day in Dymchurch. There we discovered an intriguing camp site which was fully equipped with their own, gaming lounge, bar, disco and pool. May be not completely our cup of tea but it was only for one night. We set up our minaret amongst the tent mansions complete with their wide screen TV’s, BBQ’s and deck chairs. We laughed when a passer by said 'look at her tent, its bloody small, I'd suffocate in that' needless to say she thought it was for one not three! Some might have done the sums, the minaret is a two man, not three, so Bridgette got the vestibule, thankfully the weather was fine!
Dymnchurch to Canterbury
The next day we headed down the coast to Canterbury through Dover. Initially, this too hugged the coast then it winded it way through farm land and headed back to the Coast at Folkstone. Then there was a steady climb to Capel le-ferne which was high on a plateau giving amazing view of the sea and coast.
We were then treated to a lovely section of bike path down into Dover along the cliff edge. We stopped briefly at Dover Castle, bauked at the prices and set off to the white cliffs reserve where bikes get in for free. We stopped for lunch at Deal on the seaside with a big band playing an Sunday afternoon concert. Very atmospheric. Then the path headed north to Sandwich which is a lovely old town with tiny cobbled streets with such names as ‘No name street’. After Sandwich we headed inland on the home stretch to Canterbury which dodged and weaved through the country side. Emily and I got a fit of giggles when we realized the national cycle network covered almost twice the distance than as the bird flies. It was lovely to be able to stay with Auntie Pam, warm house, home cooked food and a soft bed.
Canterbury to Favesham
On the Monday we decided to explore Canterbury including the Cathedral and central town. We then set off to the coast along the Crab and Winkle way which connects Canterbury to Whistable. This was a lovely ride, mostly off road through forest. At Whistable we headed west to Favesham into a slight head wind. On the out skirts of town a large black cloud started to form on the horizon and approach quickly. Then it started to spit and soon after the skies opened. We sped along thinking warm drinks, food and a change of clothes were not far away. Unfortunately I took one corner too fast, broke to avoid a car and slid across the road rode. Ouch, both bike and rider were ok but my left leg was quite sore. At the station, the ticket lady had a little laugh at our predicament and gave us a large garbage bag for all the wet cloths. We were soon on the train eating chocolate bickies on our way back to London.
All in all, a great weekend. although we have a few things left to sort out before we head off permanently.
Bridgette.
