Having met a few of the co-riders in the bar the night before I was beginning to regret the 2nd shandy (!) when the alarm went off at 5.30am.
Breakfast was great and then it was off to collect bikes and muster in the car park to be briefed on how the next 3 days were going to work. Basically, the guys from Classic Tours have 2 vehicles and support guys like a mechanic and doctor. The lead vehicle goes ahead and puts direction signs up and the big van acts like a broom wagon (i.e. can collect tired or mechanically challenged riders) and follows behind all the riders and collects the signs ready for the next section.
Each day is broken into manageable sections of 15-25km and there is a fuelling station - fruit, nuts, drinks etc - at each stop except lunch (that would just be greedy).
The first few miles getting from Bexley to open countryside were a bit dull but once in Kent "proper" things really picked up. Passed through Rochester and saw the castle. Some absolutely beautiful scenery along tiny little lanes and quite big hills. Lunch at the "Devils Kneading Trough" was interesting - 18 inch long tuna baguettes and soup. Just what was needed before a big hill(thanks for the warning on that one Gideon!).
Got to Dover around 6pm and shared the ferry experience with around 15,000 French teenagers which was clearly very enjoyable. Eventually got to hotel very late and crashed out.
No comments:
Post a Comment