The prospect of wine tasting was a clever carrot to dangle in front of the Wheelers.  31 cyclists turned up with noses quivering at the thought of plentiful stops, fuelled by Kent’s finest brews.

As we rolled out of Ashford, the weather looked promising and we cruised along in late summer sunshine.  Main roads soon gave way to winding lanes where hedgerows bowed under the weight of sloes and blackberries.  Never ones to miss a food top up, especially a free one, we hungry cyclists picked the bushes clean.

Ride leader Alex was the victim of the one and only puncture of the ride just before the tea stop.  A raggedy tyre swiftly patched up by Colin meant it wasn’t too long before we descended on our first vineyard at Biddenden.  Here, there were wines, as well as ciders, to try and it was a good hour before we set off again, panniers rattling with purchases.

45 minutes later, we arrived for lunch at The Bull in Rolvenden.  By now, the sun was beating down, so we headed to the garden to enjoy some particularly tasty pub grub, dished up by a very jovial landlord.  Unusually, some Wheelers were struggling to scoff their food with speed, so we divided into two groups to allow them to stay behind and eat in peace.

A mere 6 miles later, we were at our third stop, the Chapel Down vineyard at Small Hythe.  The wines here are a bit more exclusive and allegedly held in high esteem by royalty.  Rumour has it that a large order was placed for William and Kate’s wedding. The Wheelers showed their approval by wobbling off with a fair few bottles, making the climb up the hill out of Small Hythe a little more interesting.

You’d think that three stops would be sufficient, but those Kentish lanes are hard work, so 10 miles on we were settling down for tea at Miss Mollett’s High Class Tea Room in Appledore.  Think mis-matched china, more scones than a bun fight at the WI and enough jam to fill the Olympic velodrome. 

As we set off for the final 12 miles or so, the sun disappeared and the first drops of rain soon became a deluge.  Even the odd glimpse of a rainbow didn’t make matters easier.  By the time we reached Ashford, apple cheeks had been replaced by rather wan complexions. 
Passengers on the high speed train back to St Pancras were treated to the heady waft of damp cyclist, as we quietly steamed in the warm carriages. 

To conclude, the ride was a fantastic jaunt through the ‘The garden of England’ with the right combination of distance and pace (when weighed down with several bottles of wine) .  Interestingly, Alex’s Garmin reported that the cycling time amounted to 3 hours and 58 minutes, while resting time was 4 hours 37 minutes.  The Wheelers have got their priorities just about right.

Annabel