Weald of Kent Wheeling
17 April 2004
Set off just the two of us from the Green Bridge to London Bridge station. A pleasant journey to Headcorn in Kent. After arriving at station, headed south through quiet lanes near Coldharbour for our first stop. Cream teas at the lakeside tearooms watching motionless anglers set up for the day, and beautifully coloured ducks. Carried on with steep gradients to Stonegate, then on to Wadhurst, where we stopped outside the Greyhound pub for a quick shandy for me and a coke for Steve.
After leaving Wadhurst we rose to our highest point of 160 metres with great views over Bewl Water. From there a four kilometre decent with Steve clocking 30 mph. It was on this stretch that I saw the fearless one, some way in front of me, put his left leg out as he came across a sudden sharp left hand bend, which he managed to get around.
On the hundred metre climb in two kilometeres to Goudhurst (20% gradient I think) I experienced a minor miracle! I felt sorry for Steve with his slipping chain, which he made sure I was aware of with very expletive tones, but I too was struggling with only two chain rings as opposed to his three. It was at this time nearing the summit that I decided to stop pedalling because of a complete energy loss - nothing left! Just at this moment my telephone rang and the brief stop to discuss this evening's dinner gave me the chance to recover. When I got to the top of the hill Steve already at the top asked if I was OK. I genuinely replied that I had had to stop to answer the phone!
From Goudhurst lanes were downhill, becoming flat back to Staplehurst in time for the 45 min relax on the train back to London Bridge. Arriving at 6.30 pm (we had set off at 9am), met Carol and Mandy at the Soma pub, Whitechapel.
Trevor
Tally of events
Riders: 2
Punctures: 0
Total distance: approx 50 miles
Views: excellent
Hills climbed: 10
Near misses: the fearless one - see above
Maximum speed clocked: 35mph
Strangers picked up: 1 at start in Headcorn - who declined the offer
Map reading: followed Steve and didn't get lost (so he says)
Weather: no rain
Pain factor: high going up hills, but almost strangely pleasurable
|
