Perfection

Following last weeks abandonement after 7 miles due to a slow puncture, I feel I more than made up for it on Saturday with a 37 mile ride around familiar routes.

I met up with my mate David Pearce again. Both of us were dressed for different weather systems - me in a short sleeve shirt and shorts, and he in shorts and tights (if that is the right description!), shirt and waterproof jacket plus woollen gloves over his cycling gloves. One of us was bound to get it badly wrong. In the event there was no winner or loser. We did encounter one short sharp shower but luckily with the ensuing sun, I dried off within 20 mins. Consequently I never felt under dressed except for the last mile, where it started to rain properly and the temperature really dropped. However being a mile from home, this wasn't a problem.




The route involved a couple of climbs including the usual to the top of the North Downs. We headed off north towards Oad Street, just south of Sitttingbourne. We basically crossed the M2 (not by playing chicken I hasten to add) before heading to the next bridge and looping back south, heading towards Hollingbourne. Just before reaching Hollingbourne and dropping off the Downs, we headed along the Pilgrims Waywhich runs West to East about half way up the Downs.




We had cycled about 16-17 miles at this point and it was here I met this chap on a bench who looked like he had been there a while. It was a lovely spot with fine views and a great place to rest for weary pilgrims. You can see the threatening sky behind!

We soon dropped off the Downs altogether, crossing the A20 into the medieval village of Lenham. It was back in about 1600 that an Edward Vant and his new wife Phillipa May moved up from Plymouth to undertake some restoration work on the church in Lenham. This man is responsible for every single Vant in Kent, 90% of which have been based within a 10 mile radius of Lenham.

We then had a gentle but long climb towards Sutton Valance where we stopped for a pint of Cornish brewed Doombar at the Swan just opposite this fantastic vintage Citroen. Give me one of these over a Ferrari any day! The pint and pub were worth a definite 5 saddles.

It was Sutton Valance where I visited a few weeks ago, stopping at the remains of the castle keep overlooking the Weald. I told my dad about this and he said that whilst he was at school in the village he had climbed to the top of the keep. This would really have taken some doing and with classic understatement, he said he may struggle to do it now!

From Sutton Valance it was a 6-7 mile ride to our next watering hole, The Oak on The Green, my local and adjacent to where I play cricket.

The pub is the partially obscured cream coloured building to the top right of the pavillion whilst the Fish restaurant (visible behind me on the piccie above) is just to the right of the pub. The blue sun canopy is also just visible. The North Downs can be seen in the background.

The first recorded match was between the Honourable Gentlemen of Bearsted the Honourable Artillery Club based in the City. This match took place in 1749 making Bearsted one of the oldest clubs in the country and therefore the world. Without wanting to bore non-cricketing readers, famous players who have played on The Green include Alfred Mynn (the "Lion of Kent" and pioneer of overarm bowling who is buried just outside the village), Alan "Titch" Freemen, Sir Pelham "Plum" Warner, Frank Woolley and more recently, Richie Richardson.

Bearsted is genuinely a truly historic club and one of our most prized possessions is a stump presented to us by Sir Pelham Warner that was used in the infamous Bodyline test series in Australia.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable ride. Exhilerating with a couple of decent climbs but all undertaken on country roads. Got to be as near perfect as possible.