Hippy Days

Just a relatively short 25 miles this weekend. Followed a well trodden path up on to the Pilgrims Way at Detling. The Pilgrims Way basically runs along the North Downs, about half way up them.

From Detling it was into Hollingbourne, across into Harrietsham before crossing the A20 and heading to Sandway, Kingswoos and East Sutton. Thought I would stop at a tea room outside East Sutton for an ice cream but strangely, the owner was sitting in his van, the tea room door was open, there was a "welcome" sign outside but the gate to the premises was closed. Thouyght this was bizarre so loitered for a couple of minutes so hopefully he would see me so, parched, I headed off to my next rendezvous.

The mate who I visited in Dover a couple of weeks back has a VW Dormobile and there was a festival for these near Leeds Castle. He, along with 1,000 others took his Dormobile there for bit of a weekend bash. Having blagged my way past the entrance which, despite the fact I was in cycling gear, proved harder than I expected as it was clear I was not going to be staying the night.

I found my mate, he was the one flying the Union Jack off a 20ft portable flag pole - so quite easy to find! I was greeted with a bottle of San Miguel which, in that heat, was the most welcome greeting I could ever have wished for. "Hippy Days!"

I stayed about an hour before heading off to my next stop, watching a bit of cricket on The Green. Bearsted CC (my club) was only 5 miles way across country and so it was a pleasant ride and another welcome chance for a bit of refreshment before heading finally for home.

Sunday saw the bike go in for its pre-trip service. I was planning to do this whilst we were on holiday but now the idea is to take the bike with us to Spain so I can continue my training there.