Meeting Place & Time : 08:35  on Bromley South Station Forecourt for the 08:49 train to Canterbury East
Nb - Buy return tickets to Herne Bay .(we may have to pay an extension from Faversham to Canterbury on the way out)

We arrive in Canterbury at around 10am ...then set off across this very busy old medieval city ...hopefully not taking too long to get onto the Crab and Winkle way to Whitstable ...which is around 6 miles long and has a steep up as well as a steep down section .

Once at Whitstable we will follow the coast all the way round to Ramsgate via Herne Bay , Reculver , Birchington , Margate , Broadstairs and Ramsgate ......there will be a number of opportunities to cut the ride short up till when we get to Ramsgate ....which is 32 miles in ....after that you are committed to the full 49 miles .

From Ramsgate we go to Minster , Monkton and St Nicholas at Wade before arrowing sharp North to get back to the coast east of Reculver ....we then retrace our path to Herne bay or even Whitstable for an extra 5 miles ...before getting the train home ......I will be having a few beers and something to eat in Herne Bay or Whitstable at the end of the day

We will find a lunch stop when the group think it is peckish enough ...mayhap in Margate .

Our total distance is 49 miles and total ascent and descent will be 2317 feet and 2326 feet respectively

A fair distance to cycle ....but nothing very difficult ...apart from the very first stage from Canterbury to the coast....and even that's none too bad

Report

9 of us rocked into Canterbury East and West Stations – Andrew, Ian, Ibrahim, Jane, Jo, Katie, Lyn, Sue and William (It could have been 10 but poor Burak mistakenly headed towards Catford). Our early foray onto the Crab & Winkle way was cruelly blighted by Ibrahim's bikes inability to receive the correct inner-tube into his wheel. With regret we said goodbye to the good doctor whilst we ambled towards Whitstable – where I took on water and some sweets from a very old-school confectioners (which much cooing and ahhing from people looking at sweets they grew up with).

We then headed towards Herne Bay and Reculver, with most agreeing that this was pleasant going in comparison to the last time we tackled it, the south-west breeze working in our favour. There was a river that originally separated the Isle of Thanet from the mainland of Kent and the landscape still reflects this. Close to 30 miles some of us were feeling peckish so William suggested the Captain Digby, located near to the rather fabulous Kingsgate Castle. The original Captain Digby pub fell into the sea, but much of its materials were recycled into its current manifestation (dated to around 1816). The food was good and some even ventured for pudding. We then realised that time was running away with us and then set off.

After some hills we soon arrived into Broadstairs which for me was the highlight of the afternoon. Beautiful buildings with interesting features, nooks and crannies it was easily the most attractive seaside town I've seen in a long while – next time it was agreed we would have to time this for a cakeage stop (something which Sue and I are trying to introduce into these rides). Thence into Ramsgate with its handsome red brick working with the jutting cliffs and climbing into it affording us an attractive view of the marina.

With the wind starting to slow us down it was good to finally head back towards the direction of Canterbury, cycling through the pretty villages of Minster and Monkton and finally in view of the towers of Reculver. It was past Reculver where the autumnal rain briefly hit us (which was amazing that it was so brief, the weather had been near marvellous) where people spurred each other into cycling towards Whitstable (saying goodbye to Lyn who was to stay for supper) and getting to the station with 3 minutes to spare! My end mileage was around 61 miles.

Many Thanks to Captain Andrew for leading the ride so knowledgeably and Ian for photography duties - it was a great day out and the bonus was that we missed all the crappy weather which London had!

From Andrew Fergar's correspondent Katie Collis

Viking Trail 06-09-08