Meeting Points :

1. Trevor Hughes will be by the ticket machine at Catford Station  ( NOT Catford Bridge ) at 08:45 for the 09:02 to Bromley - changing onto the 09:34 to Charing

2. Andrew Fergar will be on Bromley South Station Forecourt at 09:15 for the 09:34 to Charing

We arrive at Charing at 10:35

This ride is fairly hilly - around 2233 feet of ascent and descent and 35 miles in length  ...so be prepared to get some hill climbing practice .........But ...that said ...today we will see many small country lanes for the most part with very little traffic .

We start with a loop down to Swift's Green via Egerton ...coming through Pluckley then Westwell before conquering Charing Hill and going to Stalisfield Green afore arriving at the Bowl Inn : http://www.bowlinn.co.uk/ for our lunch stop ...as they serve food all day we won't need to hurry unduly to get
here ...this being at the 20 mile mark ...so a little more than half way .

After lunch it's onwaards to Warren Street and Payden Street ...passing the famous Ringlestone Inn ...then from Black Post to White Post and thence to Hucking with it's pub : http://www.hookandhatchet.co.uk/ must go some day!..before dropping down to the : Black Horse Inn : http://www.wellieboot.net/home_blackhorse.htm  where Trevor & Andrew will be having a beer or two ......and then it's two miles back to Bearsted station and trains home....should you not want to go to the Black Horse ...we will make sure you get Bearsted for your trains home

Please note that return to tickets to Charing are required and that Bearsted is on the same line as Charing ...albeit a few stops nearer Bromley South & Catford

Email : kayacan@aol.com

Mobile : 07717 693 701

Report

photos Ian P
photos Ian A

At Catford Station: Ian P, Katie and Trevor and when we got to Bromley South we were joined on the platform by Captain Andrew, Andrew of Bromley II, Andy of Orpington, Ian A, Ibrahim, Jane and Jurek. When we alighted the train we were delighted to find Jo and William already on there.

We took the train out to Charing and so began the pootling. The sun came out every so often and was part of the reason that made it such a good ride. Another aspect was to admire William's fantastic overshoes, oh, and um his legs.

Anyway, I digress. From Charing we went onto Eggerton and down this great hill which allowed us to revel in the freedom which being on the bike brings. We then went through Pluckley and onto a series of not too dangerous hills, plus it helps the miles when the landscape is so beautiful. There was one uphill (where we sadly said goodbye to Jo, hope you feel better!) which led to an even steeper uphill which defeated a lot of us. Thankfully, Captain Andrew said that lunch was nearby, we could do a loop around or we could go straight down the road to the pub, which some of us elected to do!

Lunch was at the charming Bowl Inn, a lovely open plan pub with a fire in the grate. The food is snacky rather than full meal, which has its pros and cons, plus the presentation of some of the sandwiches was rather interesting, especially the sausage sandwiches. Hilarity ensued.

As Captain Andrew promised, there were plenty of more hills to tackle and overcome, but not seriously challenging. A few miles post-lunch, Andrew of Bromley II had a puncture which got fixed remarkably quickly and we were soon on our way. A few miles, after some ups and downs over the Pilgrims Way we were heading in to Bearsted, four of us decided to sup at the 'The Black Horse Inn' (this completely outclasses the Bowl Inn), most people got the train home and Ian A and Andy cycled another 33 miles back to their homeland in Orpington.

What a great ride and lovely weather, many thanks to Captain Andrew for leading a well thought out ride, and special mention of thanks to Ian A and Ian P for taking wonderful pictures, as usual!

Katie Collis