Meeting Points :

1. Meet Andrew Fergar Bromley South Station Forecourt  at 09:05 for the 09:19 train to Rainham or

2. Meet Trevor Hughes by the ticket machine at Catford Station (Not Catford Bridge ) at 08:45 for the 09:02 to Bromley - changing there for Rainham

Our ETA at Rainham is 09:55

Overall distance today will be 34 miles and we ascend and descend 2234 foot ....almost all the hilly bits are in the first 16 miles of the ride ...and include three quite significant ascents...but we won't be hurtling up and down them with lycra clad fervour!

Once out of Rainham Station we will be on a country lane within half a mile or so ...heading Southwards towards Farthings corner ...then we press oon in the sme direction towards Newlands Wood ..before turning North through Yelsted ..West through Stockbury and then South to Colyers Wents ..then through the orchards at Bicknor before climbing Wormshill and on to Frinsted ...after which point the hard climbs are done .We go North through Bredgar and Oad Street now and pass around the fringes of Sittingbourne ...before getting to Iwade and soon after the Medway shore at Bedlams Bootom ....Eastwards noww to Lower Halstow wharf ...for more glimpses of the river ..then up to Ham Green and Bayford ..overlooking marshes all the while ...before passing West through Upchurch and on to Otterham Quay ...then another mile till Rainham Station and journey's end

We will find a pub for a lunch stop ........details to be announced on the day ....it's possible that we will run out of daylight before journey's end ...but I'll try my best to get us round in daylight . It will be a ride of contrasts ...and will not include any off road sections

Report

3 met at Bromley South (Andrew, Sue and New Andrew, welcome!) and 3 at Catford (Ian, Katie and Trevor) and we were fortunate enough to have Jan and William on the train too. So the 8 of us set off from Rainham, after Andrew's GPS system did not kick in (strange that), but we managed to make do!

Andrew (rightly so) made it clear that the first part of the ride was going to be hilly and it was definitely the case. There were at least three 'peaks' which had to be overcome, although the third one was only completed by Ian and New Andrew, where we politely banged on our saddles in appreciation. I have never been cycling in this part of Kent, so much kudos has to go to our glorious leader for picking this area – there was much effort in this section of the ride, but much beauty to admire: the rugged hills and the deep valleys were glorious. The mad part of this ride was going down through an old cleared path with lots of thorns before crossing a major A road, I confess to having a fit of the giggles as I said to our German friend Jan, 'Have you ever heard the expression, mad dogs and Englishmen'?

Lunch was at the Sun Inn at Bredgar, lashings of tea and lunch were consumed and conversation topics included the economy, Strictly Come Dancing and reminiscing about past pubs on rides. After lunch, it was certainly the case that it was chillier, but the second part of our ride was a lot flatter which was a kind of a relief as they had sapped some of my strength. Heading north, we were getting some great views of the The Swale, the Isle of Sheppey and finally turning west towards Rainham. I decided to cut out some of the route by the water as I was starting to get sick of the wind but the others wended their way happily around the waterfront before we all met back at Rainham.

Many Thanks to Ian for being our official photographer for the day, warm greetings to New Andrew who seems to be a natural at this cycling marlarkey and to Andrew for a great ride.

Katie Collis - Bromley Cyclists Reporter