Whitstable Fish & Chips and Aunty Pat’s caravan 25.3.2016

All smiles at the start.

When Patrick said he was planning a ride to the seafront for some fish & chips, I thought doesn’t sound too bad quick sprint up Friars Hill and a cruise past the the speed camera on Old London Rd and then let’s get stuck in. But then the bombshell “Not not in Hastings you plonker – Whitstable”. Fine I thought, then Nigel the Caveman got hold of the idea “no not straight there plonker - lets do the Oasts & Coast route through Hythe, Folkestone, Dover, Deal, Sandwich, Minnis Bay, Reculver, Herne Bay and finally Whitstable (apologies to any seaside town in Kent we went through that I have forgotten – but they have blurred into a blur). Ok why not – invites sent and lycra ironed - Easter Saturday the plan. Then the weather forecast so a last minute switch to Good Friday.

Duncan Patrick & Nigel met at the Harrow and made their way to Pett where I was enjoying my lay in. We then set off across the marshes, the north westerly tormented us alternating between cross and a headwind. To add to the party, the amount of c*** on the road began to clog the brakes, so much so we had to stop and remove wheels to get the stuff off. Arrived in Hythe and stopped at the cycle friendly café in Hythe where we were greeted like Tour de France riders by the attentive staff. We sat outside and joined in the outdoor Sally Ann Good Friday service. The sermon was focussing on suffering – how we laughed!!

Even cavemen need fuel

Any way, off we went on the intriguing route the bank holiday bought traffic jams in the towns and thousands on the cycle paths, causing us to have to weave and brake for good parts of the journey. The route was brilliant and on any other day (ie no head wind and fewer holiday makers) would be perfect – bring on the Oasts and Coasts. We paid homage to my Aunty Pat’s caravan at Recluver although I insisted on not popping in as she knows too many embarrassing things about me. Just before Minnis Bay, Nigel bequeathed home made rice cakes to us. I for one became a fan – easily digested and loads of energy.

We arrived in Whitstable around 3pm and the place was heaving – we tried to queue for fish & chips and gave up after estimating the 45min wait. We then pushed on to Canterbury on another really nice country lane route and eventually selected ‘Spoons’ as the place for our late lunch (You can take the boys out of Hastings but you can’t take Hastings out of the boys). At that point all of our Garmins were telling us they were on low battery. Fears of no representation of the ride on Strava gripped – so adjustments to backlights and navigation left us reliant on Nigel’s route knowledge, even though he had never completed the route this way around.

Chips and beer, the food of champions

Then the final leg back though the lanes, by this time legs were suffering and we all worked hard for the cause of the group. Not helped by the wind shifting to a south west head wind (Easter suffering theme continued). We decided at Kennardington not to take the route back through Wittersham but to go back along the Military Canal road to Rye and the back via Pett Level and Battery Hill to home. My Garmin turned off with a mile or so to go but still registered 130 miles plus. But Duncan must have gained the prize with his ride back to Bexhill.

Chapeau boys deserved.
Peter Baker