About 20 of us gathered at the shop and Harve declared it a perfect day for Jojo’s. Via where, Harve?! Boxley Hill, the A20, Challock and Bridge, apparently. “There are a few places where people can turn back if they need to. And we’ll keep it nice and steady,” said Harve. Yeah right. Simon, Martin and Big Dave were in the group, not to mention Andy Hawes; we should have known, no way would it be a steady ride with those guys setting the pace.
The first part of the ride went like this: Meresborough, Bredhurst, puncture – it’s OK, he’s not with us. Boxley Hill, cautiously. Puncture – Steve McInally, the world’s slowest repair ever. Pilgrim’s Way, A20, close formation, bang, puncture – Chris, front tyre beyond repair even after trying Mick’s magnificent patches. He said the long tear was caused by contact with Steve’s cassette and phoned his wife to pick him up. We rode on up Hart Hill, giving Steve (aka Jonah) a wide berth. At the top, Sean had been summoned by Her Indoors and Steve selflessly went with him, leaving us to proceed without further mishaps.
Rob, who’d ridden on ahead, was waiting on the A252 – he must have thought we’d stood him up – but not for long as he and a few others turned off to the gliding club. The rest of us hurtled down Molash Hill, then took a big loop south and east of Canterbury. After passing Howletts we were soon going through places I’d never even noticed on a map let alone been to. It was a lovely ride though, through the villages, marshes and wheatfields of Thanet. I can only apologise to the Asda shoppers whose home delivery was delayed because the van couldn’t pass us for what seemed like forever on the narrow lanes. Just after the descent from Herne Mill the leading riders missed a very sharp left turn but before long we were back together alongside the Thanet Way to Chestfield. Paul turned for home leaving a dozen of us to sample the fine cuisine of Jojo’s although Geoff and Kev preferred the café opposite. Andy befriended a dog; it was definitely a coincidence that the owner was female, slim and blonde. Considering he hadn’t ridden his bike for six weeks and we’d done 56 miles from the shop in just over three hours we were all impressed at how perky he was.
With darkening clouds and a stiff headwind it was only ever going to be the shortest route home. Steady too, at last. Word hadn’t reached Andy: he attacked leaving Seasalter but was soon out the back and among those in survival mode. We tried to keep the group together and at a reasonable pace, an endeavour defeated by small climbs at Oare and up towards Rodmersham. A heavy shower at Chestnut Street blew the peloton apart but Harve and I rode strongly up the warren and had enough left to do a extra loop above Bredhurst, passing the Walderslade-bound group on the return leg.
All in all a good day’s ride, almost 92 miles in under 5½ hours for me and some great cake into the bargain. But next time Harve says “steady ride”, don’t believe him.