A good, if not damp day out to Margate yesterday. North Kent must have had some very early morning rain, as we started off at 8am on wet or drying roads. With very little traffic we made excellent progress to the breakfast stop at the eastern end of the A20. With plenty of time in hand we were able to have a very leisurely breakfast, which made a nice change. Just as we were ready to leave, light rain arrived, but as the sky was clear in our intended direction, the waterproofs were left in the top box.
Fortunately the traffic played ball again, and were soon skirting Manston Airport, and after negotiating some nadgery lanes, we turned right to join the main flow of bikes entering Margate, only about 500 yards from the main roundabout. As usual a bike space was at a premium, and we ended up parked about 300yds from each other. Despite the poor weather forecast, the resort was quite rammed, but managed to get a seat in a favoured backstreet pub, just as the first shower arrived.
I always feel so sorry for the organisers of events like these, when the weather is poor, as the time and effort invested in the organisation, is just the same, irrespective of how the day turns out. With the shower passed, we were able to watch the last five or six numbers of the band on stage, but almost on cue, as the last note was struck the heavens opened, signalling time to go. Waterproofs were hastily zipped up, and were soon part of the exodus trying to find the least jammed route out of Margate. As luck would have it, I had a suitable route planned in the Garmin, and were soon out in the boonies heading for Wingham, before taking in the Chilham Bends and onwards to Headcorn for tea and cake.
By now the sun was out giving an opportunity to get the waterproofs dried off. There was a wing walking event at the airstrip, with quite a queue of willing participants. With tea and cake demolished it’s was time for the final leg of our journey home, again making good time due to the light traffic, although having to endure a couple of light showers. I rolled onto the drive with a further 189 pleasurable miles on the Fazer, but will have to find some cleaning time today, as the weather had certainly left it’s mark.
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