03-05-22, 09:20 AM
Yesterday was the annual May Day Run to Hastings. There was quite a good turn out at the meeting venue, Locksbottom in Kent, almost like the old days, bearing in mind this event has been going for close to 50 years. Bike parking spaces were at a premium due to the cars carrying the "I had a bike once" brigade.
Meeting pals you haven't seen since the previous years run is always a pleasure, and this year was no exception. To actually follow this run to Hastings is not really much of a pleasure. Maybe do it once to say you've done it, but it's not really a pleasant biking experience, mainly due to the volume of traffic and the riding antics of a few, which when they go wrong can be quite messy.
For the last 25 years or so, the group I ride with, take well known B roads eventually arriving at our usual pub meeting place in Rye. This guarantees a good days riding whilst still experiencing what is a special day in biking history, in this neck of the woods.
We left Locksbottom at around 10:30, and were soon turning off the A21 onto empty B roads that we know quite well. Calling in at the 1066 cafe on the way, for a tea and a chinwag, before carrying on to Rye for food and a pint. On arrival we managed to grab an outside table at the pub, and the food service was quite speedy.
With clean plates and empty glasses it was time to saddle up and head homeward, the long way. Fortunately another pubgoer had warned us of a main road closure in Rye, due to an accident, so were able to divert through the town to get to a favoured road that crosses the marshes. Once through Appledore and on to Tenterden we were now back into Kent and heading for a pubstop closer to home. All in all a good May Day with the weather playing ball which is always a bonus. Another 156 of our lovely English miles clicked on to the odometer, noting that a new rear tyre is top of the "to do" list.
Meeting pals you haven't seen since the previous years run is always a pleasure, and this year was no exception. To actually follow this run to Hastings is not really much of a pleasure. Maybe do it once to say you've done it, but it's not really a pleasant biking experience, mainly due to the volume of traffic and the riding antics of a few, which when they go wrong can be quite messy.
For the last 25 years or so, the group I ride with, take well known B roads eventually arriving at our usual pub meeting place in Rye. This guarantees a good days riding whilst still experiencing what is a special day in biking history, in this neck of the woods.
We left Locksbottom at around 10:30, and were soon turning off the A21 onto empty B roads that we know quite well. Calling in at the 1066 cafe on the way, for a tea and a chinwag, before carrying on to Rye for food and a pint. On arrival we managed to grab an outside table at the pub, and the food service was quite speedy.
With clean plates and empty glasses it was time to saddle up and head homeward, the long way. Fortunately another pubgoer had warned us of a main road closure in Rye, due to an accident, so were able to divert through the town to get to a favoured road that crosses the marshes. Once through Appledore and on to Tenterden we were now back into Kent and heading for a pubstop closer to home. All in all a good May Day with the weather playing ball which is always a bonus. Another 156 of our lovely English miles clicked on to the odometer, noting that a new rear tyre is top of the "to do" list.
Whizz kid sitting pretty on his two wheeled stallion.