24-06-22, 04:15 PM
(Yesterday) It’s always difficult, for some unknown reason, arranging a day out when several people are involved. Earlier in the week 7 of us expressed a desire to have a day out this week, and Thursday seemed to suit everyone. Four of us were due to meet fairly locally at 09:15, picking up the other three at another venue as we headed south.
The change in the weather from Wednesday made riding kit choice a bit of a dilemma, as come Thursday morning as it was raining. Whilst trying to choose between textile and leather the mobile was pinging ten to the dozen, with the first bailer using the old “I ain’t got no waterproofs” excuse. Now there were only two to meet up with at the first venue. I arrived a bit early to find one of my pals already relaxing with a coffee whilst admiring his newly purchased KTM 1290 GT. A quick look at the phone revealed another bailer, so no show for the Tracer 900 GT because of the light rain. So, just the two of us set off for the second rendezvous, the far side of Brands Hatch. The roads were drying as we approached our meeting point, the air temperature noticeably rising, and the textile jacket fast becoming a bad choice. The remaining three compatriots all turned up within minutes of each other, so with waterproof trousers shoved in the tank bag, and all the bikes gassed up, we were off.
Good progress was made via A and B roads to Tenterden, before aiming north in the direction of Canterbury, before swinging east to our destination, The Coastguard Inn at St.Margaret at Cliffe. The descent to sea level is a bit hairy due to the steepness and narrowness of the road and sharpness of the bends, really hoping a car or something larger wasn’t going to attempt the ascent, while on our way down. Safely parked outside the pub, helmets and jackets couldn’t be got off fast enough. The sun was really hot in a clear blue sky to the extent of having to get an umbrella to shade the table while we ate. At this venue most phone networks switch to France as it’s on the limit of their coverage.An hour or so was spent soaking up the sun while sipping shandies, wishing we could stay for the rest of the day and have a proper drink.
Petrol was next on the agenda, the Garmin sorting out a Shell garage within three miles, and in the direction I was planning to go. Duly gased up we headed for Wingham via lanes that took us through several Kent farming communities. Other than a diversion in the middle of nowhere, due to a road dig up, we stayed pretty much on the course I’d planned, making sure we didn’t miss out the Chilham Bends on our way to Charing, before more cross country on B roads, to the outskirts of Goudhurst for an early evening pub stop.
From here we went our various ways, and in hindsight I should have stuck to my favourite B roads, but at a crucial corner decided to stay with the A road thinking it would be quicker. Not really considering the time of day, as my commuting days are long gone, I found myself in heavy traffic, double white lines and slow progress. Still this was the only dampener in the day for me, rolling onto the drive with another 218 of our lovely English miles under the Fazer wheels. A great day despite the iffy start, with the two lightweights now wishing they’d made the effort.
The change in the weather from Wednesday made riding kit choice a bit of a dilemma, as come Thursday morning as it was raining. Whilst trying to choose between textile and leather the mobile was pinging ten to the dozen, with the first bailer using the old “I ain’t got no waterproofs” excuse. Now there were only two to meet up with at the first venue. I arrived a bit early to find one of my pals already relaxing with a coffee whilst admiring his newly purchased KTM 1290 GT. A quick look at the phone revealed another bailer, so no show for the Tracer 900 GT because of the light rain. So, just the two of us set off for the second rendezvous, the far side of Brands Hatch. The roads were drying as we approached our meeting point, the air temperature noticeably rising, and the textile jacket fast becoming a bad choice. The remaining three compatriots all turned up within minutes of each other, so with waterproof trousers shoved in the tank bag, and all the bikes gassed up, we were off.
Good progress was made via A and B roads to Tenterden, before aiming north in the direction of Canterbury, before swinging east to our destination, The Coastguard Inn at St.Margaret at Cliffe. The descent to sea level is a bit hairy due to the steepness and narrowness of the road and sharpness of the bends, really hoping a car or something larger wasn’t going to attempt the ascent, while on our way down. Safely parked outside the pub, helmets and jackets couldn’t be got off fast enough. The sun was really hot in a clear blue sky to the extent of having to get an umbrella to shade the table while we ate. At this venue most phone networks switch to France as it’s on the limit of their coverage.An hour or so was spent soaking up the sun while sipping shandies, wishing we could stay for the rest of the day and have a proper drink.
Petrol was next on the agenda, the Garmin sorting out a Shell garage within three miles, and in the direction I was planning to go. Duly gased up we headed for Wingham via lanes that took us through several Kent farming communities. Other than a diversion in the middle of nowhere, due to a road dig up, we stayed pretty much on the course I’d planned, making sure we didn’t miss out the Chilham Bends on our way to Charing, before more cross country on B roads, to the outskirts of Goudhurst for an early evening pub stop.
From here we went our various ways, and in hindsight I should have stuck to my favourite B roads, but at a crucial corner decided to stay with the A road thinking it would be quicker. Not really considering the time of day, as my commuting days are long gone, I found myself in heavy traffic, double white lines and slow progress. Still this was the only dampener in the day for me, rolling onto the drive with another 218 of our lovely English miles under the Fazer wheels. A great day despite the iffy start, with the two lightweights now wishing they’d made the effort.
Whizz kid sitting pretty on his two wheeled stallion.