More tails from the IoW

Today's ride lead us up to the Needles gun batteries, hilly to say the least. Today's total climbing was 2927 foot. A lovely sunny day.

Vic's celebratory knicker Boker glory after the return of his lost wallet.

Author: Tony

Pilgrims Way to Canterbury

Mark's merry band of Pilgrims assembling at Caterham ready to do it their way! Much better weather than the Tri-Vets

As for me I really wanted to do this trip and staying the night with the Archbishop would have been great if only I could get out of the Habit! Not to be outdone I did my own little pilgrimage on the way home and visited Chaldon Church.

Took a picture of the wall painting as well but that already posted in the preamble by Mark.

Now all I have to look forward to is the purgatory of this evening's KPRC 10 TT on the dreaded A24.

Author: mike morley

Wayfarers Isle of Wight Tour

On our way to Lymington through the New Forest.

Author: Tony

B Group ride from Caterham

We shall have an undulating ride into the Kent countryside and return to Reigate for Tea.

Steph intends to lead any B Group riders who show up at North Cheam.

~ John Austin

Author: Tim C

MG meeting at Cowdray House Midhurst West Sussex

OK what has this got to do with cycling? Well Grant Pyke and I decided to go and meet Joanna Rowsell Shand MBE with her Double Gold Olympic medal and MBE and here we are!

Grant and me decided to change from a cycling day out to an MG meeting because Joanna was promoting a good cause for Alopecia! Grant really appreciated the day out. I had not realised that he was such an expert vintage car expert!

Joanna is an amazing girl running around presenting prizes and being such an ambassador for her sport and her cause!

Author: mike morley

A Group 10th May - Notes for Pilgrims

The weather prognosis continues dry, so the probability is that we will be able to ride the entire Pilgrims' Way.  Paul Kelly and I looked at a potentially muddy stretch today, and it was as dry as dust.  I'll check again before we start.

Here's the route:

The bits marked in red are the sections of trackway; the rest is tarmac surfaced country lanes.  The surface of the trackway varies, but is nowhere very rough.  It does take some skill in places, as the best course for a bike may be narrow, but it's all entirely do-able on a normal touring bike.  The route is just over 60 miles from Caterham; about 15 miles are trackway.

If you're coming to Caterham over Farthing Downs it's worth spending a few minutes at Chaldon Church looking at the strange and wonderful 11th century wall painting.  The church is open from 1000.

We'll leave Caterham at 1100, and go through Woldingham to reach the Pilgrims' Way at Titsey.  It's mostly tarmac to lunch, with a couple of miles of track as we approach Wrotham.  Lunch will be at the Rose and Crown, Wrotham, and Dave Vine will lead a party back from there, for those that want a normal Wednesday ride.

From Wrotham the rest of the pilgrims will continue along the Pilgrims' Way to Halling, where we will cross the Medway over a fine new bridge, very near to the ancient ferry crossing which last operated in the 1960s.  We'll continue to Lenham, where we'll take tea at Pippa's Tea Rooms.  There are trains from Lenham to Victoria and there is an hourly service from Headcorn - about six miles South - back to Redhill and on to Dorking.

Leaving Lenham we'll go over the hill towards Canterbury using country lanes, and will pick up the very pretty cycleway into the City itself at Chartham.  We'll stop in Sun Street for photographs, and then adjourn for refreshment.

It has always been a popular spot for cyclists - here's Tommy Godwin in Sun Street on his record-breaking ride in 1939 - as you'll see, Mike Morley is behind him, wearing one of his hats.

I'll be staying overnight in Canterbury, heading back the next day.  I've booked in to the Premier Inn, which is modestly priced and has a good bike policy - you can keep your bike in your room.

There are two stations in Canterbury, East and West, and here are trains departing at about 1900.

The trains have bicycle spaces, the number depends on the length of the train.  I've no idea how fussy they are, and I have never had a problem, but spreading ourselves between trains can't do any harm.

Fingers crossed for a sunny (or at least dry) day!

Mark

ps - perhaps uniquely for a Wayfarers ride, there is a badge:

£4.50, from E-Bay.  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canterbury-City-Pilgrims-Way-Kent-County-Crest-Small-Pin-Badge-0971-/380662104776?hash=item58a13ac2c8:g:aXkAAMXQHU1RwFRL

Author: Mark G

6 Comments:

PaulKelly 05 May 2017 at 16:19 BST

I did the ride a couple of years ago, from Canterbury to Blue Bell Hill where I turned North to Chatham - perfectly fine on my Tricross with non-knobbly tyres. A few tricky bits where you will want to leave long gaps in the peloton but mostly very straightforward.

The views are spectacular and the idea that M2 is on one side and the M20 the other yet you are riding along in a different century is mind blowing.

Enjoy!

PK

Simon L 06 May 2017 at 10:59 BST

Looking forward to it! Mike Morley gets around, doesn't he?

Ged Lawrenson 07 May 2017 at 18:33 BST

For those interested in a readable history of the Way, the recent Cicerone Guide, Walking the Pilgrims' Way, provides links to sites on the Way, broken down into 15 (walking) Stages. (Mark's route more or less follows Stages 7 to 15 of the route in the Guide).
(I'll bring my copy in case there's time to linger at some of the sites).

https://www.cicerone.co.uk//product/detail.cfm/book/777/title/the-pilgrims--way#.WQ9Un1KZOi5

Mark G 07 May 2017 at 19:47 BST

Thanks, Ged. If you're in a hurry, you can get the book on a Kindle. I'm just starting to read it!

mike morley 08 May 2017 at 20:50 BST

Well Mark this is your repeat ride which I did not want to miss but regrettably it clashes with the second KPRC evening 10 and also I have a hospital appointment in Epsom Thursday morning with my Liver Specialist which I can't miss, otherwise I would have loved to spend an evening in Canterbury what a great idea.
Remarkable that you found the photo of me and Tommy Goodwin. Hope to see you at Caterham for a send off!

mike morley 09 May 2017 at 11:37 BST

Well Mark this is your repeat ride which I did not want to miss but regrettably it clashes with the second KPRC evening 10 and also I have a hospital appointment in Epsom Thursday morning with my Liver Specialist which I can't miss, otherwise I would have loved to spend an evening in Canterbury what a great idea.
Remarkable that you found the photo of me and Tommy Godwin. Hope to see you at Caterham for a send off!

Mark Roy update

Lynda has received a bit more news concerning Mark from Pat Matthews. Pat went to visit Mark at home but learned from his daughter that he had just been readmitted to hospital.

~ Tim

Author: Tim C