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@deleted
Downloaded the route for next weeks Oasts and Coasts 300km Audax (came accross it when seeking route-spiration), broke it up into 2 segments and headed out in the rain for a B&B/pub in Iden near Rye on Sunday afternoon with the girlfriend.
I've been over Toy's plenty of times but was pleasantly surprised how easy it was going up the non steep side.
Given that we have varying degrees of fitness, we weren't going very quick and 5 punctures between us made for a testing ride in the rain. Ended up with mud filled cleats from standing round on the side of the roads changing tubes. The rain had washed all manner of objects into the road.
Would like to give a massive shout out to John the Landlord/proprietor at 'The Bell' in Iden where we stayed. He welcomed us in with our filthy bikes into the pub and poured us two of the tastiest ales I've ever had (pretty sure I skulled the first in about 30 seconds). The kitchen was closed but he got on the phone and ordered us some pizza which promptly arrived from Rye 20 mins later. Lovely accommodation too. Look them up if you need reasonably priced accommodation that way.
http://thebelliden.co.uk/
Awoke to a full english then set off for the remaining 165km at approx 10am.
Once again, we were cycling at a leisurely pace. The route takes out all the way back up the coast to Whitstable (along the Viking trail) and also along some seldom traveled roads in Sussex and Kent. At Whitstable, you go out through Faversham then pick up the Pilgrims Way. It's much much much easier going through Hollingbourne from this direction too. We caught the train back to London from Maidstone. Got the base for a good cycling tan for summer as I now have noticeably white hands.
If there's one journey you do this summer, do this one - this country is truly great in the spring and summer.
Day 1: http://www.strava.com/activities/132364819
Day 2: http://www.strava.com/activities/132735260
Ride with GPS routes available here:
Day 1: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4456003
Day 2: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4456457
One of the quiet lanes in Sussex:
Open Corsa CX's aren't the best tyres for touring on:
Trying out an on bike selfie (narowly managing to avoid a pothole):
