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You're not wrong. The driving on and around the A2 is fucking pitiful. Sadly there is no nice way to get to Grain and getting tangled on those roads is miserable. Sorry you had such a bad time.
Looking at the route choices that some clubs make for their audaxes are really puzzling, and personally I would never route an organised ride through Rochester to Grain for that reason. Sheppy is reasonable to get to even if the road around the island is pretty underwhelming. I think that route as it is should be retired -it could go to Sheppy only and stick in the lanes. Cruising along the Medway is dumb and the justification must be operating on 30-years-ago traffic levels.
Reminds me a little bit of Oasts and Coasts when the route heads south after Hever to Uckfield and a bit beyond - those roads have been ruined by traffic and are just shit for riding. Needs a rethink.
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youramericanlover
I'd entered The Way to the Sea 200 ages ago but haven't really been in the right frame of mind to do long rides for a while, start/finish on my doorstep and a sunny day forecast was enough to twist my arm. Route was ok, some unavoidable bits of main roads out and back to the Isle of Grain and Minster. Nasty headwind at times. Good to see @Ruserius at the Isle of Grain control, lost him soon after that when he powered off into the headwind.
Sadly the thing that will be seared into my memory from this one is cunt drivers. I like to think I've got reasonably thick skin for close passes and aggro but Medway has to be right up there with the highest concentration of vile human beings to have been granted driving licenses in the UK. So many instances of getting passed at 40, 50mph with the offside wheels of the car barely threatening the centre line. I almost sacked it off after the Kingsferry Bridge into the train station at Swale, I'd had enough of that shit. Let my nerves settle for a bit and pushed on; things did improve from there as the route got more laney and Birling Hill was a test!
Not in any rush to get back out there if I'm honest.