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@|³|MA3K
The perils of using Google Maps to draw straight lines across the countryside
We left London at around 9:30 and with a slight adjustment to the directions courtesy of Dropout we joined up with my route around Footscray avoiding some built up London roads.
We were out along country lanes in short order and took a few pit-stops to enjoy the sweeping views behind us of the South, way back in the distance just poking out from behind the hill the larger buildings of Canary Wharf.
We travelled down towards the Medway and again had great views over the estuary from both sides of the valley.
This ride had so very many hills. The gentle undulations that allow you to pick up speed on the drops to give you momentum to crest the other side, and remorseless grinds that just necessitated putting all your weight and energy into each pedal over and over again.
As we travelled across the valleys there were hair-raising, sketchy gravelly descents in close contact with other riders and the occasional 4x4 and tractors appearing from around the sharp enclosed bends and then a succession of Ditchlingesque gradients that I am not ashamed to admit that after the first three I just hopped off and enjoyed the vistas and tranquillity of the countryside.
We did spend a while waiting to regroup on most of the climbs and a few of our number took the opportunity to leave at Wye but I think anyone who completed the route did pretty well, challenging as it was. A lot of concentration was required in those lanes and a lot of heart to keep forging on(and on) over the hills.
When we got into Dover after a long descent to the sea it was so tempting just to jack it in. Instead, as planned we climbed up past Dover castle which dominates the whole area and rode one more climb to the coast road from which you could see the adjacent cliffs on the French side of the water.
We got home on the last connecting train to London with our fish and chips and a few cans of beer.
It was a long hard slog but the experience and sights were unforgeable.
I did the ride brakeless on 77GI as did a few others. Aside from a stuck gear hanger that we stopped to fix, there were no serious mechanical issues or accidents.
All told a decent day out in the countryside.