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this sounds great, but I can't do that day... Can you post the route so those of us who can't make it can do it some other time?
We'll be following this route as far as Lower Highham (just past Gravesend) [ame="http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Greenwich-London-to-Whitstable"]map[/ame
%22%5Dmap%5B/ame]
...then freestyling to the Stone itself, which is on the eastern bank of Yantley Creek.
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Have fun, Jack et al.
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Eleven of us in the blue maze at Cutty Sark Gardens, including a trio of forumengers.
With a tailwind it was mostly fast flat roads through Woolwich and past Dartford with a nautical interlude at Greenhithe. Four more waiting at Gravesend and we were fifteen. One sure way to know you're riding on the National Cycle Network is the broken glass beneath your tyres. Two flats, speedily fixed. Not so easily fixed was a snapped rear drop out on an old Dawes, forcing a improvisational repair and a wary retreat to Gravesend for the unlucky pair.
Quiet lanes on the Hoo peninsular. Charming Cooling church from which, on cue, Jools Holland, the current king of Cooling Castle, emerged. We said hello by a sad row of tiny gravestones. Inside the church, piles of strawberries from the field next door in readiness for an afternoon tea party (zero food miles).
To Yantlet Creek and views east to the London Stone and out to sea and west to the darkening storm. Rapidly soaked, then dried in the sunshine and lunch at the pub. All but three elected to return by train from Gravesend.
Rolling lanes over the Darent, through Swanley Village, emerging into the Metropolis around Chislehurst and each to their own way home. Mine, to Waterloo, and just shy of twelve hours since leaving home the odometer read 92 miles.
A good ride by handsome group.
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Really enjoyable ride. Thanks Jack to you and Alan for leading and backstopping. Loads of informative chat on the landmarks along the way. Will definitely head out that way again, perhaps on a Whitstable ride at some point (or the forum's own Herne Bay ride in August). Lovely caff in Gravesend, and top notch pub scampi in Cooling.
We saw that extra bout of hail just as we were leaving Gravesend on the train. I felt quite glad of the warm Southeastern carriage at that point. Respect to you guys for sticking it out!
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We saw that extra bout of hail just as we were leaving Gravesend on the train. I felt quite glad of the warm Southeastern carriage at that point. Respect to you guys for sticking it out!
Strange, must be the Thames Delta microclimate, we had a completely dry run in from Gravesend, west into the setting sun.
jaitch
tom_k&e
ms-chris
BringMeMyFix
dumps
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About
The London Stone (18-6-2011)
Posted by
I've agreed to step in to lead the annual Southwark Cyclists' ride from Greenwich to the London Stone at Yantley Creek in Kent. In bygone times, several stones marked the city's geographical limits. We'll be riding to the one on the south bank of the downstream Thames.
It's an 80 mile round trip from the start at 9am on 18 June 2011 at Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich. Fairly fast roads to Gravesend then more of a wayfaring feel to the ride to the Stone itself, maybe taking in some unsurfaced tracks. It's estuary country, natural and spoiled in equal measure, wild and strange. Echoes of Conrad seafarers' tales and Wilko Johnson guitar riffs from across the water on Canvey Island. Here's Iain Sinclair.
There is an option for train back from Gravesend for those who find 60 miles is enough for one day.
This is a ride that would have been led by Barry Mason had it not been for his tragic and untimely death last week. More details on the Southwark Cyclists website.
It's not a forum ride per se but I thought that there were those on the forum who might like to come. Should be fun.