Group Ride – Isle of Grain

Group Ride – Isle of Grain

This Members’ Ride, led by Julian was strangely undersubscribed. Perhaps members were suffering t the effects of the Eurovision Parties the night before.

This is one of Julian’s favourite routes and took us from Otford Sainsburys, where some of the Kent group were also meeting; along Pilgrims’ Way and onto the lanes of the North Downs. We made a brief stop at Chatham Naval Dockyard then through Rochester and on to Grain. The photo is of our small group at the confluence of the Thames and Medway, where Medway fort is visible just left of Sammy’s head. Unfortunately the weather was still grey and chilly at this point and the tide was out, so this secret spot was not looking its best.

We agreed, much to my surprise, to head for a local vegan/vegetarian café for lunch, so as I knew roughly where it was I led for a while taking a diversion which enabled us to get off the rigidly enforced 40 limit on the A228. This took us past the impressive gatehouse of Cooling Castle, now home to musician Jools Holland. As we arrived at the Pure Planet Café -see separate article - the sun miraculously appeared, requiring those of us without natural scalp covering to improvise some protective headgear.

We rode back to the starting point via Brands Hatch and Eynesford. Unfortunately the presence of horses and young children in the ford obliged us to use the bridge. All in all a great outing covering some less familiar roads.

John McNally