Returned to Brighton by car and parked up to set off where I left before. Tonight have the prospect of staying with a friends mother in Bognor.

Saturday 29th July 2017   09:45am

Hastings to Brighton (Hove)

39.73 miles

Wind against me as I set off on a damp morning recovered by rest from yesterday.  A great ride by sea but weather failed to improve

Normans Bay, Pevensey, Eastborne where rain fell in earnest but excellent crab salad found in harbour area; then East Dean, Seaford, Newhaven, Peacehaven and Saltdean – finally risked heading down to sea level to find wide sea defense that I could cycle on into Brighton below white cliffs

Had hot chocolate and tried to dry off before changing into dry clothes and headed back to Colchester by car for work in a couple of days time.  Have learnt a lot so hopefully will be better prepared for the next leg.

Friday 28th July 2018   10:11am

New Romney to Hastings

28.85 miles

Oh my goodness – this is tough !  The hills today.  Thought after I’d climbed what seemed like a mammoth hill and a downhill cyclist gave me the thumbs up that I must be near the top – no way – Battery Hill in Fairlight is a triple that seems to never end.

Had packed up campsite dry and headed off down coast to Dungeness point – inland again for first stop at Lydd, coffee and a foil wrapped bacon & egg sandwich that I kept for lunch in the back pocket of my t-shirt – great hot-water bottle on a cold windy day.  The rain then fell through Camber Sands and arrived soaked in to Rye for perfect hot chocolate.

After Battery Hill I knew I needed to stop at the first campsite I found which was Hastings Touring Park.  Flung tent tent up, showered, ate yesterdays leftover cold Thai curry which was still delicious, and settled exhausted by 8pm.

Thursday 27th July 2017   11:27

Sandwich to New Romney

39.98 miles

This seemed my longest day so far despite my late start.  I had looked around Sandwich a little and then set off on rough coastal path

Having an initial thought of using the main national cycle routes to plan my journey it was becoming clear that these often chose routes away from the coast as they were quieter, quicker or easier.  This meant that so far I had not had long stretches by the sea – however today I was very much by the coast and it set my mind to stay as close to the coast as I could on any cycle track or road.  I passed through Deal, had a wonderful if challenging ride up into Dover with spectacular views of the castle and port. Folkestone, Hythe, Dymchurch eventually led me into New Romney at 21:36 – sustained by some pizza from some guys in the previous campsite when I found out it didn’t accept overnight campers with tents !

Wednesday 26th July 2017   03:09hrs  /  09:52hrs

Rainham Country Park to Faversham    (see yesterday’s entry)

24.09 miles

Faversham to Sandwich

38.10 miles    =     62.19 miles

Happy with accommodation sorted and a full stomach I set off to Whitstable, Canterbury (where the signs seem to point 2 ways – across to Sandwich or down into Canterbury – I chose the latter and hoped the hill out wouldn’t be as steep as the one in – it wasn’t).  Great little vegan cafe where they not only provided nutritious cycle-benefiting snacks but understood the need to watch my bike in a city.

A fairly flat rural ride through Stodmarsh, Preston, Westmarsh and Richborough til I reached the scenic town of Sandwich where a B&B provided me with a comfortable bed – an ear plugs as the church bells sounded hourly – and the couple next door were a little noisy !

Tuesday 25th July 2017   11:03

Stratford to Rainham Country Park

58.26 miles

A late start after breakfast in the shopping center – and maybe I had a lie-in !   Think I enjoy cycling through cities as much as countryside.  Along the Thames was glorious – the sun helped; plus the ham sandwiches Carol packed for me yesterday.

Not always possible to stay by the river as developments – and industry – hog it frequently.  Travelling along the Dartford Estuary gave a completely different view having driven over it so many times on bridge.  Tranquil.   Ended up with fish & chips in Rochester – and nowhere to stay.   At least well fed so cycled onwards and finally in depths of darkness and wrong turns from poor signage I found myself on a spit of path out into the river at Rainham.  A bench beckoned so I had a damp 4 hours rest as the tide rose.   Hey, ‘if I can do a night shift on Labour Ward I can do this’ was my thought as I set off at 3 through the orchards of Kent.  Dawn really does have a chorus and the increasing light was helpful in identifying potholes !    On reaching Faversham at 7 breakfast and rest became my aim and I was thankful to a wonderful cafe where I sat for 3 hours, recharged my phone, enjoyed a full English breakfast with coffee – and booked some accommodation for tonight……………

Monday 24th July 2017   09:27

Great Baddow – Stratford

54.45 miles

Lovely start to the day – breakfast with Marj & Carol – it felt like the proper start of my trip as they waved me off with cheerful smiles and best wishes.  The day was dry and I was optimistic to complete as many miles as my legs would accept.

Beautiful green Essex countryside, combined barley fields and small villages passed by – Writtle (had no idea it was sooooo pretty) Newney Green, Fyfield, High Laver, and Housham Tye.   Pleased to get to Harlow, both old and new; then headed off to the Lee Valley towpath and Waltham Abbey.  Great to be passing by the varied houseboats – less appreciated multiple water filled potholes along the path.  After some easier travelling through the Olympic Park I arrived in Stratford still bearing the remnants of collected mud !   Fortunately I was able to book a room at the Premier Inn and take my bicycle into the room – one bath later and I enjoyed a light supper and some retail therapy (visual only as my panniers were already overladen)

Sunday 23rd July 2017  16:21 hrs    Colchester – Great Baddow (Chelmsford)

39.11 miles

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After a frantic day of packing, and a steep learning curve trying to set up a just giving site for 3 different charities – the RNLI, Epilepsy Society and British Skin Foundation, I set off late into a wet afternoon.  My first destination a friend’s house in Great Baddow.

Cycled into Colchester – nervous and excited – to join National Route 1.  And began to follow the little blue cycle signs that would form much of the first part of my trip.  Missing signs in places proved a challenge to staying true to the route planned but I  pushed along hard trying to reach my destination at a civilized time.  Layer, Abberton Reservoir, Tiptree, Heybridge Basin, Maldon and quite a few hills passed by as darkness beckoned;

but decreasing rain and a wonderful downhill stretch meant I eventually arrived fairly dry and in time for a warm greeting,comfortable bed and ironed sheets  🙂

Thanks for joining me – this journey started from an idea on my 57th birthday when in Aberdeen looking at National Cycle Route 1.

A little reading revealed that Route 1 runs not from Aberdeen but Shetland so a week later I’d come up with a plan to cycle Route 1 from my home town and then carry on around the British mainland.  So I set off from Colchester late on a wet Sunday afternoon – carrying my clothes, camping gear and ambition.

I am grateful to those whose join me

in person, in spirit or via donations to my 3 nominated charities

which can be found on

justgiving.com     –     Susan’s Coast-side Cycle