As the time drew closer to the start of the trip, the weather forecasts became more threatening, but although given the option to call it off, everybody was still keen to go.
On Monday 23rd September, David, SueP, SueC, Mick, Carol, Len, Lin and me checked into the Premier Inn in Canterbury and we met up later for sightseeing during the afternoon. It had been dry earlier when David and his group took a boat trip on the river but it started to rain a bit, not heavy, after we met up later at the Patisserie Valerie for coffee and cake before heading back to the hotel. 
On the river in Canterbury
Evening meal at Bills CanterburyIn the evening, Richard and his friend Ray who were staying in a hotel outside Canterbury, joined us for a meal at Bill's in the centre of town. Sheila and her husband Kevin drove down later to stay overnight in Ramsgate and said it rained all the way during the drive. The forecast for Tuesday was fairly dire with heavy rain, so we opted to delay the start until just after the rain was supposed to ease at 11:00 and to shorten the route by cycling direct to Whitstable, missing out the leg to Faversham - everyone was advised by Whatsapp. Brian, Peter and Rod had set out on Tuesday morning to drive to Canterbury and reported torrential rain on the journey. As it turned out, only Carol and I got wet as we cycled from the hote to the car parkl whereas the others went by car, the rain having ceased at 11:00. We were joined at the car park by Sheila who had driven over from Ramsgate and Malcolm a friend of Mick's who lives locally and was joining us for part of the first day's ride.
On the river in CanterburyEvening meal at Bills CanterburyIn the evening, Richard and his friend Ray who were staying in a hotel outside Canterbury, joined us for a meal at Bill's in the centre of town. Sheila and her husband Kevin drove down later to stay overnight in Ramsgate and said it rained all the way during the drive. The forecast for Tuesday was fairly dire with heavy rain, so we opted to delay the start until just after the rain was supposed to ease at 11:00 and to shorten the route by cycling direct to Whitstable, missing out the leg to Faversham - everyone was advised by Whatsapp. Brian, Peter and Rod had set out on Tuesday morning to drive to Canterbury and reported torrential rain on the journey. As it turned out, only Carol and I got wet as we cycled from the hote to the car parkl whereas the others went by car, the rain having ceased at 11:00. We were joined at the car park by Sheila who had driven over from Ramsgate and Malcolm a friend of Mick's who lives locally and was joining us for part of the first day's ride.It was overcast and windy as we set off through Canterbury on the Crab and Winkle Cycle Trail. However there were some light rain showers as we headed to Whitstable on the off-road section of the trail but this dried up before we got into Whitstable. 
Whitstable HarbourWe stopped at the harbour for photos and then carried on along the NCN15 beside the coast to Herne Bay where we stopped for lunch in the Wetherspoons there. Just after we started off again, a dog ran into Richard's bike causing him to fall off - uncontrolled dogs not on leads on a shared cycle path again.
Reculver Shortly after that, Malcolm left us as at Reculver and we carried on along the coastal promenade that runs beside Minnis Bay, Westgate, Margate and Broadstairs to our overnight stop at Ramsgate. The weather had remained dry after Whitstable though windy. In the evening we met up for a meal at the Ramsgate Wetherspoons [the largest one in the UK and very nice] with Kevin, Sheila's husband joining us. The shortened route came out at 38 miles and 330m ascent.
Coastal Promenade Herne Bay
Whitstable HarbourWe stopped at the harbour for photos and then carried on along the NCN15 beside the coast to Herne Bay where we stopped for lunch in the Wetherspoons there. Just after we started off again, a dog ran into Richard's bike causing him to fall off - uncontrolled dogs not on leads on a shared cycle path again.Reculver Shortly after that, Malcolm left us as at Reculver and we carried on along the coastal promenade that runs beside Minnis Bay, Westgate, Margate and Broadstairs to our overnight stop at Ramsgate. The weather had remained dry after Whitstable though windy. In the evening we met up for a meal at the Ramsgate Wetherspoons [the largest one in the UK and very nice] with Kevin, Sheila's husband joining us. The shortened route came out at 38 miles and 330m ascent.Coastal Promenade Herne Bay
Westgate The next day after breakfast as we set off it was dry and bright though with a strong headwind along the coast. We cycled past Pegwell Bay to Sandwich for a quick tour around this pretty small town then along the coast to Deal where we stopped for coffee on the seafront. 
Pegwell BayAs we left, the rain started and it was hard going into the driving rain and the strong headwind though it eased a little in the lee of the cliffs as we climbed up to to St Margarets at Cliffe. The light rain started again on the top of the cliffs above Dover with the long, although gentle, climb into the very strong headwind over the exposed headland. The combination of strong headwind and driving rain made it very hard work and we were pleased to stop at the National Trust cafe for lunch. The rain stopped as we set off again over the rolling hills on the Skylark Trail back inland on quiet roads towards Canterbury with the wind now mainly a crosswind or behind us. Just after Adisham, about 8 miles from the end, some of us stopped at the Independent Pedallers cafe, whilst Richard, Ray, Rod, Brian and Peter opted to carry on back to Canterbury and head home. Malcolm and his wife met up with us at the cafe. 
Pedallers CafeFrom there it was an easy ride back then through the rush hour traffic on the cycle route to the car park then home. The second day came out at 46 miles and 598m ascent giving a total of 84 miles and 928m ascent with about 50% of the route completely flat.
Pegwell BayAs we left, the rain started and it was hard going into the driving rain and the strong headwind though it eased a little in the lee of the cliffs as we climbed up to to St Margarets at Cliffe. The light rain started again on the top of the cliffs above Dover with the long, although gentle, climb into the very strong headwind over the exposed headland. The combination of strong headwind and driving rain made it very hard work and we were pleased to stop at the National Trust cafe for lunch. The rain stopped as we set off again over the rolling hills on the Skylark Trail back inland on quiet roads towards Canterbury with the wind now mainly a crosswind or behind us. Just after Adisham, about 8 miles from the end, some of us stopped at the Independent Pedallers cafe, whilst Richard, Ray, Rod, Brian and Peter opted to carry on back to Canterbury and head home. Malcolm and his wife met up with us at the cafe. Pedallers CafeFrom there it was an easy ride back then through the rush hour traffic on the cycle route to the car park then home. The second day came out at 46 miles and 598m ascent giving a total of 84 miles and 928m ascent with about 50% of the route completely flat.