bruises already

fell off already (Sonya)! going down hill too fast and then tumbled sideways after hitting deep gravel at bottom - hey I thought it was meant to be all flat until Switzerland!
we passed Bluewater, and then it actually felt as if we had left London when we encountered a chorus of frogs.
arrived in Chatham (where Nig's great great grandfather was held on a prison ship (naughty boy stole a pair of boots) and had 7 years hard labour in Aussie as a result.
Made an illegal entry into the dockyards and had a quick spin around on the bikes
stayed the night in an old Oast house (now converted to YHA hostel) see pics- they have big conical roofs. think they were used for drying hops and other produce - pretty funky!
next night camped in Canterbury on a farm - lambing season underway and a very cold night amongst the apple trees before the big push in the morning for the ferry to Dunkirk - a beautiful day to leave England, after passing through picture perfect Kent villages and country lanes.


April 16 Day two NCN route 1
Abbey Wood to Chatham, Medway YHA £32, £14 food
62 km avg 13 k, hot no wind, poor road design, bad gates which you have to lift your bike over. Stayed in oast house.

April 17 Day three
Chatham to Canterbury, 74km, overcast and sunny cooler, a few hills, left 9:30 arrived 5:45. changeable light wind. Food and mug £10, camp ground £10, shorts (Nigel sore arse) & pump, £50.

April 18 Day four
Canterbury to Dover, ferry to Dunkirk, Dunkirk to Grande Synthe
64km Ferry £15 for passenger with bike x 2
Camping 15.80 euro
Refreshments on ferry £9.50
Supermarket 13 euro

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