Trip to Chartham, Canterbury, Kent

[jerrysimon]

Last weekend was glorious and we visited my wife's twin sister in Canterbury for their 50th birthday celebrations.

I was told to bring my bike, so took my little EBrompton in the boot of the car.

We went for a lovely couple a mile ride to a little village called Chartham and I snapped some interesting photos.

An original well maintained signal box. Don't see many of them these days.

Lunch at the Artichoke, a timber-framed listed pub dating back to the 13th Century!

The other three were on regular full sized bikes and I easily kept up. However there was one challenge in the form of about four of these to negociate

Regards

Jerry

 

[Kenny]

Nice pictures. Fortunately this time of year still throws up the odd beautiful sunny day and providing your wrapped up well you can still have a great day out.
Love the little Brompton. Must say the more I learn about these compact lightweight folders the more they appeal to me.

 

[kitchenman]

I'll be off to Dungeness again next year and will be hoping to cycle to Canterbury. Great photos.

 

[lemmy]

Love the little Brompton. Must say the more I learn about these compact lightweight folders the more they appeal to me.

I love mine. What I don't/ can't/ is better done/ on the Kalkhoff, I do that but for speed around London the Brompton is just so effective.

I keep thinking of an e-Brompton, something like Jerry's but then I lose the panniers and load carrying capacity of my Kalkhoff (I carry cameras and tripods and stuff). On the other hand, to take an e-Brompton into town on the train or tube and use it would be wonderful.

I'd love to get down to one bike that did all that I wanted.

 

[jerrysimon]

Lemmy you are right there are compromises if you want to keep the EBrompton portable.

I would also say that I would not want to ride more than about 15-20 miles on one either. It really is a commuters machine ideally suited to bus/train/cycle type journeys, though mine is not. Its a cross Cambridge commute the benefit being that I ride up to the office door, fold and carry it into my office.

Also another great thing I like about it in town is parking up outside I shop I need to go in, folding it up going in, getting something and coming out. Obviously as you state, luggage space is restricted though with all my gubbins in the rear pockets the main front compartment is free for storage.

Regards

Jerry

 

[steveindenmark]

Thanks for the write up and the photos Jerry. I like to see where people are travelling to on their bikes. Like you, Jannie and I are out on our bikes as often as we can. It won`t be long before winter drops on us.

Next time sneak yourself into a picture. Self timers on cameras are a wonderful invention.

Steve

 

[Kudoscycles]

Kitchenman>
Your trip Dungeness to Canterbury...an area I know well...the obvious route is any road across Romney Marsh via Botolphs Bridge,steep climb up West Hythe Hill then onto Stone Street...but Stone Street is a very fast dangerous road I would recommend what we call the lower road via Brabourne,Elmsted and Petham,stop at the Timberbatts at Bodsham-good food. Then rejoin Stone Street at Lower Hardres,past Kent Cricket ground into Canterbury.
Hope that helps
Dave
KudosCycles

 

[kitchenman]

Kitchenman>
Your trip Dungeness to Canterbury...an area I know well...the obvious route is any road across Romney Marsh via Botolphs Bridge,steep climb up West Hythe Hill then onto Stone Street...but Stone Street is a very fast dangerous road I would recommend what we call the lower road via Brabourne,Elmsted and Petham,stop at the Timberbatts at Bodsham-good food. Then rejoin Stone Street at Lower Hardres,past Kent Cricket ground into Canterbury.
Hope that helps
Dave
KudosCycles

Thanks Dave. I have a pack of five cycle rides which is very good. Its "Romney Marsh Meanders". Louise and I did Ride 1 - On the Trail of Doctor Syn - A Dymchurch circular ride. Looking forward to doing the others and the Canterbury ride...
Here are some of the holiday snaps:
201109 Dungeness - a set on Flickr

 

[indalo]

the Timberbatts at Bodsham-good food.

Glad to hear the Timber Batts is still in business. I last had a beer there about 1973 but I'll make a point of dropping in again on my next trip as I always loved that area of Kent and it was my home for 9 years.

Indalo

 

[Kudoscycles]

The Timber Batts is very much in business...it now includes a smart and very good food in a french style restaurant called Froggies. The Timber Batts at Bodsham is really on a road that leads almost to nowhere...in other words you would never find it in passing you have to be directed there. But avoid Stone Street it is one of those straight roads where idiots drive at 70mph,despite many little side roads where tractors come blindly out,the resultant accident is often fatal...can't imagine the same idiots have any regard for bikes. Anyway the lower road avoids some big hills.
Dave
KudosCycles