Stage nine: Sittingbourne to Woodbridge…’Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 3’

That night’s sleep might be classed as well ropey, due to sirens…shouting…and sounds of general nonsense- and no, I had nothing to do with it! Anyway, up and on the bike for 0635 for what on paper looks like an absolute nightmare start. And given that I’d be cycling the first 20 miles on the A2 and not paper (sorry Cloughie), meant it was all that and a bag of chips.

And away!

I didn’t help myself either: for some unknown reason I reckoned it was a good five miles less to the Dartford RV crossing point. So what, you’re not unreasonably thinking: the issue is that you can’t cycle across the bridge or through the tunnel, so you need to rock-up at the appropriate RV point and ring to ask for a van to shuttle you across or through. And it ain’t a 24/7 service either, the slot I had to meet was between 0700-0900…so I gave myself a horror show task. Non bueno.

Photos were in short supply due to the traffic. Cut the cheering!

I was okay as long as there was a shoulder, and for 90% of the time there was.

There are segregated cycle lanes away from the A2 but I was that pressed for time that I had to take a chance and give the main route a go as it’ll save distance, and hope for the best. In the event, it was a complete stress-fest but it worked. I’ll try not to repeat it anytime soon though, hah-hah!

Quite glad to have made decent time…

Nah, not really cycling territory is it?

Still a helluva bit of engineering…

Delayed breakfast is served and will not touch the sides!

The relief at getting through the tunnel is massive, but all too soon you’re dumped out in Essex and frankly, there’s at least another 15 or 20 miles of grimness incoming until you get countrified. Before all that, there was the slight matter of a delayed petit dejeuner!

Progress!

Ian Broudie is never *that* far away…

It was an odd day, photo-wise: I passed through some nice villages and interesting towns but couldn’t get anything worth your time. Savour these days, hah-hah!

Delayed lunch in a lovely spot…Ardleigh.

A three county day…boom!

I can’t blame anyone else for tonight’s choice…

The old W. Allen line about being able to touch all four walls whilst lying in bed, sprang to mind!

As grim as my acco was, this place was a brilliant choice for dinner! Kudos Lesley and Andy…

Rehydrated protocols cannot be messed with. Top drop!

So that’s about it for today…bit of a transition stage innit? Just leaves us with the stats (managed not to split them into two this time) and today’s tune. Given that we spent most of the day in Essex, there’s only one contendah seeing as how we had Wilko back in Monmouth!

Done, and dusted!

This bunch had the hooks, words and blimey but they could play!