Last of the Tuesday Evening Rides – 10th September 2024
Everything was a bit last minute and a little uncertain as we approached the day but in true EKAM style (in the event) it all worked perfectly. The problem was a ride leader. As Tuesday approached, we hadn’t got one. But Nigel Stevens kindly stepped up the plate and offered to lead. The TeC was Alan Horton still running in his new KTM but that wasn’t going to be a problem and so, despite the rain and the closing evening, we were in business.
What’s the route? ‘It’s in my head’ Nigel had said the day before the ride. As I got to the rendezvous it occurred to me that Second Rider Drop-Off needed to work tonight……..
Did I mention it was raining?
Our small, but perfectly formed, group of 10 dutifully assembled at Canterbury Chartham Garden Centre for the briefing.
Nigel pointed out that it was raining - and the nights were closing in.
So, the route would involve nothing overly technical, would avoid green stuff in the middle of the road and would run in two parts:
- From Canterbury to the Airport Café on the A20 at Sellindge. If conditions allowed, we would continue, if not we would terminate there.
- If conditions allowed, we would run a lap of the Marshes just to say goodbye at the end of the summer, again finishing at the Airport Café.
So, as the rain steadily continued, we reprised riding all those lovely roads across Chartham Downs, through the two Hardres’ and the two Minnis’s, down to Lyminge, up to Farthing Common, south on Stone Street and across the M20 towards the Airport Café.
By then my doubts about my suit were being realised and the damp inside my ‘waterproof’ textiles was rapidly reaching the same level as the wetness outside. But the roads were ok and the light was still with us - and I was thoroughly enjoying myself.
And - I was very pleased to see we clearly weren’t going to be stopping for tea just yet.
The second part ‘lap of the marsh’ was a shortened route and daylight stayed with us for the whole thing, only starting to fail just at the finish. There was little traffic about and, whilst the roads are deformed in places, the rain seemed to have made sure the only thing on the road surface was water and the grip was good. Where I live the mud on the road sometimes seems to get as thick as the mud in the fields – and that’s not so good.
At the end of the run we managed to arrive at the Airport Café all together (an unplanned but still impressive feat) and, despite the wet conditions of the ride, there was considerable merriment as we warmed up. Clearly everyone had enjoyed themselves.
As I rode home, I pondered my leaking suit, the need to replace my tyres for the winter, the shame of summer being over but, most of all, how great it is just to find some time and ride with friends for an hour and half (even if it was raining).
Thank you Nigel, thank you Alan, and thanks to all who came. A great evening ride.