Sunday Awayday: 16th July 2015

Picture stolen from Google Streetview because:
a) It was our start/end point
b) It features Brompton Dock. Cycle rental from £2.50/day.
c) Another folder chained on the railings? Can you identify it? (Answer at bottom of page)

A train assisted ride to go to places we have never been before. We assembled at Tonbridge arriving via various trains and routes. We were off at 10:15 heading south and east of Tunbridge Wells. Oast House after Oast House, picturesque villages by the chocolate box load along a route that was, as our Capt’n reminded us was mostly flat. Or even downhill if you look in a mirror. Lamberhurst was double choc with added cocoa. And the gateway to medieval moated manor house Scotney Castle – a tea stop we missed last year on our Hastings expedition.

The car park was rammed. The tea garden strangely empty which was a surprise until we discovered the reason. Clotted cream tea with added jam for £5.25 and this view. What’s not to like?

Liking was the answer. A sophisticated signalling system had every wasp in Kent making a beeline(?) for our jampots. Plus our capt’n who accidentally received a jamming as cutlery flew in all directions …

We left heading east along their back path not knowing if this prvate way would be passable. But it was and with another more pleasant surprise at the end. Finchcocks and its world renowned collection of historical musical instruments behind this dramatic Georgian frontage.

We turned north heading for Yalding and its infamous Tea Pot Museum. Instead we chose The George. The bad news is had only two bears on tap. The good news is one of them was Tribute from St Austell (where I was drinking it just two weeks earlier). A time to relax before the final 10 mile dash back to Tonbridge for trains to Godstone and East Croydon. A great day. a great ride.

Sorry no route map this week. I thought I had pushed the GPS button. But I hadn’t. It was about 40 miles Tonbridge to Tonbridge.

Spot the folder? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strida

POSTSCRIPT: Jeremy beat the train back to Godstone!