To Sue or Not to Sue

08/06/15 Rochester to Walton-on-Thames 86kms

We woke early, with the pigeons going off outside the window, ate our cereal, made a couple of overdue phone calls to our family, and got sorted to leave. It was sunny outside, but a bit chilly, so we decided to have a crack at the big one and aim for my Sister Sue's place. A big ride, and we had no idea what sort of riding it would be.

You can see the little brighter trying to hide up there. The pigeons have been stalking us.

Got the kids out of the lock up and ready to go.

The bikes were locked up until 10am, so that is when we got them. Setting off not long after that, we agreed to follow Davo, as there wasn't really a route that took us where we wanted to go. Out of Rochester, it was straight into traffic and up hill for 5kms. We did get onto the national route 177, which was pretty good, and mostly uphill. It followed the A2 road, so it was noisy, but out of the traffic. We went passed the biggest shopping centre in Europe, Blue Water, which is built in an old quarry, it was massive.

Check out that traffic? We saw a guy on his bike, no helmet, on that road. Mad!

The Blue Water shopping centre, in the quarry.

It's a cycle path people, make so bikes can get through easier.....

For 30kms, it was mostly uphill, with only short little downs, and pretty rough tracks. It was really pretty hard going, and getting cold. We stopped at a Beefeaters Grill, for some food, and Davo's route was getting a bit out of the direction we wanted to go, so to re-route.

Short pit stop for photos..

Scootering between gates on the little bits of cycle path we got.

Frickin barriers, gates, bollards.....aaarrrggghh!

We programmed in Kingston, as it was a pretty straight line on the map from us, and once about 15kms from Walton on Themes. Once there we could get on the tow path along the Themes and we knew our way. Again following Davo, the roads were super busy, so so many cars, no cycle lanes, the footpaths were no good, and parked cars everywhere. It was horrendous.

We had ridden another 25kms, in the traffic, and again mostly uphill, and I was feeling really worn out. I told Will, I didn't think I could handle much more of this, and asked if he would mind calling it a day. He said ok, but I know he didn't really want to. We still had at least 25kms to go to Sue's place, he suggested catching a train, or a taxi as they would be cheaper than a hotel. We rested a few minutes, I gathered myself, and decided to push on. I definitely did want to complete our cycle journey, on my bike. So I told myself, if I could get through the next 15kms to Kingston, then I would be able to finish it.

So off we went, more traffic, more hills, some bike paths (which were a great relief), and we made it to Wimbledon. It was getting pretty dark and gloomy, and threatening to rain. We stopped to turn our lights on, and pushed on to Kingston. We had to ignore Davo a bit, and refer to Madam Google, for the first time in ages, and somehow we found our way to Hampton Court. From here we knew our way along the towpath, and suddenly we both felt so much better. We were going to make after all.

The tow path, at last. How quickly our moods can change.

The sun came out again, we rode along the relaxed path, and passed the little rowing club, and suddenly we were at The Anglers. Basically we're here. We dawdled up the road to The Old Manor Inn, which is just out the back gate of Sue and Brads home. We got ourselves a celebratory beer, and messaged Suey to get her to come out. She is very busy trying to get their mega renovation completed (almost there, at about 85%), so I had to ring her. 

Almost there...

The Anglers pub, just around the corner from Sue's.

Neither of us can actually believe we have done it. I don't want it to be finished, but wow, hey, amazing adventure. We have five or six weeks here in the UK, so we plan to keep adventuring, just not sure how or what or where, just yet. We'll spend a week with Sue and Brad, which will not be dull (keep tuned) as they never just "do nothing" , and I'm sure have plenty planned for us to join in on.  

Finally we have found our way to Sue and Brads' home. The long way round.

A quiet day tomorrow, to just realise what we have achieved and maybe organise some personal grooming and new clothes for non cycling activities.