Photo: The light at the end of the tunnel in the Ashdown Forest.

My first encounter was with the cold. Up at 03:30 for some breakfast before the one hour drive to the start. My car reported the outside temperature was down to 1°. I was on my way to the Audax UK National Oasts and Coasts 300km audax on Saturday 27th April. Starting and finishing at Meopham for a tour of Kent.

Starting at 3° and rising to 15° during the day it was all about layering. About 10% of the riders started in shorts. Not me. I feel the cold. Tights, two pairs of gloves, two pairs of arm warmers, two pairs of socks, quilted gilet, reflective gilet.

On the road my first encounter was with the two controllers stamping our brevet cards. Unusual as it was the shortest distance to a control from the start I’d ever done. Farningham (12km).

After climbing through the Ashdown Forest, but no encounter with Winnie the Pooh, three encounters at the Franfield control (71km).

• “Didn’t you do The Shark” two weeks ago? Said the lady serving the excellent breakfast. The same crew of volunteers were working again, including the little girl who stamped my brevet card with her dinosaur stamp.
• Discussing the cold with a group of riders one of them regretted his choice of clothing. “We started at 6 am but I’m dresssed for 11”
• I sat down in front of a rider wearing an Audax Cymru jersey emblazoned with the Welsh Dragon. “Shwmae”. Blank look. “Shwmae” I repeated. “Sorry, I’m from Northern Ireland, I live in Wales, but I don’t speak Welsh.” I was hoping to learn some more Welsh but just looked an idiot.

A ‘small world’ encounter in Battle (99 km).

Stopping for a coffee, a voice from behind “Are you doing an event?” I turned round to answer the question only to recognise Richard, who I’ve known for years, the first Chair of Islington Cycling Club.

My next encounters were all in our new home turf.

Somewhere amongst the trees in the distance is the cottage we’re renting (116 km):

The pub where we had lunch the day before (117 km):

The pub where we had lunch the previous Friday (122 km):

The bridge at Appledore where we (Rye and District Wheelers), meet for rides (132 km):

A welcome faster section across the familiar Romney Marsh to The Channel at Hythe (160 km) for lunch.

An encounter over lunch with Alan from Redditch who I’d see from time to time as we started the second half of the ride.

The next two encounters were leg burners. First the Cat 4 climb up through Little Switzerland (172 km) to Capel-le-Ferne included a 300m section of 18-21%. Ouch.

Then another Cat 4 climb up to and beyond Dover Castle (183 km):

After a fabulous descent down to the control at Deal (197 km), through the Cinque Ports and Sandwich Golf Clubs and on to the North coast of Kent, riding with Alan from time to time to another control.

A man after my own heart, Tom Jackson the organiser put it in a parlour in Herne Bay (233 km). Hence my encounter with mint chocolate chip and salted caramel and a chat with Alan.

My next encounter didn’t happen as none of us could find the road sign for the information control near Hollingbourne (125 km). No matter, I took a selfie to prove I was there.

Then decision time. The sun was setting and it was getting cold. I’d caught a group of riders, some with Lee Velo jerseys on, at the control point so either I rode with them in the dark (always nicer than alone) or stay and put all my layers back on. The layers won. That meant a lone ride along country lanes full of gravel in the dark. It tested my bike handling skills as more than once I had to make adjustments to stay upright. Just as I finished that section a mate messaged me to warn me about it. He’d ridden the event last year and a few riders came off so I was very happy not to. Even better, I was warm. Right decision.

I was even happier for my penultimate encounter at the last control before the finish at a petrol station (290 km). I’d caught the group again. This time I dived into the shop. Grabbed a can of drink and a coffee. By the time I got to the head of the queue I’d drunk them both. Paid, receipt obtained, I was ready to roll. They kindly suggested we all ride together for the final 22 km in the dark. I really appreciated that and made a point of thanking them at the end.

My final encounter of the day was to get my brevet card checked at the finish.

A great day out. A really good route. A huge thank you to Tom and his volunteers and for the excellent food at Franfield and Hythe.

If it’s on next year I’m thinking of doing it again as my PBP 300 km qualifying ride.

I overheard Tom say it was “Kent’s premier audax event”. I think he could be right.