Ramsgate Harbour

When we got up this morning we were planning to go swimming first thing and then see how the day panned out. Instead, as the weather was forecast to be so good we dropped those plans and decided on a bike ride. Out of all the options the good old Viking Coast Trail around the Isle of Thanet is a favourite and so it was that by 11.00am we were starting at Reculver on the north Kent coast heading for all points east before returning to our starting point.

A little cool at the start but that didn't matter as for once the breeze was behind us and would be pushing us along all the way to Ramsgate - some 17 miles away - a rare and welcome event as it always seems the wind in in our faces whichever way we cycle on a ride.

To Ramsgate the ride is almost all along the shore, close to the sea and on a bright sparkly morning with the tide in it was a lovely ride, bowling along with the wind behind us passing bays and beach huts, people out walking, with their dogs, others cycling, some people in the sea, others sitting on the beach.

First stop - West Bay Cafe - coffee and cakes, Eccles and a Bakewell to share between us. Then onwards to Joss Bay where we stopped for sandwiches and a paddle, through Margate and busy Broadstairs to rest a while here at Ramsgate. From here it was a case of turning east and into the wind alongside Pegwell Bay where we stopped for a 99 cone by the replica Viking longboat before turning inland for Minster, Monkton and St Nicholas at Wade before finishing for a well earned pint at the King Ethelbert pub at Reculver.

Another grand day out, in fact another day of days. We covered 31 miles in 3 hours 10 minutes of cycling but overall much longer at over 6 hours. Will this be the last such day of cycling this year? We'll have to wait and see