Back in blighty

Weds 20th may
Restless night, possibly due to noisy ferries. Ran out of breakfast so make early start to ferry port. Within half hour i've bought ticket, boarded and set sail. Arrive Dover about 9:40 local time. Make way into Dover to get road map which shows campsites make quick route plan and head off for Canterbury. It's a beautiful day with beautiful scenery as I follow small shady lanes across the downs. The lack of sleep and breakfast takes its toll on the many steep hills but a pint of real ale at the Unicorn in Bekesbourne makes it worthwhile. Campsite is very nice and within walking distance of Canterbury. Have cuppa while plan provisional route through UK then take stroll into Canterbury for a recce. Will explore it more thoroughly tomorrow. It's good to be back in the UK and a little strange to hear everybody speaking english. Only went on wrong side of road once (that's why i'm sticking to quiet roads for a while!)

Thurs 21st may
Nice day so do chores then walk into Canterbury. Post leaflets and maps i'd accumulated to reduce weight, call in bank to check on finances, get maps needed to get through London then get food etc. Canterbury looks interesting enough to spend several days here but I will leave it for another time. Get back and work out route. National Cycle Network route 1 goes roughly where I want to go, crossing the Thames at Greenwich; not much choice on campsites but it's do-able.
Will pass through London at the weekend when i've been told there will be a heatwave!

Fri 22nd may
Nice sunny day as set out from Canterbury towards Chatham and Rochester. NCN1 twist and winds all over the place so take many shortcuts. Very pleasant ride through Faversham followed by a quick visit to the gunpowder works but Sittingbourne didn't appeal. Many short but very steep climbs and descents and a few nice country lanes before reaching Gillingham. From here on it is high volumes of traffic and cycle lanes that treat you the same as a pedestrian. Nice break as cycle path runs along 'the strand' which follows the estuary edge for a while, then back to traffic chaos as head south then west into Rochester. Long climb south out of Rochester to campsite where they tell me they don't allow tents! Lot of trouble with groups camping, visiting nearby clubs then causing trouble when they got back. As I didn't look like a group of club-going troublemakers they concede and let me pitch for the night as long as it's somewhere out the way where I can't be seen.

Sat 23rd may
Follow ncn1 out of Rochester to Gravesend, Dartford and on to Lesnes Abbey woods, east of Woolwich, to campsite. An interesting if not particularly scenic route that passes through industrial estates, marshland, the thames riverside, housing estates and shopping centres. Route well signposted so fairly easy, if frustrating, to follow as it often uses pavement cycle tracks which involve stopping and starting every few minutes. Site very busy with quite a few tents. They suggest you don't keep food in the tent as the local squirrels are in the habit of boring through the tent walls to get to it. Also warn that foxes steal your shoes if left outside.

Sun 24th may
Quite good facilities at this site and handy for accessing central London. Set out with aim of getting through London and as far north as possible. Follow national cycle network route 1 which follows Thames to Greenwich, past Thames barrier and Millenium dome. Up through Docklands and by Victoria park to the Lee valley. Nice ride along valley so decide to carry on despite running off the edge of my detailed map. Not long before I get lost although I followed signs. After numerous dead ends and backtracks I concede and ask some chap how to get to the road. When I mention that i'd followed the signs and still got lost he informed me they had been messed with and were pointing the wrong way. Head off for campsite at Nazeing; that was closed down. Second site at Royden had been converted to luxury chalets. Eventually found one just beyond Ware but it was very basic. Overall i've spent 10 hours in the saddle today so i'm feeling a little frayed at the edges.

Mon 25th may.
Was going to rest today but sight is so bad I decide to carry on. Cloudy but pleasant ride to Cambridge where it's a decent site. Stopped on route to lend toolkit to cyclist who's spokes had come loose. Very sunny and hot in afternoon and its nice to lay back and rest the legs.

Tues 26th may
Rained all evening and through morning. Clears in afternoon but very windy. Walk into Trumpington for supplies but can't find any meths for stove. Eventually find pharmacy where they charge an inflated price for a small bottle. Phone letting agents to check on status of house.

Weds 27th may
Another cloudy, drizzly day. Clears up late morning so cycle short distance to St. Neots calling in Tesco to buy a technology magazine. Spend rest of afternoon reading and doing crossword and mathematical puzzles. Nice to do something cerebral for a change.

Thurs 28th may
You wouldn't credit it, had first case of dicky stomach last night. Wake up at 04:30 and make dash to loo. Wander back to tent and notice one of my panniers had gone. Search surrounding area in case this site had kleptomaniac wildlife but I conclude it was stolen by a low-life. Strangely it was the broken pannier with my old clothes in they took!
With reduced carrying capacity I decide to dump unessential items, pack and head home. Set out at 06:00 and make fairly good time, arriving at letting agents by 12:30. Get keys and am in home by 13:00. Quick trip into attic for kettle to make a cuppa and all's well with the world again. Sitting down with a cup of tea and reflecting, the past 8 or so months seem very surreal. Glad I kept a daily log, I think I'll need to convince myself that I actually did it.