Old Nick’s charity bike ride has finally happened. After being ill for the April TeamCHAC ride, and feeling a sense of obligation to complete 50km, and the re-organised ride in July being rained off, Old Nick was accompanied by Young Nick on Thursday 8 August in his ride from Whitstable to Ramsgate.
With perfect conditions - possibly too perfect (‘twas very hot!) - and Old Nick not having come down with any mystery illness over night, Nicks-plural set off around 8.30am from Whitstable taking the scenic but importantly largely flat route along the coastal path joining the Viking Trail, arriving in Ramsgate for much needed refreshment just after midday.
We arrived in Herne Bay after about 40 minutes, where we were heckled by the locals (well, our friend Irene Thomson, who happened to be in the right place at the right time for heckling) and then proceeded past Reculver Towers (it’s only a model) and then various bays (where one is forced to disembark every 100m to avoid mowing down beach-goers). By Margate the sun was out but we made such good progress that our planned Pete Doherty inspired breakfast stop seemed too early and sadly it was also too early for a pitstop at the Two Halves, so we pressed on to Broadstairs. Then came the hills, just when the sun was beating down on us and we were regretting not taking the Dalby Cafe Mega Breakfast Challenge. And just as we were were at breaking point, just when we thought we’d gone on holiday by mistake, on the horizon the largest Wetherspoons in the world loomed into view. And once we’d worked out how best to get down to it, we got a snap outside and proceeded to table 524 on the terrace to enjoy our holiday.
At the time of writing no additional sponsorship money has been raised, but at least Old Nick’s conscience has been cleansed. The TeamCHAC sponsorship page is, however, still open should anyone wish to help us get up to £1,000: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/TeamCHAC2019
