Jeff, a good friend, suggested a New Years Day rideout on the bikes! The weather forecast looked good, so why not! We met at Midday at the Top of Wrotham Hill, there’s a little car park for the viewing point, although no one maintains the tree’s or shrub’s so there’s not much of a view these day’s!! Four of us met, perfect for a group ride, easier to stay in touch on the road. After some chat about Jeff’s new bike, we agreed on Rye. It’s a nice location with so many nice ways to get there that it never tires. The Strand Quay is a popular biker destination with a couple of local cafe’s and loo’s nearby. So off we set keeping to B roads mostly. The weather was better than expected, some sun shine, 15ºC and the roads where mostly clean and dry. It felt really good being able to let the GS just flow, staying in 4th gear just rolling on and of the throttle through the rolling back roads and bends, even dragged a peg on one bend, which is really rare these days now the GS sits on Wilbers Suspension. We arrived in Rye with smiles all round.
The Strand was busy with bikes, always great to see. Rye was also very busy with people out enjoying the historic town in the lovely weather, weirdly it felt more like a spring day than the 1st of January.
After looking around the bikes and nattering we set off to Tatners Street Kitchen for a coffee and food. Getting back to the bikes around half past three and seeing the light dropping reminded us that we were still very much in the middle of winter, so off we set for home. We pulled up in a lay-by just before Maidstone to say our cheerio’s and wish each other all the best for the rest of the year ahead. I then went into town to see my daughter and enjoyed an evening meal with her.
Happy New Year everyone, I hope it’s a good one for you all.
Chatting at the Wrotham Hill Meeting Point
At Rye Strand
A stunning 1926 BSA Model E, a 770cc V Twin
Chatting with it's current Guardian who is demonstrating the complex starting process.
Nice to an unmolested BMW/6
