Was a Sunny Day

Was a sunny day

Not a cloud was in the sky

Not a negative word was heard

From the people passing by

Was a sunny day

All the birdies in the trees

And the radio's singing song

All the favorite melodies...

Thanks to Paul Simon for summing up today and my first ride out anywhere on Vera Strom. Although there were clouds in the Kent skies....

Claire had gone out to a friend's house and I hauled out Vera to see about fitting the RAM mount. In the end I couldn't make my mind up where to put it.

Instead I togged up and headed for Rye and the Strand. An area belonging to the Environment Agency next to the dock. 

The ride out took considerably longer than anticipated. Holiday traffic and trucks delivering don't make for clear roads.  

I took the direct A259 route there.

A259 route almost door to door!

Once there I got through the open end of the barrier and onto the Strand.  Putting my helmet and gloves in the capacious top box.  

The Cafe I usually go to had closed already. It was only 3.20pm.  In the end I had a walk into the tourist centre. Rye is definitely a tourist place with some lovely cobbled streets and ancient buildings.

The Mermaid Inn one of the most photographed in the town.  If you don't believe me then have a look at Flickr!

I didn't get that far though. I saw the Mermaid Street Café was open and with its own seats outside I decided to have a coffee there.  I decided against my usual skinny latté and instead I had a Mocha. And a flapjack.  

It's nice sitting in the sun. After two weeks of almost crappy rainy weather getting out on the bike was fantastic.

Once my coffee was finished I set off back to the bike.  The flapjack replaced the helmet and gloves and we were off. Once again I managed the barrier.  I decided to come home a different way.  Out of Rye to Appledore and along the Royal Military Canal to Brenzett and home via Ashord and Tesco's petrol station.

Partly because I wanted to top up and gauge what for of mpg I am going to get (using Fuelly)  and partly to see how the bike runs on fast A-road and motorway.

What is called the Brenzett Bypass is actually the A2070 and is a fast A-road most of the way to Ashford. It is also a long way around as you come back to the Brenzett Roundabout on the A259!  Anyway, it was a nice ride.

76mph on the M20!

I filled up at Tesco at Willesborough and decided to take the M20 rather than the A20 back home.  I went a little faster than maybe I should but the traffic was quite heavy.  

No sooner have the Government relaxed the quarantine and isolation rules for France that it seems every clown with a roof box has packed their cars and heading to the Shuttle or Dover.  The M20 was full of trucks as usual and holidaymakers bombing down the road......

Once home and changed into "civvies" we ate the flapjack with a coffee and I put all the details into Fuelly.  A little disappointing 46mpg! 

Must do better!

(55 miles today!)