Family Seaside Ride - Reculver to Botany Bay - 16th July 2017

The Reculver Towers are an imposing landmark on the East Kent coast and a reminder for me of many happy days spent cycling in this area.  So I always experience a sense of expectation as they come into view and today was no exception.  However, it was short lived as Michele's bright blue car popped out of a side lane just ahead of me, "drat I said to myself, they've only gone and beaten me".

Heidi & Thomas climbing back up from the beach

The car park was already busy with KVK families readying themselves for a day of adventure. We had a quick chat about the route and agreed some regrouping points in case we got separated; Minnis Bay, Margate Tourist Information Office and finally a point just before the run into Botany Bay.  We set off, me near the front with Calvin on hand for the speed demons and Michele at the back, making sure we didn't lose anyone.

Lunch at the beach

We'd been lucky with with weather and had a good size group of riders; Potels (4), Reids (4), Freemans (3), Hoopers (2), Terrys (2), Thwaites (2), De Le Marrs (2), that just left me without any family members!

We made good progress, just one puncture at Minnis Bay, and headed straight for the beach at Botany Bay.  The tide was out so the few determined swimmers had to wade out quite a distance and the sea was still only lapping around their knees.  Anyway, we swam in the sea, we dug in the sand and we hid our sandwiches from the seagulls.

Fuelled up and ready to return, we carried our bikes back up to the prom and set off towards Reculver.  It was hot and we had to stop to fill up our water bottles but we decided to press on with a promise of ice cream at the finish.

It's always a little harder on the way back but our young rider dug deep and made it back to the start, still smiling.

Building sand castles

I was treated to a large Mr Whippy ice cream with a flake, which the man assured me was totally free of gluten and sugar ;-)

Christophe took the opportunity to swim in some deeper water while everyone else had a lolly or an ice cream to complete the seaside experience. 

This really was a lovely day out, hats off to all our young riders who completed the twenty mile route; Fraser, Ewan, Thomas, Ivo, Joshua, Eloise, Mathys, Dan and Calvin.

More lunch at the beach

Mathys exploring the rocks