Fish and Chips in Broadstairs

A grand day out on our favourite cycle ride, a circular trip from Reculver around the coast of the Isle of Thanet via Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate passing through a host of little bays and coves; Minnis, West, Joss and Kingsgate finally heading inland through Minster and St Nicholas at Wade before ending back on the coast for the final mile back to Reculver and a pint (or two) at the King Ethelbert pub.

Tea and scones provided sustenance at West Bay, fish and chips for a late lunch in Broadstairs and a cup of tea at the Viking Longboat display at Pegwell Bay completed the refuelling stops. Pretty much the same places as we always stop at on this ride.

The weather was superb, sunny but not too hot with a cooling breeze which, true to type, seemed to blow in our faces the whole way around. How can that be? Great fun at Broadstairs at the harbour breakwater. The tide was up, the schools finished today so loads of teenagers congregated here to leap off the wall into the sea below standing right next to the sign that said don't jump from here.

We almost did not get there as approaching the M2 we noticed the traffic was stationary. We went an alternative route along the old A2 which was slower but without too much traffic. Turned out that a lorry full of hay had caught fire closing the motorway. It was still shut when we came home at 7.30pm and is likely to be shut 'til 3.00am tomorrow. Add to that that the M20 to the coast was also shut owing to an accident, both major routes to the Channel Ports were out of action on one of the busiest days of the year. Almost a perfect storm.