EltonFrog
Legendary Member
When I was a young teenager, I was estranged from my father for several years, I lived with my mother in Willeseden,NW London then later in Chertsey in Surrey. My Father lived in Blean, a small village in-between Whitstable and Canterbury. I missed my father a great deal, I was often very unhappy and I used to fantasise about running way to see him, the only mode of transport I had was a bike ( a Dawes Kingpin). I used to plan the journey using the road maps of the time and while my way to sleep imaging the adventurous journey. It was not that much “pie in sky” for my teenage brain; I often cycled to my aunts from Willesden or Chertsey to her home in Welling for the school holidays. Another 30 miles or so didn't seem that much of a stretch.
I never did get round to doing it, other teenage stuff got in the way to distract me, like Saturday jobs, Music, Scouts and Gentleman’s specialist magazines.
When I first read about FNRttC trip to Whitstable it jogged a long lost memory about my fantasy ride, so I thought I’d give it a go. I'm in my mid-fifties, and my dad is still alive, I finally got to do my ride more or less and visit him. Once we got to Whitstable and had breakfast I carried on along the Crab and Winkle Line cycle path and visited Blean, the old Church where I was a truly awful choir boy, the Village hall that served, for a short time, as my school, then on to Bridge on the other side of Canterbury where my dad was living last year. He has now moved back to Blean where he has built a house.
It was a great night out; everyone was very friendly, helpful and fun, I loved it and I will be doing it again this year. I may even do it on the bike I would've ridden had I’d done the ride 40 odd years ago.
I never did get round to doing it, other teenage stuff got in the way to distract me, like Saturday jobs, Music, Scouts and Gentleman’s specialist magazines.
When I first read about FNRttC trip to Whitstable it jogged a long lost memory about my fantasy ride, so I thought I’d give it a go. I'm in my mid-fifties, and my dad is still alive, I finally got to do my ride more or less and visit him. Once we got to Whitstable and had breakfast I carried on along the Crab and Winkle Line cycle path and visited Blean, the old Church where I was a truly awful choir boy, the Village hall that served, for a short time, as my school, then on to Bridge on the other side of Canterbury where my dad was living last year. He has now moved back to Blean where he has built a house.
It was a great night out; everyone was very friendly, helpful and fun, I loved it and I will be doing it again this year. I may even do it on the bike I would've ridden had I’d done the ride 40 odd years ago.
