Along ancient roads

The ride started from the carpark on Woodchurch Village Green. The wheels turned with the pump and windmill on the right, spun down - and up- Susan's Hill until reaching Brook Street, near Orange Farm, then with tyres (nearly) burning, along the main road past Ditton Farm to turn right into Shirley Moor Lane. Much of this lane is below sea level, but whether this is the reason for grass growing in the centre is uncertain, and was no-doubt reclaimed by Romans/Dutch/Marshmen/Vikings during the C13 drought.

Suddenly the group arrives in Appledore - itself once a port - then we shimmy off to the right, passing Becketts Farm, Fairfield Church and lots of sheep. Left, right and sharp right on the bend brought the group into a nettle infested Saddlers Wall Lane between two drainage dykes. This wall, dating from antiquity, bounded a marsh innings - a truly ancient route, but not completely out of touch with the modern world as the author received a telephone call whilst negatiating a path between nettles.

With a few more twists and turns, the group found itself marooned on dry land inside the C15 Woolpack Inn and felt obliged to consume a considerable meal (and raspberries for pud) lest they never returned to civilisation again. A large building plot next door would suit a 'global warming and rising sealevels denier' but living on top of a hill (as all members of the group do) is safer.

Brookland, Snargate and Church Lane (or is it to be Church Road - see dispute reported in the Kentish Express) Kenardington fly by, but suddenly the wheels slow in the mud and bumps of Hunts' Wood Lane and Rosemary nearly buries the author deep in the ruts under a mountain of words. Fortunately, after sneaking through the back garden of the Rare Breeds Centre, we finally arrive via Georges Lane to the North Easterly corner of Woodchurch, in sight of the Green.

Many of the roads along which we travelled have been lost to the modern motor-car world. May they remain that way!