Passing a roadside sign that tells us that we have just entered Kent coincides with a vista of rolling hills opening out on each side of the road. At last. Going south or south south east out of Southwark is tedious. Lowpoints are the Lewisham one way and the Catford gyratory systems, but by Bromley things are looking more pleasant – and definitely by trusty Biggin Hill Airport with its WWII history you have to say we are in the country. Westerham is a pretty village or small town, just beyond the M25 though with nowhere obvious to park up as I rode through. Neither did I stop at Chartwell family home of Winston Churchill, closed when I visited. But the roads are lovely to ride through, though not empty.

I was on the road for 3 and 1/4 hours, covering only 60 miles at an average speed of 18mph and a maximum of 38mph.