Whither Weather? Wet Wheels at the Weald
Riding in South Kent/Essex
September 12, 1998

Distance: 50 miles
Elevation: 2,750 feet
Difficulty: 3/10
Scenery: 5/10;
Route: Tunbridge Wells-Bells Yew Green-Kipping's Cross-Petteridge-
Horsmonden-Riding Around Lost-Claygate-Marden-Staplehurst-
Round Green-Goudhurst-Kilndown-Berner's Hill-Birchett Green-
Wadhurst-Sparrows Green-Bells Yew Green-Tunbridge Wells

The Hastings train that left London's Charing Cross at 7:40 Saturday morning was almost empty. This was not surprising because the weather in London (and indeed, the entire Southeast England) had been a dreary overcast all week. Also, schools were finally back in session.

It was a sunny morning, and although summer had not officially ended, the sun's weakened rays evoked a more quiet sense of nostalgic elation than the active jubilation that accompanies the promise of a warm mid-summer's day.

(Above: Tunbridge Wells)

The good-sized town of Tunbridge Wells appeared inviting enough to warrant a once-over, but its early-Saturday-morning motor traffic was a tad heavy that it forced me to flee to the nearby quiet lanes. It took me a while to find the B-road heading west towards the Weald; it was on top of a hill just outside the town. Soon I was gliding quickly down the smooth road, the sun playing peek-a-boo through the openings between the trees that lined both sides of the road.

(Above: A rustic scenery just outside Bells Yew Green)

I turned off from the B2169 just past the Frant train station and instantly found myself in a wonderfully quiet, dark lane through a wonderful forest of oak. The presence of oak surprised me a little bit, since I've not associated this majestic tree with England. It turns out that there are two oak verieties that are native to Britain: quercus petraea (Sesile Oak) and quercus robur (English Oak). The hardy oak is very long-lived; each tree can live up to 800 years! The Weald must have been quite something in the old days--a heavy forest used to cover the entire area; sadly, only a small portion of it remains.

(Above and Below: Deep in the heart of the Weald)

I crossed the A21 at Kipping's Cross towards Kent and into more quiet hamlets with distinctive Kentish houses tucked away into broad leaf woodlands. After a slight disorientation in and around Horsmonden, I ended up on the B2162 heading north towards Claygate. Here, instead of tall trees, were apple and fruit orchards.

(Above: At Petteridge)

I rode through Marden and the rather busy Staplehurst before heading southwest again towards Goudhurst. The vegetation changed once more. This time, lush giant ferns crowded into both sides of the narrow lane. I got even more confused as I saw two pine trees a couple of miles up the road just outside Goudhurst. I've always thought pine in England was restricted only to the forests of Camden Town, as wardrobes, bookcases, and other furniture. Coming from pine-rich California, I've always thought it odd that the English so prized furniture made of pine. But enough of my babbling...