A ride from Cobham in Kent to Rochester, also in Kent.
For the past 5 years I have wanted to try going all the way from home to Rochester in Kent on 1 May ‘May Day’ to visit the Rochester Sweeps Festival. Each year until now something has prevented that happening.
1 May 2025 – attempting to go by electric wheelchair 38.5km from Pratts Bottom on the outskirts of London to Rochester in Kent. This video is the fourth of the route showing my final 9km beginning at Cobham in Kent. Leaving Cobham the cycling directions on Google had suggested I go through National Trust – Cobham Wood. However I have no idea of the sutability of the pathways for my wheelchair and don’t fancy getting stuck in some mud now i am quite far from home. Opting to continue along the roads I headed towards Shorne. Crossing the A2 dual carriageway near Shorne Woods Country Park then heading down beside the A2 dual carriageway along a purpose made cycle-path. Reappearing back to normal roads on the outskirts of Strood, it is then mostly downhill to the finish. Join me as I trundle along in the spring sunshine to reach my destination at Rochester Castle.
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Filmed on: GoPro HERO10 Black, GoPro Swivel Mount on wheelchair.
Editing software: DaVinci Resolve 19.1
Wheelchair: Invacare Storm 4 X-plore TT Plus
The Street, Cobham, Kent continuing my journey from home to Rochester turning on to Halfpence Lane, Gravesend on right is entrance to Cobham Wood and Mausoleum Google cycling directions routed me through there but it may be good, or 4km of mud I will stay on the roads now I have got this far Halfpence Lane, Gravesend ‘!’ a sign warning of danger – usually a hidden junction or a location with frequent accidents passing entrance to Ashenbank Wood Woodland Trust an area of ancient woodland with very old trees and a Bronze Age Barrow – an oval burial mound a 3500 year old tomb of someone important approaching Halfpence Lane A2 junction I need to turn right, towards Shorne lucky I know the route – half the sign is missing! Halfpence Lane A2 junction Brewers Road, Gravesend crossing (hidden) bridge over HS1 railway line high speed from London St Pancras to the Channel Tunnel crossing bridge over A2 dual carriageway on left is Shorne Woods Country Park a huge woodland to walk around difficult terrain in a wheelchair but good paths adventure playground, Visitor Centre & Café they even have little showers to clean your muddy dog turning on to Park Pale, Shorne, Gravesend noisy here beside the A2 need to cross bridge over A2 dual carriageway as next part of route is A2 cycle path crossing bridge over A2 dual carriageway on to A2 cycle path not a fan of being beside such fast traffic but is shortest way to pass the A2 / M2 road junction passing entrance to Knights Place Farm Equestrian Centre A2 cycle path crossing bridge over M2 motorway think motorway is the boundary of Rochester returning to ordinary roads crossing Old Watling Street is a historic route in England from Dover in Kent almost 450km to Shrewsbury near Wales turning on to Watling Street (A2) passing Parkfields, Rochester (on right) Welcome to Strood junction of Watling Street (A2) / Rede Court Road (B2018) fuel prices per litre: £1.30 unleaded / £1.37 diesel about £0.10 per litre cheaper than it was at home Watling Street (A2) – think it is all downhill from here passing Lancelot Avenue, Rochester (on right) passing Elaine Avenue, Rochester (on right) passing River Drive, Rochester (on right) passing Chapter Road, Rochester (on left) junction of Watling Street (A2) / Gravesend Road (A226) passing Castle View Road, Rochester (on left) road name changes to London Road (A2), Rochester passing Northcote Road, Rochester (on right) under the railway bridge the same railway line I have kept crossing today I last went over it back at Sole Street an hour ago crossing juntion with Cuxton Road / Gun Lane road name changes to High Street (A2), Rochester passing Commercial Road, Rochester (on right) passing North Street (A207), Rochester (on left) passing Commercial Road, Rochester (on right) passing Station Road, Rochester (on left) confusingly it leads to Strood Railway station Strood seems to be a station with slow trains to London stopping at every station – the route taking 90 minutes passing Canal Road, Rochester (on left) on bridge crossing River Medway there are 3 bridges here, the railway and 2 road bridges on the left is the railway bridge constructed in 1891 on the right is the old road bridge opened in 1914 I am on the ‘new’ road bridge opened in 1970 both road bridges are single direction traffic I need to cross the road here to get to Rochester Castle crossing High Street (A2), Rochester turning on to Esplanade, Rochester ahead to the right is Esplanade Gardens beside the river there are always many small boats moored on the river ahead on the left is Rochester Castle – my destination turning on to Castle Hill, Rochester ahead is Rochester Cathedral, built 1079–1238 on right is entrance to Rochester Castle Gardens unfortanately I cannot go in as they are setting up today for Rochester Sweeps Festival this weekend Rochester Sweeps Festival is a May Day celebration the Sweeps Festival dates back 300 years with music, dancing, many stalls, and a funfair 1 May was a special day for chimney sweeps it was their one day of rest from their challenging job Epaul Lane, Rochester not enjoying the cobbled road surface turning on to Boley Hill, Rochester Castle – built in the 12th-century those beeps are the wheelchair warning battery is low amazingly I made it all the way here! home to Rochester 38.5km – took 3 hours 36 minutes time for a rest, then to the station to catch a train home