Day 157 – Faversham to Herne Bay: 14.3m: 5.0h

Liverpool pulled a goal back last night, but United hung on for a 2-1 victory. We’re back in the Sun’s dining room at 7:15 for brekker which, as well as the usual full English, includes as choices delights such as locally smoked kipper, and avocado & bacon (which gets Cathy’s vote). The Sun has proved to be an excellent place to stay: comfortable rooms, very good food, and friendly and helpful staff. We leave shortly before 8:15 and get to our starting point at the brewery a few minutes later.

The first hour or so is spent walking back to the river along the meandering east side of Faversham Creek. From there it’s an uneventful and pretty straightforward route along – or very close to – the shoreline. We pass through Seasalter, cross a railway line, pause very briefly to witness some activity on Whitstable & Seasalter Golf Course, and arrive in Whitstable shortly after 11:30. It had been our intention to take advantage of the seafood on offer at Whitstable, but we are quickly persuaded to ditch this plan by a combination of the price of and advertised time taken to make crab sandwiches (£10 and at least 15 minutes respectively). Instead, we continue onwards past Tankerton Beach and a holiday park towards journey’s end at Herne Bay.

Although it's been a warm and sunny morning, passing clouds have offered periodic relief from the sun during the first 3 hours. However, the sky has been cloud free since we left Whitstable which perhaps precipitates the onset of  “thirst” in the team. Evidence of this could be found in Ben and Mike’s pace increasing as we approach Hampton, a place on the headland just before the western esplanade leading into Herne Bay. It can certainly be found in Cathy and Gary’s hopes (verging towards confidence in Cathy’s case) that the breakaway twosome would consider that a brief stop at the Hampton Inn might be called for. But those hopes are dashed. Without so much as a look behind them by way of enquiry, Ben and Mike walk past the pub and disappear round the headland. Disappointing.

And so, shortly after 1:15, we arrive at Herne Bay pier where observations are briefly exchanged on the Hampton Inn question. What quickly becomes of more importance are the observations that immediately opposite us is a bar and that the trains we’re aiming to catch don’t leave for another hour. John wonders whether he should go straight to the station to catch an earlier train, but takes less than 10 seconds to be persuaded that he needs a drink. We repair to the bar for just the one relaxed beer/cider and then walk slowly to the station. The Victoria train is due in 10 minutes, so John, Ben, Cathy and Gary go straight to the platform having first said farewell to Mike. His train to St Pancras leaves 20 minutes later and there is a pub outside the station. A very convenient waiting room!