The ride started with good intentions in the car park by the Royal Military Canal, which had been chosen as the finishing point so as to avoid a long climb at the end of the day - the theme was, you see, a flat ride! Once Norman of Quarryville had demonstrated the features and benefits of his new bike rack (very nice too) the Ragstones set off for their first church: Hythe. It was open, though the famous crypt wasn't. The competition for the day was "the most interesting monumental inscription" so all plaques were read with due diligence.

A chance meeting with a pathologist set the scene for the day and so the route went to the next church: Burmarsh. Here Norman made a hasty search for the key and triumphantly let all in to view the interior. By this time Rosemary and Martin had joined the first Ragstone group of Norman, Judith, Ruth (Lady Til) and Peter.

Following the church tour, Christine phoned to ask the group's whereabouts - and found that we were only 20 metres away! Just in the right place for lunch in the Shepherd and Crook - which was very good too.

Martin produced an excellent brain-teaser, which was solved after much thought and carefully saved, complete with beer stains, for John of Millstone, next week. John of Millstone is currently investigating bike routes in Mallorca.

Only the intrepid Norman, Judith and Peter continued the route to Dymchurch, where builders were working in the churchyard. Perhaps they were trying to stop the church from floating away as there was much evidence that it was tethered on unstable land.

Finally the Ragstones returned to the Royal Military Canal. This had originally been dug by the Romans to ferry cargo to and from Bedrock, but was later taken over by Wellington who had taken a dislike to French tourists. The cars and bike racks were waiting - No hill to climb today!