The Crab and Winkle Way is less hilly than the FNRttC itself. I did it a few years back, when the Whitstable trains weren't running, so we had to leave from Canterbury, and I was using my single-speed Pompino. The hilly bit are places like where it goes over a main road (slope down, over the bridge, and slope back up), and I imagine that either the train didn't go that way, or it's bridge/viaduct/whatever has disappeared. The surface wasn't quite tarmac, but mostly reasonably solid as I recall, to Sustrans standard, as mentioned up-thread (which isn't much of a recommendation, but means it's tolerable for non-tarmac). It's a nice very pleasant ride, quite scenic, and bereft of motor vehicles most of the way.
I'm glad to hear we're all being catered for in Strood, coffee, tea and cake is all we need (and a loo!), we're an easily satisfied bunch.
It's going to be a bit of a novel route in places, what with starting at Waterloo Station, and going via a new 3amses stop in Strood. Will we still be going past the submarine?
Claud and Adrian will be happy to know I've replaced the Arkel Randonneur rack and TailRider trunk bag with a Bagman and Carradice Barley, so they won't be called upon to haul my kit around this month. I'll be getting some sandals and growing a beard shortly.
