I didn’t turn on Strava recording until I was well away from my secret wild camping spot although it’s not too difficult to work out where I must have spent the night.

I was up at 4am, and I was taking photographs not long after as I only have a bivvybag, sleeping mat and quilt so my kit is quick to pack away. Some of the photos have been placed on the gallery, but I won’t reveal which ones.

With such an early start, and even with a load of photo stops, my ride was finished by noon.

The differences in cycling provision between the coastal towns were stark, with Hastings and Bexhill being by far the most friendly to cyclists (and pedestrians) with wide cycleways next to wide sidewalks. And there appeared to be little to no friction between cyclists and pedestrians, with the cyclists I saw going slowly when next to pedestrians. Other coastal towns around the UK — some of which prohibit cycling on promenades — should visit Hastings and Bexhill to see how cyclists and pedestrians can mix perfectly happily.

Tomorrow I head to Brighton and then turn slowly towards London, with three more book loops to complete before I take the train back to Newcastle for a few days at home before setting out again for the final leg of this trip.