We begin our journey into Kent
On the Old Kent Road, southeast London
Pausing amidst the early morning traffic

The ride takes us beneath the railway line
And onto sleepy suburban streets

Pausing on Greenwich Peninsula
We look out across London’s edgelands
Wondering at what point the city ends
And the countryside begins

On the route I read that the journey ‘weaves together centuries of history’ and ‘icons of industry’
And we move on
From Crossness Pumping Station
Through to Erith Deep Wharf

From Erith we descend into Dartford

At Gravesend I pause, not far from the pier

On the map I can see that Shornemead Fort is somewhere in the distance
The map tells me this but I can’t see it

Thrown onto the busy streets of Strood and Rochester
Crossing the Medway

As I narrate this journey I’m uncertain as to whether I should be
Referring to myself or us
I or we
Somewhere in between

The listeners on the beach

From the Garden of England to the busy streets of Sittingbourne
I pause in the garden of my friend Dominic’s family
Welcomed by their hospitality at the end of a tiring ride

Passing through
Tonge Mill
I pause as the water runs under the bridge
I pedal the final few miles
To the family home of my friend Japhet
Where my journey will pause for the night

Some of these roadside recordings I can’t quite place
Paused between destinations
Wondering what’s next

After spending the night at Tonge
The final stretch of the journey to Whitstable is a much shorter one
We pause at the beach at Seasalter
The final stop
Before rolling in to the festival by the sea