Day 2
Penzance to Camelford
Miles: was supposed to be 60 but ended up being 65
As I ate my brekkie this morning, Nigel the B&B owner chatted to me about
my bike and my route. Another one who warned me about the hills!!!!
I was on the road and out of Penzance by 9am. I exited on the A30 to Hayle.
It wasn't a very nice road - fast and busy. I jumped on the path on the
side which I think may have been pedestrian only. I know - norty- but it
seemed like the most sensible thing to do. I joined the B3301 had a quick
chain drop and then after Hayle I joined a nice quiet lane which was a
fantastic road and the descent out of Connor Down made me grin like a loon.
After the brief enjoyment on some quiet roads I was back on the A3047. I
was just thinking how much I'd like a cup of tea when in the haze of
exhaust fumes I spotted Smokey Joes truckstop. I had a tea and a banana and
a sit down and congratulated myself on my progress so far. The hills hadn't
been that bad.
I pressed on up the A3075 into caravan site heaven. Another fast road
I
was starting to get a bit peckish and thankfully I spotted some signs for
"good food ahead" and decided it was too good an opportunity to miss so
pulled into the Braefel Inn. They were only doing full roast dinners which
in the heat wasn't really what I was after. The landlady let me have a
kiddies menu pizza and chips instead
I sat outside and watched the world
go by and then the wasps came. Anyone who has seen me around a wasp will
know what came next....let's just say I ended up prancing around the
carpark....
Just after lunch I was back onto small lanes again which was a relief. I
was half way through the day and was wondering what the hill fuss was
about. And then I had my first taste of cornish hills on my way out of St
Newlyn East. I got a bit glowy so decided that it was time for the world to
see my lycra clad legs, which so far had been kept concealed under some 3/4
baggies. Thankfully at this point the world consisted of a few flies
My peaceful country lane enjoyment quickly came to an end when I joined the
A39. This was really not very nice at all. I noticed a lane running
parallel on my garmin so jumped on that. It lasted about 500m
so I did
what all good cyclists in distress do - I called home and asked Jurek to
suggest me an alternative route. Between us we found a B road and then some
lanes which would take me to Wadebridge. Jurek warned me it was hilly. And
it was. But it wasn't that bad. I thought I was a rubbish climber but I got
up everything, albeit slowly. What I am though is a complete scaredy cat
when it comes to descending. On the chevron'd descent I was glad of my new
brakes.
And then came the big climb to the wind farm. I flew up this. Not because I
was feeling sprightly but because I was surrounded by a million flies.
ARGH!!! I flicked my pony tail around to try and get them to sod off but
they wouldn't leave me alone. I had my first tourettes moment. The only way
I could get rid of them was to get up the hill. And fast.
And then I was at the highest point of the day. At this point I was about
13 miles from camelford and feeling good. But with 7 miles to go I felt
exhausted. At Wadebridge I went off route again rather than the A39.
Everything was starting to ache. Every hill was a chore. I had also found
going off route mentally quite difficult. I stopped and glugged back some
water and ate a cereal bar thingy and just put my head down and pedalled. I
didn't look up - seeing hills was too demoralising.
And then suddenly I was back en route with only 2.5 km to go to the end. I
perked up considerably and arrived at my B&B where Sarah the owner welcomed
me in, sorted out my bike, brought me milk for tea which I drank
immediately rather than bothering with the tea bit and gave me a fluffy
robe. I had the best shower with the softest towels and felt much better. I
wandered down to the local pub where the landlady, upon spotting me sat me
down at the bar and watched me a neck a J2O so made me a special "thirst
quencher" which was fab. I was craving carbs so had leek and potato soup
with homemade bread followed by lasagne with garlic bread. Mmmmmm. Bread.
Nomnomnom.
And now I am back at my B&B and thinking about getting some sleep. The B&B
is amazing and comes highly recommended (Warmington House).
I'm intrigued to know how much climbing I did today cos I'm sure going off
the main route bumped it up. And it was already one of the highest total
ascent days! :O
Thankfully a shorter day tomorrow with, hopefully, fewer hills and hardly
any busy roads
