Well, that was without doubt the most enjoyable audax ride I have done. The route was fantastic - some roads that I know and love, and others new that I would never find other than doing this ride. The 'busy' roads were also part of the high lights - riding through the mist at night high up on the A39 with little traffic, I thought I might be in a scene from the hound of the Baskervilles. The weather was proper Cornish with a bit of everything at any time without any warning or predictability but that was the fun of it. There were many highlights, one of the best being sitting in the sunshine eating ice cream waiting for the ferry at Polruan. I road with great company, and also good times riding alone , happy knowing that I was still part of something even without anyone else around.
I would like to really say a huge thanks to absolutely everyone involved in this event.
To Ian - A special thank you for putting this event on. It must take alot of effort and I would like you to know that it is greatly appreciated. You say it is your last one, but I would like to you to know that for me it is one of the greats for 600s or any distance in fact.
To all the helpers at Penzance - Wow! It was worth entering and catching the train to Penzance for such a spread of proper biker friendly food and to be treated with such great service and encouragement. When you get back to your bike to find the bottles have been filled with fresh water, you know you have just met the people that could write the book on how to treat a cyclist!
To all at Bude - It was a wonderfully reassuring feeling to find the warm and welcoming night time refuge after coming in of the hills and fog in the dark. It almost felt like doing this kind of thing was normal! The warming special Ian home brew stew did a great job of revitalizing body and soul after too many mars bars. Everybody was encouraging and looked after you making sure you were ok and got what you needed, and still able to chat and lift the spirits of cyclists that are probably not all that compus mentis in the early hours.
Lastly - thanks to the people of Pinhoe Road in Exeter at the end for keeping such well tended and soft clean grass verge for me to kip on whilst the sun shone on Sunday!