As we are back again at the Tamar Bridge after all the closures etc I am faced with the same old problem finding a way out of Saltash that avoids the A388 and the massive climb up Frenchman's lane or the 'four hills of hell' from the bottom of Hatt towards Amy Tree which we seem to do every time. So, I wondered if we could grit our teeth and stay on the A388 for another two and a half miles to St Mellion and then dive into the pretty lanes to Amy tree and then a slightly different route into Callington. After such a long break due to the Pandemic I was particularly intent on finding us some unfamiliar lanes to pedal through. All we needed was some decent weather to back up the dry spell and I may not have to spend the next three weeks cleaning my bike! Well weatherman Trevor assured that it was going to be fine so when I saw the first rays of sunshine through the crack in my curtains I positively leapt from my bed only to be greeted by a heavy frost which would, rule out Les and Larry for a start. So, I set off towards the bridge wishing that I was wearing my winter gloves and a merino base layer! For once, I was first there ready to greet Trev and Graham when, to my great delight, along came Steve and Penny and Andy P. looking very sprightly on his road bike.
With a full and legal contingent of six we set off up the sunny fore street to get the main road out the way (and Trev's comments about Gloucester services) as quickly as possible so that we could enjoy cycling again in a group again. Well, the different route to Amy Tree proved popular and on down Axford Hill and up the other side where turned left so that we could enter Callington from the south-west. After discovering that there were no take away coffees to be had it was the usual route through Maders, South Hill to Linkinhorne where we sat by the church in the sunshine having our first refreshment break. It was beginning to warm up now as we followed the lanes in a westerly direction we suddenly glimpsed the distinct shape of that conically lump of granite known as "Sharp Tor". On through the lanes to Bathpool where we crossed the River Lynher and up our second 'chevron' to briefly join the B3254 before climbing again onto Bodmin Moor and the moorland village of Henwood. I don't know whether the intrepid Trevor is beginning to feel his age at last, but he actually suggested that it required a chevron! (how many times have we heard him say that it's only an undulation?) Along the lane towards Minions with it's evocative landscape of old mining activity where we sat on the edge of the common where there was much banter, serious pontification as well as the taking of refreshment. We exited Minions by the Cornish cross known as Long Tom but instead of the usual route via Crow's Nest and Pensilva we took the unfamiliar lanes from Higher Tremarcoombe, Tremar and Rosecraddoc Manor to join Larry's favourite route past Fursdon caravan park and on to Gang.(our third chevron). From here more changes were rung as we took the main road towards Newbridge, although we deviated via the small lane off to the right. The last long climb of the day back up to Amy Tree is quite a pull as we climbed over 450 feet in just over a mile.
The ride back was routine and trouble-free, and we arrived at Saltash services at approx 2.40pm with just over 40 miles on the clock. Thanks everyone for helping to make it such a pleasant ride and let's hope for similar weather conditions in our next batch of rides. An extra congrats to Trevor and Andy for managing a tough-ish ride without any eco-assistance.
Dave
With a full and legal contingent of six we set off up the sunny fore street to get the main road out the way (and Trev's comments about Gloucester services) as quickly as possible so that we could enjoy cycling again in a group again. Well, the different route to Amy Tree proved popular and on down Axford Hill and up the other side where turned left so that we could enter Callington from the south-west. After discovering that there were no take away coffees to be had it was the usual route through Maders, South Hill to Linkinhorne where we sat by the church in the sunshine having our first refreshment break. It was beginning to warm up now as we followed the lanes in a westerly direction we suddenly glimpsed the distinct shape of that conically lump of granite known as "Sharp Tor". On through the lanes to Bathpool where we crossed the River Lynher and up our second 'chevron' to briefly join the B3254 before climbing again onto Bodmin Moor and the moorland village of Henwood. I don't know whether the intrepid Trevor is beginning to feel his age at last, but he actually suggested that it required a chevron! (how many times have we heard him say that it's only an undulation?) Along the lane towards Minions with it's evocative landscape of old mining activity where we sat on the edge of the common where there was much banter, serious pontification as well as the taking of refreshment. We exited Minions by the Cornish cross known as Long Tom but instead of the usual route via Crow's Nest and Pensilva we took the unfamiliar lanes from Higher Tremarcoombe, Tremar and Rosecraddoc Manor to join Larry's favourite route past Fursdon caravan park and on to Gang.(our third chevron). From here more changes were rung as we took the main road towards Newbridge, although we deviated via the small lane off to the right. The last long climb of the day back up to Amy Tree is quite a pull as we climbed over 450 feet in just over a mile.
The ride back was routine and trouble-free, and we arrived at Saltash services at approx 2.40pm with just over 40 miles on the clock. Thanks everyone for helping to make it such a pleasant ride and let's hope for similar weather conditions in our next batch of rides. An extra congrats to Trevor and Andy for managing a tough-ish ride without any eco-assistance.
Dave