Dave Newman - Plusha 1st November 2015

 The weather helped, of course, but there was an excellent turn-out at a Tamar Bridge start. I set off with Grahams B and R, John D, Trevor, Andy E and Mike up through Saltash where we picked up Larry at Burraton Cross. It was the usual route from Hatt to Amy Tree where, instead of turning right towards Kit Hill, we headed straight on down Axford Hill and then up the long climb to Callington (St. Germans Rd) We met John O'Rourke at the Fire station as we headed through the lanes via Maders, South Hill and Linkinhorne to join up with the B2537 just SE of Coad's Green. We then raised the tempo a little as the coffee stop beckoned. The 'Subway' at Plusha was an interesting choice but proved very popular on account of it's good value. Although our 'fine dining' 
expert commented upon the absence of cutlery and crockery! (I bet it'll be some Christmas Dinner!)

After the usual banter we said Goodbye to Mike and proceeded on through Trevague and Five Lanes to out destination at Altarnun where we ate our packed lunch between the splendid church and pretty pack horse bridge. It was glorious and it seemed somehow to heighten our conviviality during the rest of the ride, which incidentally  followed Graham's Tamar 100 route for the next three miles as far as the ridge route which runs from W to E towards the attractive little village of Polyphant. We examined the three plastic fresians on the green and then traversed the busy A30 to Lewannick. South from the village we took the right fork and crossed the B3257 ( Larry spotted what I was up to !) in order to sample the pretty lanes along the banks of the infant Lynher and the edge of Bodmin Moor visiting the settlements of Trevadlock, Trebartha, North Hill and 
Bathpool before heading back to the aforementioned B3257 Callington still 6 
miles away! Without any more deviations we continued chaingang style to Florence Road, Kelly Bray where we took afternoon tea and all day breakfast at Compton Park Cafe which is in an old mine building. 

As it was approaching 4 pm when we had finished we opted for the most direct route back  via Dupath Well, St, Dominick cycle route and the A388 arriving back at the bridge at approx 440pm with 55 miles on the clock. An excellent day in almost balmy conditions.