Well soon after arrival at the Golitha Falls car park I had quite a good group assembled, including Paul & Steve.,Trevor, Dave, Les, Graham & myself made up a good group of 7 riders. It looked like the weather was going to be the odd shower with sunny intervals. Les was going to stay with Paul as long as his battery allowed. So soon we found ourselves passing through Minions with the highest pub in Cornwall. Then taking the lane first left after Minions to hug the edge of this part of Bodmin Moor, with outcrops of granite towering above us to our left. Soon after, a very scenic & quiet lane, we arrived to go along the motorway, sorry Trevor, road towards our turning left for North Hill. We had got to the hills by this point. Not that it was going to be a very hilly route today anyway. Soon we passed through some lovely countryside & arrived at Plusha & the first watering hole (Subway). Here we had a chat over coffee etc, whilst observing strict distancing rules in place.
Now back in the saddle, we headed along the more or less level lane to Alternun, & along the way said good morning to the horse riders out. Soon going under the A30 & down through Alternun & crossing the bridge over Penpont Water. Then to climb turning left to go along a very narrow lane in parts were eventually Trevor could show us how to cross a very dodgy Ford. I chickened out as I sport narrow tyres, but I managed to see Les going across. Paul declined the offer even though he had quite wide tyres on. Shortly after we found ourselves heading across Davidstow Moor into a yes you guessed it a strong headwind. Well, at least it wasn`t raining as well. With the cheese factory to our right, we turned left & into the shelter Davidstow wood, & then almost level going across proper Bodmin Moor. With wide-open areas, & plenty of granite boulders to slow any walkers, horse riders, sheep & ponies. I narrowly missed being taken out by a Border collie dog shooting straight out across the lane in front of me followed by its lady owner on horseback. Soon at Churchtown, St Brewards we all congregated in a small area outside the 11th century, Old Inn, pub. Here over pints & half-pints, we had the presence of a young chap going end to end in nine days. Yes, & with camping gear + solar panels on his panniers, Ah!! I wish I was twenty-something again. That would be a feat stopping at B&Bs/Youth hostels. After wishing him the best of luck it was time to get on with the final leg of our day's ride.
On leaving Churchtown Dave took on the mantle as he was more familiar with the route to Temple, & just before the bridge over the A30 to Temple, I managed to slow down a cyclist coming towards us. It turned out that Dave knew him from Callington cycles, bike shop. With reassurances that it was only a 500 metre of rough stuff section to cross after Temple. So after downing our rain jackets we carried on through Temple then arrived at the rough stuff section were E-bikes because of there weight, makes it heavy going during lifting over the two stiles we encountered. Mind you I did clean my shoes off in the long grass. It was decided to go along the A30 & come off at Bolventor, of Jamaica Inn fame. This was soon over, then going downhill alongside the River Fowey we arrived at the starting point, & I had 45miles on the cyclometer.
Larry
Now back in the saddle, we headed along the more or less level lane to Alternun, & along the way said good morning to the horse riders out. Soon going under the A30 & down through Alternun & crossing the bridge over Penpont Water. Then to climb turning left to go along a very narrow lane in parts were eventually Trevor could show us how to cross a very dodgy Ford. I chickened out as I sport narrow tyres, but I managed to see Les going across. Paul declined the offer even though he had quite wide tyres on. Shortly after we found ourselves heading across Davidstow Moor into a yes you guessed it a strong headwind. Well, at least it wasn`t raining as well. With the cheese factory to our right, we turned left & into the shelter Davidstow wood, & then almost level going across proper Bodmin Moor. With wide-open areas, & plenty of granite boulders to slow any walkers, horse riders, sheep & ponies. I narrowly missed being taken out by a Border collie dog shooting straight out across the lane in front of me followed by its lady owner on horseback. Soon at Churchtown, St Brewards we all congregated in a small area outside the 11th century, Old Inn, pub. Here over pints & half-pints, we had the presence of a young chap going end to end in nine days. Yes, & with camping gear + solar panels on his panniers, Ah!! I wish I was twenty-something again. That would be a feat stopping at B&Bs/Youth hostels. After wishing him the best of luck it was time to get on with the final leg of our day's ride.
On leaving Churchtown Dave took on the mantle as he was more familiar with the route to Temple, & just before the bridge over the A30 to Temple, I managed to slow down a cyclist coming towards us. It turned out that Dave knew him from Callington cycles, bike shop. With reassurances that it was only a 500 metre of rough stuff section to cross after Temple. So after downing our rain jackets we carried on through Temple then arrived at the rough stuff section were E-bikes because of there weight, makes it heavy going during lifting over the two stiles we encountered. Mind you I did clean my shoes off in the long grass. It was decided to go along the A30 & come off at Bolventor, of Jamaica Inn fame. This was soon over, then going downhill alongside the River Fowey we arrived at the starting point, & I had 45miles on the cyclometer.
Larry
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