Having missed a few Sundays, I was wondering who would be at the start, especially as this was another dim and dismal Sunday start. As I pulled into the parking area at Torpoint ferry I spotted Graham Black through the drizzle. We were soon joined by Dave Newman who made a bee-line for the ferry and a punctual 9:30 am start. I was thinking of taking the tried and tested route to Seaton via Anthony and Crafthole but my musings were interrupted by a call on Graham's phone from Mike Willacy, who was late for the ferry. Dave turned back to meet Mike while Graham B and I cycled on. I decided to vary the route, heading for Sheviock where we turned left on Horsepool Lane , crossing the B road to Crafthole about a mile further on and taking a lane I had never cycled on before. Covered with mud and pockmarked with ruts and potholes, it required some technical skill to navigate along it safely. It also involved a couple of serious climbs and took us out about a mile further on than Crafthole on the main drag. Mike and Dave caught us up there, so we cycled on together to Seaton for elevenses. Mike left us at Seaton, having cementing work to do. Dave was taken with the idea of heading along the lane towards Castle Air and then turning right up the steep lane (two chevrons) past Bonyalva. Not wishing to spoil his fun, I agreed to meet him and Graham B at Trerulefoot. In Hessenford I continued up the main road and turned left at the top past Bake Manor. I guess I must have waited about 15 minutes for the other two to arrive, so they had made good time over a hard route. Over the course of the morning and early afternoon, the weather had begun to improve. When we left the Cornish Woollen Mill we were greeted with sunshine and a cold brisk wind. The route back to Saltash was via Cutmeer, Blunts and, at Dave's suggestion, a right turn in Blunts and then the next left on a lane which took us through Pillaton Mill. Thinking of the Tamar 100 route, Dave guided us over the new bridge past Waitrose. We said goodbye to Dave. Graham was off-route for Devonport when we got to the end of the Tamar Bridge, so he and I parted company there. It had been a good day, we agreed, despite the unpromising start.
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