I got to the bridge just before 9:30AM to find a big gathering there, including Yoland, a French lady who I hadn`t seen in a good time. On Daves arrival it was soon time to saddle up & get across to start going a different route through Saltash to what we normally do. I had only lead them through Pillmere estate once before. So after negotiating slippery areas of leaves & a bridge, we climbed up off-road on designated cycle paths to the roundabout on Callington road. Here we saw Graham J who had missed the turning earlier. Next over the A38 bridge for walkers & cyclists to resume our journey to Hatt. Yoland made it known she hadn't been out on her bike for two years. This in turn would slow the pace down somewhat, over the whole ride. Anyway we all managed Daves four hills from hell, to come across another group on our approach to Louis cafe for elevenses. This as it turned out was the Liskeard CTC group. So after much banter Dave reminded me that it was nearly eleven, & we had to climb up to Louis cafe & observe a minutes silence. So we bade them farewell & observed a two minutes silence at the cafe.
Now refreshed we headed over the top of Kit hill, with no rain yet as that had been forecast for the afternoon. Now began one of the longest & flattest routes in the area lasting quite a good few miles or more. Passing through Kelly Bray, then when we got to the hamlet of Maders, we were stopped by a paramedic, as the the Cornwall Air Ambulance helicopter was taking off from a field behind some buildings in the hamlet. Hope nobody was to seriously injured. Soon on our way again & with lots of reminders of the heavy rain of late. Fields flooded & rivulets coming down hilly sections of road. We soon came to the big climb from Rilla Mill to Upton Cross. On the way up we passed the turning on the right, that use to lead to the home of Cornish Yarg cheese. Now re-located further west in Cornwall. Soon at the top we re-grouped to start the long descent into Liskeard. Here we gate crashed the King Doniert pub. Here Dave quickly finished his coffee, then went about fitting new brake blocks for Yoland. She seemed to have come ready loaded for a mister fix it.
Dave soon completed the task & Graham J, parted company as he had to be home early. Soon we were all underway again & still it wasn't raining as forecast. Just pass Tilland Trevor & Graham B, went off left to enjoy the narrow muddy lane, on route to Blunts. Dave, Yolland & myself went the longer dryer route to Blunts. After blunts it was more narrow lanes with grass in the middle, which I am sure was much appreciated by Trevor. Then after a couple of more climbs we were coming out at Hatt, onto the main A388 road to Saltash. At Saltash Dave & myself positioned ourselves on the top of the A38 bridge to bid farewell to the others going under & down to the Tamar bridge. Total mileage 43.
Larry Clarke
I got to the bridge just before 9:30AM to find a big gathering there, including Yoland, a French lady who I hadn`t seen in a good time. On Daves arrival it was soon time to saddle up & get across to start going a different route through Saltash to what we normally do. I had only lead them through Pillmere estate once before. So after negotiating slippery areas of leaves & a bridge, we climbed up off-road on designated cycle paths to the roundabout on Callington road. Here we saw Graham J who had missed the turning earlier. Next over the A38 bridge for walkers & cyclists to resume our journey to Hatt. Yoland made it known she hadn't been out on her bike for two years. This in turn would slow the pace down somewhat, over the whole ride. Anyway we all managed Daves four hills from hell, to come across another group on our approach to Louis cafe for elevenses. This as it turned out was the Liskeard CTC group. So after much banter Dave reminded me that it was nearly eleven, & we had to climb up to Louis cafe & observe a minutes silence. So we bade them farewell & observed a two minutes silence at the cafe.
Now refreshed we headed over the top of Kit hill, with no rain yet as that had been forecast for the afternoon. Now began one of the longest & flattest routes in the area lasting quite a good few miles or more. Passing through Kelly Bray, then when we got to the hamlet of Maders, we were stopped by a paramedic, as the the Cornwall Air Ambulance helicopter was taking off from a field behind some buildings in the hamlet. Hope nobody was to seriously injured. Soon on our way again & with lots of reminders of the heavy rain of late. Fields flooded & rivulets coming down hilly sections of road. We soon came to the big climb from Rilla Mill to Upton Cross. On the way up we passed the turning on the right, that use to lead to the home of Cornish Yarg cheese. Now re-located further west in Cornwall. Soon at the top we re-grouped to start the long descent into Liskeard. Here we gate crashed the King Doniert pub. Here Dave quickly finished his coffee, then went about fitting new brake blocks for Yoland. She seemed to have come ready loaded for a mister fix it.
Dave soon completed the task & Graham J, parted company as he had to be home early. Soon we were all underway again & still it wasn't raining as forecast. Just pass Tilland Trevor & Graham B, went off left to enjoy the narrow muddy lane, on route to Blunts. Dave, Yolland & myself went the longer dryer route to Blunts. After blunts it was more narrow lanes with grass in the middle, which I am sure was much appreciated by Trevor. Then after a couple of more climbs we were coming out at Hatt, onto the main A388 road to Saltash. At Saltash Dave & myself positioned ourselves on the top of the A38 bridge to bid farewell to the others going under & down to the Tamar bridge. Total mileage 43.
Larry Clarke
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