Day One - Land’s End to Perranporth

Yesterday we drove the campervan to Lerryn, near Lostwithiel where we have stayed before. Our friend Frank had kindly agreed to come with us and drive the van back to Bristol, and we have a friend in Lerryn who had said we could use his place for the night. Frank slept in the cottage and we slept in the camper in the carpark which we have used before. The big day was looming, and it was vital to get a good night’s sleep before setting off on this epic cycle ride. So, naturally, I was still awake at 3am, 4am, 5am….. I didn’t want to put the radio on and wake Mick and the only reading material I had was that dratted map so I passed the night putting the birthday of everyone I knew in my mobile phone, then learning how to use the voice recorder option which I thought might be useful on route.  Anyone outside at three in the morning would have heard me whispering “testing, one two three, testing”…
The stay in Lerryn did help to break the journey.  We had a pleasant meal in the Ship at Lerryn (after a scary moment when we thought the kitchen may have closed for the evening – only in England would the kitchen be closed at 8.45 on a Friday evening…)
For various reasons we were a little late getting down to Land’s End.  Even so, we decided it would be a good idea to set off on a full stomach so we stopped at Penzance where we found a traditional seaside cafe.  None of the crockery matched but the breakfast was excellent!  By the time we had taken photos at Land’s End it was 2pm by the time we set off.

But the weather was lovely and sunny and we were feeing good.  
We had pre-booked  (and pre-paid for) beds at the youth hostel at Perranporth, 46 miles away so this was our goal for the day (or what was left of the day).
I was expecting the ride to be really hilly from the outset, but in fact the first 20  miles to St Ives were gentle.  We were following the coast road and the scenery was lovely.

Mick, rather unkindly, said that swathed in blue plastic I resembled a condom. I retorted that he was not exactly a picture of sartorial elegance himself.



We dived into the Tinners Arms in Zennor to wait for the rain to ease a little – may as well have a pint whilst we wait we thought.  I tried a pint of Tinners Ale from the St Austell Brewery which was excellent.  Mick’s pint was so memorable he has already forgotten what it was.  He did however cause some hilarity when he tried to wander into the Ladies toilet.  “You’re in Cornwall now” said one of the locals – “!the Ladies get to go inside – the Men’s toilets are out in the yard”
After St Ives the weather improved but the hills did not.  Up and down, up and down until I was starting to feel quite seasick.  And weary. Finally we pulled into the Youth Hostel at Perranporth.  The situation of the Hostel  is fabulous, perched on the cliffs overlooking the beach.



Turned in at midnight, very tired.
Stats:
Miles cycled 47
Pints Beer drunk Each: 3
Hills pushed: 14

Route here: