Day Two- Perranporth to Launceston

Both the weather and the view from the hostel were both glorious when we awoke.  After a cuppa outside and a quick game of fetch the twig (couldn’t find a stick) with Roxy, the resident Jack Russell, we waved goodbye and headed off up the coast towards Newquay. 
Did I say it was hilly yesterday?  Yesterday’s hills were mere pimples compared to the ups and downs we encountered today between Newquay and Padstow.  The coast road was a rollercoaster of ups and downs or “curtseys” , tipping down to the sea and, invariably,  a lovely beach speckled with surfers, and then veering steeply up the other side.



Time and again we would wearily dismount and push the bikes up to the summit before starting the next big down. 
By the time we got to Padstow we were ready for a break and we took an hour here to recover. 



Cockles and whelks from the fish wagon and a wonderful pint of Proper Job (St Austell’s Brewery again) at The Shipwrights perked us up no end.  Feeling a need for respite from hills we decided to ride along the Camel Trail to Wadebridge and a good choice it proved to be.  The River Camel estuary sparkled in the sunshine alongside the cycle track and the cycling was flat and easy going 




Too soon we reached Wadebridge and a steep climb out of the town ensued.  We decided to head straight down the A39 to Camelford as the road followed the line of the River Allen and therefore was likely to be flatter than the minor roads on either side.  Although undulating there were no major shocks although before Camelford the road began the climb up onto Bodmin Moor. 
At Camelford we refuelled with another pint of Proper Job at the only premises in the village that was open.  Mick thought the pub was reminiscent of the one in An American Werewolf In London (“you made me miss my dart”), and I agreed it did feel like the Badlands.  Someone was eating a roast dinner with his bare hands and none of the patrons appeared to have any familiarity with Colgate.  We pressed on, hoping to find a country pub and B&B further along the road.  Neither appeared and we eventually found ourselves wearily peddling into Launceston.
By now it was seven o’clock and we began to wonder whether we would be able to find anywhere to stay.  Mick spotted a Salvation Army building – maybe they would take us in?  No need -  one of the Officers kindly walked us to to the top of the town where we booked into Glencoe Villa Bed and Breakfast.  (Why Glencoe I have no idea).  The owners were lovely, putting our bikes in the garage and carrying the bags to our room.  After a hot bath we hit the town.  Gangs of youth hung around or sped about in small fast cars. A police car was cruising the streets and an ambulance was sat on standby….we began to think Launceston in the evenings might not be a very good place to be..…after a Chinese takaway and a quick pint in a dreadful pub (as far as we could tell all the pubs in Launceston are dreadful) we headed back to the B&B and tucked in for the night. 
We were very pleased with our efforts today, tomorrow we would soon be over the border and into Devon.
Stats
Miles:  56
Pints of Beer Each:2
Hills pushed: More than I care to remember

Route here: