OGIL ride report 10th August 2022
Even though the early morning OGIL splinter group continued its efforts to avoid the heat of the sun by starting out an hour earlier, the stalwarts still managed to number a healthy seven when we congregated at ToP. We may have been slightly later leaving UC than planned as we were absorbed by the sight of a strange insect on the wall. Dean the Elder’s entomological curiosity led him to photograph the bug in question for the purposes of later identification. His subsequent silence on the subject can, I assume, be taken to mean that a new species has not been discovered, or the creature was not of any particular interest, or he has forgotten about it, or any combination of the three.
In agreeing on a destination we easily reached a consensus that the coast was to be avoided at all costs, and a suggestion of Jenn’s Diner by a roundabout route was accepted. We set off to Halvasso, over the Stithians southern causeway to Penmarth. We couldn’t help but notice that Phil3’s brakes had somehow been more or less silenced (well, it wasn’t wet), but Dean however was emitting a veritable symphony of squeaks from his saddle (or so he claimed). Up to Nine Maidens we laboured, having been instructed that the route was by means of Bolenowe. Those of us who somehow managed to find themselves at the front dutifully turned down towards Bolenowe, only to see the others sail past on the main road. Having retrieved (Eco)Trevor from further down the Bolenowe road, we followed the others. There was no sign of them at the Troon turn, and so we carried on, mindful of the OGIL ride rule of always leaving someone at a junction if the ride turns off.
At Black Rock there was still no sign, and so we took the executive decision to follow the road into Praze. Still no-one about. We knew the intention was to ride through Penponds, so we rode to Carnhell Green and Barripper, then Penponds and into the Camborne hinterland. It was here that we became a little disoriented, and we ended up joining the main road at Tuckingmill. Despite the many signs to the left pointing to Illogan, from where we knew we could go to Sparnon Gate and then approach Jenn’s Diner from the north on the Old Portreath Road, we continued resolutely onwards. Thankfully, the traffic was not too bad, and we only had the appalling road surface to deal with. Eventually we arrived at Jenn’s Diner, with the other group turning up shortly afterwards. We commandeered the outside seating, and sat down to enjoy our refreshments in the relative cool of the shaded smoking area.
All good things come to an end, and so we mounted up to depart homewards. At that point the early start splinter group turned up, our position having been leaked. They were fresh from their excursion to Marazion, and didn’t even need another coffee before joining us for the ride back. So an expanded group descended on Redruth for the traditional route back via the top of Lanner Hill, Penhalvean, Stithians, etc. There was no real debate about whether to go through Stithians or past the Golden Lion. The reason became obvious when a number stopped at the Seven Stars to take on more liquid (it had been a hot ride after all). Those more intent on a nice cuppa continued home.
A slightly chaotic ride which included bits of Camborne, Pool and Redruth that are not the most picturesque, but we got there in the end – about 78 km for me.