It can be quite a challenge planning a cycle route in Cornwall on a day when big black clouds are moving swiftly across the county. I no longer find it fun riding through torrential rain – when water finds its way into shoes despite covers, the bike’s bearings despite grease and worst of all my camera despite my best efforts to keep it dry. So I was keen to avoid the black clouds especially given the glorious sunny start to the day. And my morning research confirmed the research of the previous night that the Lizard Peninsula might remain dry until the northerly driven clouds reached it sometime after lunch. When we would hopefully be ensconced in a hostelry somewhere enjoying a post ride pint!🤔🍺🤣
I sadly lost my nerve at HQ following some jibes about my forecasting abilities and shamefully gave the decision to Phil – the Lizard “wild card” or standard “ride out against the wind” route to Perranporth? Phil chose Perranporth. So that’s how Phil and Mark ended up joining me on the King Harry ferry, following my less than orthodox route to the north coast. But what delights on the way as, with plenty of time in hand for the ferry, we ambled around Restronguet Creek, the mill pond flat water and the sunlit mud banks revealed by the receding tide And so peacefully quiet.
After the ferry we rode to Ruan High Lanes and on to Tresillian via Tregony where we branched north to the high ground between Trispen and Ladock. From this vantage point it’s possible to see for miles in all directions and so easy to observe the fast approaching dark clouds from the north and the impending rain shortly to arrive! So it was perhaps a little unfair of me to draw to Phil’s attention to the view south and the fact that it was still bright and sunny down on the Lizard! 🫢
It was Sunday – and the rain was biblical! At least I had my Gore rain jacket complete with hood meaning that “down my neck” is not one of the places the water found its way!
Thankfully the rain lightened after twenty minutes such that my riding companions were able to observe that my route to Perranporth was now very close to Carland Cross! Exactly why Robin?! Well, this was part Sunday ride and part an expedition to discover a safe route across the newly built A30! The first possible route I saw was a tunnel. Though it might have been possible for Phil to squeeze through it was unlikely that Mark could 🫢. It was more designed for the free flow of wildlife than cyclists. A mile or so on, down some incredibly muddy lanes, where the distinction between farm yard and road becomes quite blurred, we discovered ( it felt like a real discovery! ) a newly built not quite finished underpass complete with cycle lane. From here we crossed the old A30 and, via Goonhavern, we were soon swishing down the hill to Perranporth. Sadly “Stepping Stones” was closed and up for sale so we headed to the always open Wetherspoons. Fifteen minutes late for breakfast initial panic was allayed after it was noted they served “An All Day Brunch”! “All Day Breakfast” by another name 😱🙏🤣
Paper towels on the seats and coffees poured we could relax and begin to get warm again. A brisk ride home ( though one puncture like the Medium ride) via the coast road, Blackwater, Bissoe and the Royal Oak where Ian joined us for a post ride pint. An eventful day but as they say, you never regret going!
Robin