We woke early - and packed up - because I was slightly worried about being confronted by an irate Farmer Bill wanting to know why I was camping out in his caravan. I didn't see a soul. It was very misty, I suppose because it was still warm but had rained heavily in the night.
Sister Lorraine had suggested I take the coastal route (turning right out of the farm) to Tintagel - but avoiding the steep hill to Boscastle. She reckoned the lanes to Tintagel weren't so steep and that it was a gentler climb back up to Camelford. She lied. She obviously hasn't ridden a fully laden ebike with 23kg of dog in a trailer being towed behind. It was steep almost immediately going down from the farm. The views were probably spectacular but shrouded in mist on this particular morning. The lanes went up and down and it was still quite some distance before Tintagel when I decided to give up and take the most direct route to Camelford. Despite chucking Mabli out and making her run, I had to push the bike up one last bit of slope, it was so steep.
At Camelford, as it was still early (and I hadn't had my infusion of coffee) I parked the bicycle at the Village Hall and me and Mabli took a stroll around town. I found breakfast in the Hardware store (of all places) - well it was also a Post Office, a gift store and a cake and coffee vendor too. There was even a place out back, under cover with plants for sale where one could sit and, in my case, chow on cinnamon bun and quaff the required caffeine. Very civilised.
Much climbing of hills later (with lovely views over rolling and wooded valleys) I came to the start of the Camel Trail. Great for Mabli as she could run off lead and cool off in the River Camel which runs alongside. We had a second breakfast in the rather scrummy Snails Pace Cafe at the start of the trail - bacon buttie and more coffee.
Eventually had to leave the Camel Trail to get to Tregonetha Lake campsite - and was down to my last bar or two of power - so plugged it in whilst setting up camp, just to ensure I had enough power to cycle the 3miles into St Columb Major for dog and people food and then the 3miles back again. The co-op was open - so dog food sourced, then, it being Monday, most of the pubs were closed - I had a mediocre panini in the one that was open. Made it back to the campsite with enough battery power. It rained again that night but my little two man Terra Nova Lazer Competiton2 tent kept me and Mabs warm and dry.
Sister Lorraine had suggested I take the coastal route (turning right out of the farm) to Tintagel - but avoiding the steep hill to Boscastle. She reckoned the lanes to Tintagel weren't so steep and that it was a gentler climb back up to Camelford. She lied. She obviously hasn't ridden a fully laden ebike with 23kg of dog in a trailer being towed behind. It was steep almost immediately going down from the farm. The views were probably spectacular but shrouded in mist on this particular morning. The lanes went up and down and it was still quite some distance before Tintagel when I decided to give up and take the most direct route to Camelford. Despite chucking Mabli out and making her run, I had to push the bike up one last bit of slope, it was so steep.
At Camelford, as it was still early (and I hadn't had my infusion of coffee) I parked the bicycle at the Village Hall and me and Mabli took a stroll around town. I found breakfast in the Hardware store (of all places) - well it was also a Post Office, a gift store and a cake and coffee vendor too. There was even a place out back, under cover with plants for sale where one could sit and, in my case, chow on cinnamon bun and quaff the required caffeine. Very civilised.
Much climbing of hills later (with lovely views over rolling and wooded valleys) I came to the start of the Camel Trail. Great for Mabli as she could run off lead and cool off in the River Camel which runs alongside. We had a second breakfast in the rather scrummy Snails Pace Cafe at the start of the trail - bacon buttie and more coffee.
Eventually had to leave the Camel Trail to get to Tregonetha Lake campsite - and was down to my last bar or two of power - so plugged it in whilst setting up camp, just to ensure I had enough power to cycle the 3miles into St Columb Major for dog and people food and then the 3miles back again. The co-op was open - so dog food sourced, then, it being Monday, most of the pubs were closed - I had a mediocre panini in the one that was open. Made it back to the campsite with enough battery power. It rained again that night but my little two man Terra Nova Lazer Competiton2 tent kept me and Mabs warm and dry.
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