Last day - today's the day we reach Land's End! Day 35 (5 weeks!). Point/Devoran to Land's End via Penzance. 44.91miles. 1138miles total to Land's End (did a couple extra getting to Little Bosanketh Farm pop up campsite). I've got to go to bed now, but I WILL finish tomorrow.
Was out of the bungalow by 7.30am. Penny had already left the house - and I didn't see Raoul at all. Cycled up the Old Tram Road the way I'd walked to the pub last night, and on past. Google was vague and I got a little lost trying to find the cycle path. Raoul was at the busstop and I didn't recognise him initially! But he pointed me in the right direction. The Carnon Valley way is old mining territory - arsenic amongst other things. Cornwall must have been so rich in minerals. A lot of the valley is fenced off to help rewilding and regeneration. Lovely riding but eventually I had to peel off the cycle path back onto roads. And hills, of course. A lovely swoop down to a bridge is inevitably followed by a slog back up the other side of the valley. And kicking a sometimes reluctant Mabli out of her carriage to lighten the load.
Now all the while I'm cycling along, I'm entertaining myself by doing little sums involving mileage in my head. Google says it's 39.2miles to Lands End. I've cycled 10miles so I'm over a 1/4 of the way there. Or, the map says turn right onto the B whatever road in 2.5 miles and I'm working out what my mileometer will say at that point... It wiles away the miles! In fact, I was bereft when I ran out of battery power coming into Presteigne/Norton back in Wales. No bicycle computer to glance at and see the miles ticking up.
By the time I got to Redruth I was in need of a coffee infusion. I chose Hatters coffee shop as they were obviously completely bonkers in there (weird decorations that somehow didn't quite come together) and didn't mind me topping up the battery. I asked for waffle, bacon and eggs. It was the weirdest meal I've ever eaten because the waffle was a sweet one. Maple syrup is one thing - but a sugary waffle is not meant to go with bacon and egg. The egg yolk was hard and the bacon was floppy... so Mabli got most of the bacon. No - very odd and definitely missed the mark. Coffee was OK but murky. Murky coffee - like they'd put a splash of milk in before remembering I wanted it black. No wonder I was the only customer. There was a better coffee place down the road - but I hadn't spotted it soon enough.
Onward down the hill - past some rather lovely knitted figures on a postbox and skirting around Camborne. Coming down into Hayle, the NCR 3 took me across a causeway - traffic free and beautiful. I stopped at another eaterie - this time much nearer the mark - called 'Salt'. I had a submarine roll stuffed with really fresh battered fish (a posh fish finger sarnie) and an iced coffee with hazelnut syrup. Yum. Topped up the battery again - which is just as well as I was down to the last 1.5 bars of power when I reached Lands End later that day.
My grandmother was brought up in Lelant... I don't know who my great grandfather on the Cornish side was!!! But I remember being taken to visit an ancient Aunty in Lelant when I was around 8yrs of age - and we were offered Junket for pud. It's across the river from Hayle and I didn't visit there today.
Onward across to the South and Penzance. The weather couldn't decide what it was going to do, and was threatening rain, so my first glimpses of St Michael's Mount in Marazion were through mizzle. Soon after, the NCR3 took me onto a shared pedestrian/cycle path alongside the long beach that joined up with Penzance. Mabli was itching to get in the briny, but she'd have to wait. There were dog walkers on the sands throwing balls - but I kept going. Finally reaching Penzance, my next mission was to book my rail ticket to Newton Abbot for the next day - afternoon preferably, with a reserved spot for the bicycle. It was easier than I expected - so simple when speaking to a human being across a counter than trying to deal with AI online. That sorted - (Tickets very carefully zipped away safely) I was onto the last step - up and out of Penzance and Lands End, here we come!
Followed a busy road out of Penzance and the pic of the cross and 'Flood' sign - with a sign to Tregavaran is where I finally got onto backroads. I stopped in a holiday park to try and book a pitch for my little two man tent (Roseview, I think it was called) but the owner looked me up and down and said they were full. I found a much better place later, so all's well. Google tried to lead me up a footpath again shortly after this, but I ignored it (and the long grass) and did the dog leg up the road instead - back onto the main A30 past Sennen and the Lands End airport (where you can catch a flight to the Scillies - on my bucket list!) and past the Last Inn in England. Approaching Lands End is a downhill swoop and very exhilarating! It was around half 6 in the evening, so most of the touristy places were closed - but the Hotel bar was open (most important). Lots and LOTS of tourists - and people available to take the photo at the finish sign.
My battery power was low, and I hadn't booked a campsite. So I sat and had TWO pints of lager (and lime) cold and refreshing - and a bowl of rather lovely spicy tomato soup and bread. Battery AND phone plugged in, and dog friendly too. Had to sit there until nearly 8pm as it took until then for the battery power indicator to shift a notch and I knew I'd have enough to get me back up the hill. I was quite merry after two pints.
I cycled back up the hill to where I'd spotted a sign saying 'Farm Camping' about 2miles up the road - It was perfect, though a long way from anywhere. The camping field was half a mile down a gravelled track - and the farm itself was ANOTHER half a mile further down the track. I phoned 'Tilly' - one of the phone numbers on the sign - and she told me to come on down to the farm to charge my battery overnight - I left my bike down there, tucked up in the barn with the horses and walked back to the tent. It poured down and blew a gale that night! But the tent kept us dry and stayed put. The campsite at Little Bosanketh Farm was only £7 and dogs go free too. I say again - "Perfect".
We did it! Mabs and i arrived at Land's End with but a squeak of battery power left, at 18.30hrs on day 35 - August 7th.
5 weeks of seeing our GREEN island in all its glory, of meeting up with old friends, making new friends and missing out on meeting others (you know who you are - and sorry about that).
Today's mileage 44.91(not counting what i'll do from now on...) 1,138miles in total.
You have donated £1,000 - omg i reached my target! Thank you each and every one - and know that Exeter Woodcraft Folk will use the funds wisely! (Like getting a new Marquee!). (NB - my final total was something like £1400).
Route taken- july 4th: Thurso to John O'Groats; John O'Groats to Watton. (No frills camping in a pod)
July 5th: Watton to Helmsdale.(hotel)
July 6th: Helmsdale to Tain;(glamping in a posh ALL frills shipping container)
July 7th: Tain to Culbokie - B&B at a farm
July 8th: Culbokie to Inverness - camping in a holiday park.
July 9th: Inverness to Dalraddy Holiday Park (Alvie)- camping
July 10th: Alvie to Newtonmore - hotel
July 11th: Newtonmore - Pitlochry - semi- WILD camp
July 12th: Pitlochry to Perth - hotel
Juky 13th: Perth - Edinburgh - stayed with friend - 2 days off - walk to Leith.
July 16th: Edinburgh - Biggar - hotel
17th July: Biggar - south of Lockerbie (nr Kettleholme) Warmshowers.org hosts the first (when Warmshowers works - it's like hitting gold).
18th July: Kettleholme to Southwaite Warmshowers hosts the 2nd
19th July: Southwaite to Shap - Warmshowers host no.3
20th July: Shap to Yealand Redmayne - Warmshowers hosts no 4.
21st July: Yealand Redmayne to outskirts of Preston - 'POP UP' campsite.
22nd July: Lea - Preston to Liverpool, Toxteth - s/c tiny apartment (thru air b&b).
23rd July: Liverpool - Higher Kinnerton (close to Chester) - staying with friend - One day off (24th) and a walk up Hope Mountain and visit to Colwyn Bay.
25th July: Hr Kinnerton - Wigmore Lakes in Wattleborough, nr Shrewsbury. Camping.
26th July: Wattleborough to Norton (nr. Presteigne) stayed with friends.
27th July: Norton - Mitchel Troy - stayed with friends.
28th July: Mitchel Troy - Lydney - stayed with friends.
29th July: Lydney to Bristol- stayed with friends
30th July: Bristol to Axbridge - Warmshowers host the final - no 5.
31st July: Axbridge to West Buckland - farm camping
1st August: West Buckland to Honiton. Stayed with friends.
2nd August: Honiton to Spreyton - stayed with friend.
3rd August: Spreyton - to Holsworthy - camping and visited friend!
4th August: Holsworthy to Kernomads camping - sneaky sleeping in a caravan.
5th August: Kernomads (nr Boscastle) - to Lake Tregonetha campsite - camping
6th August: Lake Tregonetha (nr St Columb Major) to Devoran - hotel (more like bed without breakfast)
7th August Devoran to Lands End. Camping (at Little Bosanketh Farm pop up campsite, nr Penzance).
Train ticket to Newton Abbot purchased from Penzance for tomorrow afternoon as I passed through town.
And there you have it.
What a fab adventure it's been. Can't really say it was unsupported, because it was - by Steve and you all. Thanks for being there. Mabli has been a star! Mostly.
Was out of the bungalow by 7.30am. Penny had already left the house - and I didn't see Raoul at all. Cycled up the Old Tram Road the way I'd walked to the pub last night, and on past. Google was vague and I got a little lost trying to find the cycle path. Raoul was at the busstop and I didn't recognise him initially! But he pointed me in the right direction. The Carnon Valley way is old mining territory - arsenic amongst other things. Cornwall must have been so rich in minerals. A lot of the valley is fenced off to help rewilding and regeneration. Lovely riding but eventually I had to peel off the cycle path back onto roads. And hills, of course. A lovely swoop down to a bridge is inevitably followed by a slog back up the other side of the valley. And kicking a sometimes reluctant Mabli out of her carriage to lighten the load.
Now all the while I'm cycling along, I'm entertaining myself by doing little sums involving mileage in my head. Google says it's 39.2miles to Lands End. I've cycled 10miles so I'm over a 1/4 of the way there. Or, the map says turn right onto the B whatever road in 2.5 miles and I'm working out what my mileometer will say at that point... It wiles away the miles! In fact, I was bereft when I ran out of battery power coming into Presteigne/Norton back in Wales. No bicycle computer to glance at and see the miles ticking up.
By the time I got to Redruth I was in need of a coffee infusion. I chose Hatters coffee shop as they were obviously completely bonkers in there (weird decorations that somehow didn't quite come together) and didn't mind me topping up the battery. I asked for waffle, bacon and eggs. It was the weirdest meal I've ever eaten because the waffle was a sweet one. Maple syrup is one thing - but a sugary waffle is not meant to go with bacon and egg. The egg yolk was hard and the bacon was floppy... so Mabli got most of the bacon. No - very odd and definitely missed the mark. Coffee was OK but murky. Murky coffee - like they'd put a splash of milk in before remembering I wanted it black. No wonder I was the only customer. There was a better coffee place down the road - but I hadn't spotted it soon enough.
Onward down the hill - past some rather lovely knitted figures on a postbox and skirting around Camborne. Coming down into Hayle, the NCR 3 took me across a causeway - traffic free and beautiful. I stopped at another eaterie - this time much nearer the mark - called 'Salt'. I had a submarine roll stuffed with really fresh battered fish (a posh fish finger sarnie) and an iced coffee with hazelnut syrup. Yum. Topped up the battery again - which is just as well as I was down to the last 1.5 bars of power when I reached Lands End later that day.
My grandmother was brought up in Lelant... I don't know who my great grandfather on the Cornish side was!!! But I remember being taken to visit an ancient Aunty in Lelant when I was around 8yrs of age - and we were offered Junket for pud. It's across the river from Hayle and I didn't visit there today.
Onward across to the South and Penzance. The weather couldn't decide what it was going to do, and was threatening rain, so my first glimpses of St Michael's Mount in Marazion were through mizzle. Soon after, the NCR3 took me onto a shared pedestrian/cycle path alongside the long beach that joined up with Penzance. Mabli was itching to get in the briny, but she'd have to wait. There were dog walkers on the sands throwing balls - but I kept going. Finally reaching Penzance, my next mission was to book my rail ticket to Newton Abbot for the next day - afternoon preferably, with a reserved spot for the bicycle. It was easier than I expected - so simple when speaking to a human being across a counter than trying to deal with AI online. That sorted - (Tickets very carefully zipped away safely) I was onto the last step - up and out of Penzance and Lands End, here we come!
Followed a busy road out of Penzance and the pic of the cross and 'Flood' sign - with a sign to Tregavaran is where I finally got onto backroads. I stopped in a holiday park to try and book a pitch for my little two man tent (Roseview, I think it was called) but the owner looked me up and down and said they were full. I found a much better place later, so all's well. Google tried to lead me up a footpath again shortly after this, but I ignored it (and the long grass) and did the dog leg up the road instead - back onto the main A30 past Sennen and the Lands End airport (where you can catch a flight to the Scillies - on my bucket list!) and past the Last Inn in England. Approaching Lands End is a downhill swoop and very exhilarating! It was around half 6 in the evening, so most of the touristy places were closed - but the Hotel bar was open (most important). Lots and LOTS of tourists - and people available to take the photo at the finish sign.
My battery power was low, and I hadn't booked a campsite. So I sat and had TWO pints of lager (and lime) cold and refreshing - and a bowl of rather lovely spicy tomato soup and bread. Battery AND phone plugged in, and dog friendly too. Had to sit there until nearly 8pm as it took until then for the battery power indicator to shift a notch and I knew I'd have enough to get me back up the hill. I was quite merry after two pints.
I cycled back up the hill to where I'd spotted a sign saying 'Farm Camping' about 2miles up the road - It was perfect, though a long way from anywhere. The camping field was half a mile down a gravelled track - and the farm itself was ANOTHER half a mile further down the track. I phoned 'Tilly' - one of the phone numbers on the sign - and she told me to come on down to the farm to charge my battery overnight - I left my bike down there, tucked up in the barn with the horses and walked back to the tent. It poured down and blew a gale that night! But the tent kept us dry and stayed put. The campsite at Little Bosanketh Farm was only £7 and dogs go free too. I say again - "Perfect".
We did it! Mabs and i arrived at Land's End with but a squeak of battery power left, at 18.30hrs on day 35 - August 7th.
5 weeks of seeing our GREEN island in all its glory, of meeting up with old friends, making new friends and missing out on meeting others (you know who you are - and sorry about that).
Today's mileage 44.91(not counting what i'll do from now on...) 1,138miles in total.
You have donated £1,000 - omg i reached my target! Thank you each and every one - and know that Exeter Woodcraft Folk will use the funds wisely! (Like getting a new Marquee!). (NB - my final total was something like £1400).
Route taken- july 4th: Thurso to John O'Groats; John O'Groats to Watton. (No frills camping in a pod)
July 5th: Watton to Helmsdale.(hotel)
July 6th: Helmsdale to Tain;(glamping in a posh ALL frills shipping container)
July 7th: Tain to Culbokie - B&B at a farm
July 8th: Culbokie to Inverness - camping in a holiday park.
July 9th: Inverness to Dalraddy Holiday Park (Alvie)- camping
July 10th: Alvie to Newtonmore - hotel
July 11th: Newtonmore - Pitlochry - semi- WILD camp
July 12th: Pitlochry to Perth - hotel
Juky 13th: Perth - Edinburgh - stayed with friend - 2 days off - walk to Leith.
July 16th: Edinburgh - Biggar - hotel
17th July: Biggar - south of Lockerbie (nr Kettleholme) Warmshowers.org hosts the first (when Warmshowers works - it's like hitting gold).
18th July: Kettleholme to Southwaite Warmshowers hosts the 2nd
19th July: Southwaite to Shap - Warmshowers host no.3
20th July: Shap to Yealand Redmayne - Warmshowers hosts no 4.
21st July: Yealand Redmayne to outskirts of Preston - 'POP UP' campsite.
22nd July: Lea - Preston to Liverpool, Toxteth - s/c tiny apartment (thru air b&b).
23rd July: Liverpool - Higher Kinnerton (close to Chester) - staying with friend - One day off (24th) and a walk up Hope Mountain and visit to Colwyn Bay.
25th July: Hr Kinnerton - Wigmore Lakes in Wattleborough, nr Shrewsbury. Camping.
26th July: Wattleborough to Norton (nr. Presteigne) stayed with friends.
27th July: Norton - Mitchel Troy - stayed with friends.
28th July: Mitchel Troy - Lydney - stayed with friends.
29th July: Lydney to Bristol- stayed with friends
30th July: Bristol to Axbridge - Warmshowers host the final - no 5.
31st July: Axbridge to West Buckland - farm camping
1st August: West Buckland to Honiton. Stayed with friends.
2nd August: Honiton to Spreyton - stayed with friend.
3rd August: Spreyton - to Holsworthy - camping and visited friend!
4th August: Holsworthy to Kernomads camping - sneaky sleeping in a caravan.
5th August: Kernomads (nr Boscastle) - to Lake Tregonetha campsite - camping
6th August: Lake Tregonetha (nr St Columb Major) to Devoran - hotel (more like bed without breakfast)
7th August Devoran to Lands End. Camping (at Little Bosanketh Farm pop up campsite, nr Penzance).
Train ticket to Newton Abbot purchased from Penzance for tomorrow afternoon as I passed through town.
And there you have it.
What a fab adventure it's been. Can't really say it was unsupported, because it was - by Steve and you all. Thanks for being there. Mabli has been a star! Mostly.
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