Land's End!

The Wheel Inn, St Austell - Seemed apt!

A super early start today so I could aim to finish about lunchtime.  I had been persuaded on the camp to change my route from the A30 and take the A390 instead through St Austell to Truro before joining the A30 again above Redruth.  Whilst Truro was stunning, I had not taken into account the huge climbs on this route which, along with a time pressure, made it rather hard work!

Truro Cathedral

Once back on the A30 things seemed to settle. It's a fast  and fairly flat road so I was soon whizzing into Penzance having pretty much given it everything I had got. 

But again the hills would test me again - the last 10 or so miles seemed to be entirely uphill. 

With two miles to go my knee popped and I had to stop and give it serious TLC.  In a way it seemed frustrating that it had lasted all this way to possibly let me down at the last hurdle.  However, it was an apt reminder that I was not doing this in my own strength and this made me thankful and focussed my thoughts for the last couple of miles.

The very last stretch was downhill and Mum and Dad were there to cheer me over the finish line, along with a few tourists, which was a little embarrassing!

The End!



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My t-shirt on the ceiling!

Land's End itself is sadly rather commercialised and we even had to pay for the iconic photo finish.  We had a hearty meal at the First and Last Inn and they have added my t-shirt to the many others on the ceiling, making me part of a family of End to Enders!  I even chatted to a couple of guys who had also finished today and seemed a bit surprised that I had cycled it on my own.

I'm going to take a little while to reflect on the journey and will do one last post when it's all had time to sink in!





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Barnowls and Bleak but Beautiful Bodmin

It's been a really tough day today.  I knew that I faced the serious climbs over the top of Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor, however the weather today decided to make this even trickier for me.

A30

I headed over Dartmoor without too many problems but I soon realised that Bodmin was going to become my third swear word of the trip (after Shap and Dremochter).  The rain pelted down, to the point that it hurt and switched between heavy rain and burning sun - which doesn't help with chaffing!  It was almost as if I was cycling in and out of a power shower on full thottle.

From here I took to the A30 which I have seen a lot of today and will continue along tomorrow.

Another milestone - I've entered Cornwall just before hitting Launceston, one last push to Land's End!

Bleak but beautiful Bodmin Moor

Bodmin Moor itself was bleak but beautiful and I had some amazing views.  However the rain was back to thwart me again as I headed into the town of Bodmin itself.  It became so heavy that I was drenched to the skin within seconds so I must have looked quite a sight cycling into the town, yelling at the sky "Is that all you've got".  It certainly made one local chuckle from under the safety of his brolly!

In contrast however we were met with real hospitality at the campsite in Lostwithiel, who donated our fee to the charities, and to top it all off we could see Barn owls swooping into the barn one with a mouse dangling from its talons!

 I can't quite believe that I will complete the ride tomorrow.

Climbs to Crediton

Mary Magdalene Church, Taunton

Taunton

I started with a fairly smooth ride to Taunton from Burnham on Sea and really enjoyed the picturesque town including St Mary Magdalene Church.

I headed down the A38 and A361 to Tiverton and passed over the Devon border - another major milestone and another county closer to the finishing line!

Views back over Cadleigh

However Dad summed it up from this point "It's not fair is it?!".  Huge inclines - not great for the end of a day with tired legs - although it did allow stunning views from the top at least!

My finishing point tonight was Copplestone which I came to via Crediton.  I was glad to jump in the van at this point and head to Silverton where I'm staying the night with good friends Juliette, Anthony and little Emily.