Lying in the sun yesterday it was so hot that I thought that, with another sunny day forecast, it would be okay to wear shorts for today’s ride. I was wrong! When I turned up at HQ I was the only one of the 15 or so cyclists wearing shorts.
They had paid better attention to the forecast. Fred set a good pace as we followed the usual route through Budock Water, right after Brill past the Tolmen Stone and down to Gweek. After the climb up to the roundabout by Garras School, we took the road to Gear Bridge and the Falmouth Audax route to St Anthony.
We stopped for a photo and looked back to the view of Falmouth Bay and St Mawes.
St Anthony in Meneage was looking fabulous with the boats on the beach and the shepherd’s huts on the beach. Then we pedalled up the side of Gillan Creek.
I stopped to chat to a friend who was walking her dog with her daughter from Manaccan while the others kindly waited for me at Carne.
It was left at Carne and more climbing up to the trig point at a junction where we added a few hills by taking the left turn and eventually arriving at St Keverne. Thoughts and happy memories of Raymond surfaced in St Keverne. We journeyed on to our destination of Roskilly’s, but not before Dean, Danny and I make a detour to Dean Quarry when we missed the last right turn.
We sat in the sun enjoying our coffees and cake in the yard for a while and then it was time to return home. I had anticipated a fairly direct route back along the main road to Gweek but Fred had other ideas so we turned left at Traboe Cross, across Goonhilly Downs. It was the usual way to the Lizard/ Helston road which we followed to Cury Cross. There it was right and back to Trelowarren main entrance for me while the others cut the corner. I was sure I saw a sign that said “no entries for cyclists in shorts”! As I met them waiting for me they cheered and clapped as I zoomed past- it was a easy ride downhill and a steep hill that I avoided!
At Gweek we took Five Mile hill to the main road and then left at Rame, past Jim’s old place and home through Halvasso.
An uneventful, but very enjoyable ride with a great group of Fal Wheelers- it’s fantastic to be cycling in groups again.
Other riders I’ve not mentioned were Phil C, Sylvia and Paul.
Next time I’ll look at the forecast more carefully.
Phil Samuel
61 miles for me, a bit more that some on the ‘long ride’!