After appropriate (and distanced) milling about at HQ, the Wheelers eventually split into three groups. I inserted myself into the ‘mid-crowd’, heading for St Agnes and led out by Sylvia, who had decided to abandon the ‘pro-group’ in our favour. At some point after cresting Truro Hill, we lost Sylvia and never did find her again, which throws up a slippery concept – did we abandon Sylvia or did she abandon us? Whichever, after a brisk ride via Chacewater and that nasty steep bit out of Carharrack (or St Day? One of those terrifying villages in the spine of Cornwall, anyway- It was actually Mount Hawke, Ed). We reached the point at which sane people (Phil and I) branch right to find the ring road around St Agnes Beacon, and nutters (Fred, Teresa, many others) branch left to try and find a steeper and more difficult way to paradise (aka The Greenroom Café). In the event, the latter group discovered that Cornwall is surrounded by sea so reversed their route to return the way they’d come, catching up with Phil and I near Stagnes church (we were adjusting Phil’s errant gears, by which I mean, Phil adjusting with me taking a keen but unhelpful interest). The group re-formed at Greenroom Café, ex-Sylvia (we did worry, although not to the extent of trying to find her) whereupon I was informed that I’d been selected to write the ride report. Two coffees later we headed back, the group splitting again part-way back to accommodate different return deadlines. A pretty fast ride back (fast for me, at this time of the year) saw me pretty emptied out for just the 37 miles, but a really satisfying and enjoyable outing.
Mike W