We were missing Colin on Wednesday, our usual ride reporter and as I thought the ride was worthy of a mention I thought I would put pen to paper so to speak. Sarah was also missing hence no photos. Did anyone take any photos? I know I didn’t but just imagine lots of wet and windy scenic scenes.
There was Dean,Phil C, Adrian, Ian, Paul and myself at UC, with Fred, Amanda,Jan and Phil S at TOP. Now, I’m not known for coming out when the forecast is looking a bit iffy but I felt I needed to embrace the fact that I am lucky enough to be able to get out so I did. The rain was due to come in by midday and we didn’t want to be too far from home when it did so a very clever route to Stithians Lake was devised by Fred keeping the wind behind us for most of the ride.
Off we headed down, down, down into Gweek only to come straight back up, up, up 4 mile hill. It was a right at the school at the top and along to the main Helston road which we crossed. Winding our way along we arrived at Releath. The rain had come in by now, a little earlier than expected and we weren’t hanging around. The blustery wind was also making us a bit wary passing the gateways to the fields. The saving grace was that with the wind behind us the rain didn’t seem too bad. Arriving in Four Lanes we took the usual right at the pub and continued to the point where it’s a left to Stithians or straight on to the Lake. I decided that coffee at home in Falmouth was preferable as I was getting cold and was also pretty wet so I took a left and the others carried on to coffee.
I should imagine within the usual banter the upcoming Audax was discussed along with Jan’s recent ski trip maybe. Coffee and Cake will have been consumed and Eggs on Toast if they were on the menu.
While they were enjoying the warm cafe I was battling my way home as I had now turned into the wind and rain. I wondered if the others may even catch me up as I didn’t seem to be making much headway at times though they would of course have the same conditions when they left the cafe. I was umming and ahhing about whether to go through Mabe and Penryn or the usual Halvasso route. I didn’t fancy ASDA roundabout in the rain so took the usual route home.
I arrived home, greeted by Clive, who wasn’t quite sure what to do with the soggy mess that was standing in the porch. Coffee and a shower soon sorted me out though and the famous words of ‘you never regret going’ were ringing true.
A tough 32 miles.