20th May 2017
I had booked
a few days in Cornwall with the van from Wednesday through till Friday, the
weather forecast was good for Wednesday and Thursday but wet on Friday!
I had booked
into the Ayre holiday park in St Ives, http://ayrholidaypark.co.uk/
This is great
site in a spectacular position overlooking St Ives Portmeor beach, great facilities very clean and
newish. All pitches have good views as you can see from the photo.
The only
thing was it was a north easterly wind which was chilly and the site is a
little exposed.
St Ives Harbour
View across St Ives from the Coast guard lookout
We left home
on Wednesday morning and found the A30 near Bodmin a nightmare with roadworks,
we got through OK as its still spring but I would hate to venture down there
this summer, there will be monumental tailbacks!!!
We were there
by lunchtime, checked in and parked up, kettle on all within 10 minutes, much
easier than camping!!! It was too chilly to sit outside but we had spectacular
views over St Ives from the van as we had lunch. It was a beautifully sunny
day, the sea was very blue, almost Mediterranean!!
After lunch
we walked down the coast path to the town, a lovely path, we were surprised how
busy it was, the cafes etc. were spilling out into the streets in the sunshine,
the tide was just coming in, and we saw several gulls relieve people of their
ice creams!!! People don’t take enough care, when eating food down there. We
spent a lot of time sitting in the sunshine, enjoying the scenery that St Ives
has to offer.
Five bean
chilli in Weatherspoons was dinner that evening, quite a scruffy Weatherspoons,
but the chilli was nice.
We walked
back up the coast path as the sun was going down, lovely views with the sun
shining on the white sandy beaches etc. We had a good night in the van, and as
always we were up earlyish and surprised that the showers etc. were deserted.
Breakfast was cereal and panne au chocolat heated in our ‘Seren’ side entry
toaster enabling us to heat pasties etc. and well within the wattage of the
campsites.
We walked
along the cliff path enjoying the coastal scenery and weather, even though it
was a little chilly, and returned for a sandwich lunch back at the van.
The couple of
days away went all too quickly, and Friday dawned a little damp and seemed to
be getting worse, as we packed up and drove off the rain started to get heavy.
We called in Penzance, had coffee and the last of the panne au chocolat before
a wander round the town, we were disappointed that it seemed very run down,
these days, or perhaps the weather didn’t help. We were heading back up the A30
by lunchtime intending to stop on the way for a sandwich lunch. We stopped
before the road works, good job we did as we were soon in a long que into the
works, single file 40 mph traffic!!!
However we
were still home by tea time, a great few days away and made a change from
cycling each day at the moment.
The rest of
Friday was very wet and windy, but Saturday dawned a little better, but windy,
so I was soon out on my bike again, over the levels once more 45 miles covered , a nasty headwind on
the way home making it hard work. Giving me 184 miles for the week!
Sunday I met
up with the wheelers early as they were cycling to Watchet 40 miles away to
cycle back to West Bay on the charity ride for the Air Ambulance, coast to
coast, they would have clocked up over 100miles by the time they got home
again!! I wasn’t entered for the event and decided I would peel off just after
Wellington to cycle back on my own. They set a good pace and by the time we
reached Wellington we were averaging 16 mph!!! I waved good bye at Nynehead and
made my way back through the lanes to Bishops Hull near Taunton then went round
Taunton to return home via Creech St Michael, and over the Blackdowns. 53 miles covered !! most of the way home was into a strong
headwind once again. The C2C riders must have had the same, as I did cover much
of their route home.
Monday has
dawned very wet and windy!! I hope to get out but!!! And as I have 3 days of
Bikeability my mileage will drop, especially as I am trying to do back to back
rides. The rain continued through the day, my enthusiasm disappeared!
Tuesday and
Wednesday were also set to be wet and windy days. I had 2 days of Bikeability
at a local school, it wasn’t looking promising. We managed to get day 1
completed with only a slight shower with the rain heavy by the end of the day.
Wednesday was
very poor, we started off with heavy rain so a DVD on road safety, before
heading out onto very wet roads to complete the course. Cars seemed very
reluctant to slow down today, causing me some anxious moments with the children.
We were able to cover all the outcomes by lunchtime and there were 18 soggy
children handed back to the school, I have to say they were very good coping
well with the weather and their behaviour helped us get through the course and
I am pleased to say they all got their level 2.
Thursday was
helping out a colleague on another Bikeability course in a local village, just
day one, interesting the contrast between the school of the previous days, and
between year 5 and 6 children, year 5 children still seem very immature for the
level 2 course. Fortunately the weather was okay for most of the day, only one
short sharp shower.
Friday, was
forecast to be sunny to start with heavy rain following by lunchtime. I was up
very early, and was out cycling by 6:30 am!!! It was chilly, my Garmin said 7
degrees! Full tights, thermal vest and windproof top with gloves! I did a quick
ride 27 miles covered and back home
by 8:30 for a second breakfast!
Not a great
week for miles only 80 miles covered,
the bad weather has really set in, with only a week before I depart on my
Manche to Med fifteen day 1200 km cycle down through France, I have to work
another two days this week, so only three days to get a few more miles in, I
also need to spend time preparing my bike and sorting out other stuff, maps,
kit etc. Tomorrows [Sunday] weather is looking good so maybe I can get a good
few miles in and Monday is also looking good, this is probably my last chance
for back to back rides. We will see!!! No running again this week !!
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