Day 1

Here's a picture of me at the start of my ride. I was pleased to finally get going, after a long journey down on the train and a an uphill struggle from Penzance to St Just, where I spent Wednesday night in a Youth Hostel. The bike is so much heavier with the gear on board, even the slightest incline requires hard work on the pedals.

I had a good first day, with the wind behind me and sunny spells, only a few spots of rain to keep me cool. The Cornish countryside is beautiful, but boy is it hilly... Finally gave in at Zennor, a tall hill about 30miles in, & decided to push the bike the rest of the way up. Would you believe it, I heard the sound of bagpipes carried to me on the wind... I paused & listened intently, there was no mistaking it: definitely bagpipes! Scotland calling as I struggled up the hill... lol.

Following a pause in St Ives on the pier (enjoying a Flake 99 & a hot latte!) I pushed on to finish in St Agnes for the day. A good first day but the hills are tough, and I only managed 45miles.