Treyarnon to Hatherleigh
Distance: 65.46 miles
Time (hours): 5:39
Average Speed: 10.9 mph
Ascent: 4,055 ft
Much-Needed Fuel
Alarmed to wake at 8:50 this morning, we were up and out of bed in no time. Yesterday, breakfast was being packed away around that time and we were keen not to miss the much-needed fuel. However, it seems that at weekends things are a little more relaxed. So we had time to tuck-in to a hearty meal before the off.
All The Rains
Today we had all the rains: from heavy to steady, monsoon to drizzle and even a touch of hail. There was a lot of standing (and cascading) water on the roadways and it was easy to see why the surfaces here are so weathered. In spite of all that, it was an enjoyable day’s ride.
The broad hills of Cornwall gave us big, open views as we retraced our steps back over Bodmin Moor, passing – for the second time – within a whisker of the county’s highest point. Once again, we had to endure sections of main roads. However – perhaps due to the appalling conditions – drivers seemed a little more respectful and sympathetic today as they sloshed by.
Heat Management
After around 10 miles, we stopped at a large cafe. Here we enjoyed tea and cake, showing our appreciation by leaving pools of water on the floor from our sodden waterproofs. Apologies. In this kind of rain, there’s no chance of remaining dry: it’s more a question of heat management. Earlier, we’d stopped to remove layers, then had to immediately replace them as the heavens opened.
Sit-Down Break?
Takeaway pasties were procured. Which was just as well since we didn’t see anywhere to refill for the next 30 miles or so. We ate standing by a field entrance, during a lull in the rain, looking forward to a sit-down break once a cafe or pub appeared. Neither did.
Finally, we came into a small market town. Following a sign for the ‘town centre’, we deviated up a steep incline to the market square. Hidden down a side road was – at last – a cafe. It was closed. By now, the rain had finally abated. For a brief moment, it looked as though the sun may appear. It didn’t.
Impatient Drivers
We ploughed on, still mostly over friendly terrain, interspersed with the odd climb requiring first gear and patient effort. A couple of adrenaline-induced expletives were emitted as impatient drivers narrowly avoided head-on collision. When confronted with 2 1/2 tons of 4×4 brushing your shoulder, its sometimes hard to remain polite. But we do make an effort to let people pass on narrow lanes and wave acknowledgement to those that wait until it’s safe.
