Day 14 - Crediton to Padstow - Cornwall, the final frontier

 Who'd have thunk it, there's a chance I might just do this thing.

All through this trip I've upheld a self-imposed curry ban, I'm sure I don't need to go into the reasons why, well last night I broke the ban. In for a penny, in for a pound, if I can cope with the Herefordshire and Devon hills, a curry will be no problem.

I set off this morning in really warm sunshine and headed straight for the bike shop in Crediton to ask if they would donate some oil to my chain, which had started squeaking slightly after yesterday’s rain.

They were only too happy to help and as the bike shop man was applying the oil 2 more cyclists arrived who explained they were doing a LEJOG, they were father and son and the son's chain had snapped as they were cycling over Bodmin moor. They'd re-joined the chain but were now having gear problems, hence their arrival at the bike shop.

With my chain freshly oiled and squeak free, I chatted with the father as his son's bike was being attended to and learnt that they had already completed 2 LEJOG's together and that the father was originally from Bolton!

Recommencing my ride I was soon climbing the inevitable first hill, the roads and terrain were very similar to yesterdays. I skirted around Dartmoor as I headed for Okehampton and as the day wore on the early warm sunshine turned cooler and the 2nd layer had to be retrieved, it wasn't much later than I entered Launceston, a quaint and busy little town, built at the top of a hill (where else is there to build in these parts?), and the very last county, Cornwall.

I had soup and coffee in a little café in Launceston and when I restarted cycling I missed the junction my satnav was indicating, but rather than double back I continued along this unplanned route. I was going in generally the right direction but was soon a few miles away from my planned route. It was over 10 miles before I re-joined it and who knows if that was shorter, flatter or more scenic but on my route I was flagged down by a lady who had obviously passed me and then parked up ahead of me. She was with some young children and a young girl handed me some cash for the charity when I pulled up. Thanks very much.

A few miles further and I was being flagged down again, this time by a young lad, his mother was driving and it looked like there was a young child in the back of the car. I was given some money for the charity and also half a packet of mints for myself, probably from the child in the car. Thank you very much, especially for the mints; I shall eat them tomorrow when they will boost my energy levels to see me over the finish line.

 It was then around Bodmin moor, briefly onto the fast and busy A39, before turning west towards Tintagel, Port Isaac and finally Rock.

Rock is a little place on the east side of Padstow bay and is where I caught the passenger (and bike) ferry to Padstow. The ticket collector waived the fare because my trip was for charity, then whilst pushing my bike along the beach towards Padstow a couple gave me some cash for the charity, thanks to them all.

I then met up with John, Marie and Sean and after showering and changing we went for a meal together in Padstow.

So, one day to go, the last 2 weeks have flown by. I know it will be another hilly day tomorrow but a long rest will soon follow. The predicted mileage tomorrow is 64 but that will probably equate to 67 or 70 as all the other days have been greater than predicted. I'm aiming to get to St. Ives for lunch tomorrow, before completing the trip to Land's End.

I'm also staying in St. Ives for 2 nights from tomorrow, so when I reach Land's End I have another 18 - 20 miles to cycle, and with this in mind when I get to St. Ives at lunchtime I'm going to drop my panniers off at the B&B to save me carting them 40 unnecessary miles.

If anyone is down here on Saturday, come and say hi.

Statistics

Distance cycled:           73 miles                  Total distance cycled since start:        956 miles

Average speed:             12 mph

Maximum speed:          ? mph

(Surely not 71 mph)

Average heart rate:     127 bpm

Maximum heart rate: 152 bpm

Motorist watch (Quantity)

Considerate motorists  (The good):        Dozen’s

Inconsiderate motorists (The bad):        2

Lunatic motorists         (The ugly):           0

Scores (out of 100)

Scenery:                  68

Road surfaces:      69

Weather:                 70

 £4,000 could buy a -80°C freezer for Cancer Research UK, essential for the long-term storage of biological samples that provide the vital raw material for their research.