Day 2: May 19

Land's End to Truro

64 km / 1000 m

We'll start our journey heading along the coast from Land's End to Penzance, before heading inland to test our navigational skills through the Cornish country lanes.  We finish in Truro, one of the smallest cities in England, where we will be staying tonight.

And they're off.........  We had a pretty mellow start this morning.  Breakfast about 7:30, out to the bikes about an hour later.  About half the group have "hire bikes" (rentals).  So - pedals and seats were attached, adjustments made, GPS units explained, etc., etc. and we were ready to go by about 10.  “Follow the purple line” would become our mantra for the next three weeks. First up - "the signpost".











While our bikes patiently wait..............


The complex which includes the hotel that we stayed at has turned into a bit of a tourist attraction.



And then we really were off.  Back towards Penzance and then our first "tea break" at Marazion (where I walked to yesterday).  Narrow roads, patchwork fields, rolling hills, small villages every few miles, stone fences covered in vegetation, and an abundance of wild flowers pretty much describes the whole day.  Oh - and the weather was glorious.  A few days ago the forecast wasn't looking good but absolutely no complaints on what we got today.  Of course, we had the ocean views in the Penzance area that we also had yesterday.  For the first section we were riding as a group, so it was not easy to stop for pictures.  And - the drivers were very courteous.  Lots of bikers on the roads today.  







There were lots of public footpaths everywhere.......

Amy put out a lovely lunch for us at Praze-An-Beeble.  More Cornish pasties (after I said yesterday that one was enough.....)  Just a half one today was lots.  Then more similar scenery all afternoon.






Yes, this is a road for two-way traffic as well as bikes.  Thanks to all the drivers for working around us!




I took a quick(ish) walk after dinner to visit the cathedral.  Very impressive!






And back to the hotel............



Truro: 

Population:  18,700.  

Dominated by the three mighty spires of its 19th-century cathedral, which rise above town like a neo-Gothic supertanker, Truro is Cornwall's capital and its only city.  It's the county's main centre for shopping and commerce:  the streets here are lined with high-street chains and independent shops, while the twice-weekly farmers market bring field-fresh produce to town.


Hotel:  The County Arms  www.countyarmstruro.co.uk


Ride Stats:

64.5 km

887 m (2910 feet)

The Route:






















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