Day 1 Lands End to Perranporth 23/4/06

First up for breakfast we had a good feed overlooking a hazy Longships Lighthouse. Got all the bikes loaded up by 9:30 then waited for my sister Joanne (Jober) and her family to turn up. While we were waiting a group of very sporty cyclists from Ashton under Lyne were starting theit end to end. They were expecting to do it in 10 days and were ending the first stage in Callington. But they had no luggage to speak of and a support vehicle. We eventually got away by about 10:30 after lots of faffing around getting signpost photos taken and some photos by the start/finish line and getting the paperwork stamped and signed. Rob McElwie said it was going to rain today, but in the event it didn't. It looked like it might when we started but it was just a mist coming down. This was quite eeris at times - old ghostly engine houses looming out of the mist. It felt like a hard ride which built up to a peak, then we had a fantastic descent to St Ives. Where we met up with Jober, Mark (her husband) and James (their son). Had a nice lunch of St Ives bay Mackerel (best Mackerel I have ever tasted). Then said our farewells as we set off on our quest alone. Bit of a climb out of St Ives over to Hayle and there was much more traffic here than before St Ives. Land End to St Ives really does feel like the end of the world. Made slow progress through Portreath, where dad had a minor drivetrain problem. Then an incredibly steep climb out of Porthtowan. Eventaully rolled into Perranporth YHA after 7pm. What a fantastic hostal - real surfers place, but stunning views over Perran bay. A beautiful warm evening with a gorgeous sinking into the sea sunset. Overall a good ride if harder than anticipated. Physically we both felt OK. Distance cycled 48 miles.