Sat 26th January

Joy! The wind had abated and the sky was cloudless as I set off in the morning sunshine! The witch hazel in magnificent full flower at the end of our drive had me taking notice of all the other gardens I passed. Plenty of snowdrops and daffodils, a few crocus too, but camelias everywhere in all shades of pink and red, white too - double and single petalled - they really are a Cornish favourite. Once out of town it was the celandines which kept catching my eye as I headed for the North cliffs road - down Race Hill (29mph recorded - my fastest this year!) to Bell Lake and the west boundary of Tehidy Woods before the long climb up towards the cliffs at Hells Mouth - a well known beauty spot. I passed the field used by a model aeroplane club; a couple of members were flying already spoiling the peace with the insistent buzz of their machines - I felt sorry for the resident sheep which had fled to the far corner of the field.

I continued west on the coast road just to the top of the hill so that I could enjoy the view of St Ives Bay spread out below - the surf must have been crashing in at Gwithian judging by the spray hanging in the air above the beach. Part of my reason for choosing this route was to check out the resident peregrine falcons, so I'd come armed with binoculars. Turning back east, the first cove yielded nothing except a few early fulmars on the choicest ledges; it would have been good to stay a little longer but I needed to keep moving to stay warm! The visibility was incredible - looking seaward over Crane Islands to St Agnes Beacon, Man and His Man (two rocks just off-shore between St Agnes and Perranporth), then all the other headlands and finally Trevose (with its lighthouse) in the far distance just before Padstow. A view I never tire of! Two more coves checked but no peregrines found despite thorough searching of all their usual perches - I'll just have to go back another day and hope for more luck! Stopping briefly in a gateway at Caravannel farm I had to look back at Godrevy Lighthouse on its island (famed as the inpiration for Virginia Wolf's 'To the Lighthouse' when she stayed in St Ives) before turning inland through the 'wooded tunnel' outside Illogan on Tehidy's eastern side and into the last couple of miles home. An exhilarating morning out and I'd covered 15 miles.

Today's picture: Crane Islands with Godrevy lighthouse in the distance.

Thurs 24th January

Another induction hour in the gym - with Andrea this time. Another 5 pieces of apparatus were introduced, some easier to master than others. I could tell that the 'Leg Push' and 'Leg Curl' will be very beneficial - they may even help improve my 'Spinning' technique in the future!
Cleverly, Andrea engaged me in conversation for the 10 minutes I was on the 'Stepper' - I don't think I could have carried on that long otherwise. A further 10 mins on the 'Seated Row' working my back muscles was OK and I finished off the hour on a computer-game-exercise-bike' which was compulsive! 30 seconds fast followed by 30 seconds slow, I was the 'double dot' on the screen chasing (or beating) my single dot pacemaker. Andrea commented that I didn't like to be beaten - and I wasn't! I'll have to put the game level up next time I play!
My last induction session will be next week - and then it's up to me.

Tues 22nd January

The 10am 'Spinning' class was fully booked - twelve 20-to-30-something young girls, only two guys (one 30ish, the other 50-ish) and me! I was the only beginner so the slender instructress (SI) helped me adjust a bike for leg and arm length, then after a quick explanation of 'today's session plan' the music started and we all started pedalling.
The warm-up was fine - adding a little extra tension to the wheel every few minutes - until the instruction was given to CLIMB! Up they all went: standing on their pedals, adding more tension at regular intervals until the 'top of the hill' was reached; then with tension partly released and still standing on pedals they raced 'downhill and along the flat' - their legs going round in a blur, spurred on by the SI to go even faster. I wasn't party to much of this but pedalled on at my own pace testing various degrees of tension and trying to stand up every so often - but with little success! A slight lull followed when water was gulped and sweat was towelled away - during which we all continued to pedal!
Next came the 'jumps': 10 revolutions standing, 10 revs back in the saddle - repeated too many times to remember! Again I tried to join in but decided my own style would have to do as the class moved on to other frenetic routines. At least I kept pedalling for the full 45 minutes -with quite a degree of vigour too - and have to admit it was probably the best workout I've ever had.
Not one to be beaten, I have booked another class: next week on Wednesday at 7am!

Mon 21st January

I put in an hour in the gym yesterday and was expecting to feel stiff this morning, but all limbs and back were OK! The morning sped by and most of the afternoon too in typical Monday fashion so it was late afternoon again before I got out - into more than half a gale!

I wasn't intending to go far and the 8 miles I achieved felt more like 16! I chose the Kehelland loop into the wind so that I would be blown home and noted at one stage that I reached only 8mph pedalling hard downhill but 8.5mph going up after I'd turned a couple of corners!

After Ramsgate I was doing so well with the following wind, it seemed sensible to keep going - up to Beacon! I usually struggle on this route as I near the top, but not today - so I was glad I'd made the effort! At least it was all downhill to town, past the railway station and Richard Trevithick's statue outside the library, then the last mile home.

I'd forgotten to look out for a photo earlier, but almost home, I came across the 'bath tub sentry box' which made me think of AA Milne's 'They're Changing Guard at Buckingham Palace'!!

Sat 19th January

The wind continued to blow and it rained for most of the day but I just managed to fit in 12 miles before the daylight failed - by then it was only damp but cold! Heading east I noticed the first signs of the new housing estate to be built on the last four remaining fields between Camborne and the main A30 road and I wondered if my route will keep its name of Boilerworks Lane in the future!

Out of town through Tuckingmill and under the narrowest of railway arches towards Brea, I decided to miss the village and head up to Troon past the relics of Brea tin streaming works. This is now part of Cornwall's World Heritage Site and has been made 'safe to visit' with new pathways and much galvanized railing, but nature is still threatening to take it back. The view across the valley to Brea is interesting with South Crofty mine and the remains of Tincroft mine on the skyline behind the village - see today's photo.

The climb was just as long as ever but once I entered Troon the next 2 miles were easy, crossing onto the Treslothan road (where the old church and imposing Pendarves family mausoleum are hidden behind the trees) and down into the bluebell woods. No sign of the flowers - the floor of the wood was chestnut brown with its carpet of fallen beech leaves.

Luckily there was no traffic as I crossed the main Helston road into Ramsgate; the dogwalkers were out in force - like me - making the most of the only dry hour of the day. Finally I was back on my 'Baripper loop', into Camborne centre and home in the 'gathering gloom' just after 5 o'clock.!

Thurs 17th January

Today I joined the gym!


My Induction lasted over an hour. After the paperwork and explaining my reasons for wanting to join, I was shown 6 different bits of apparatus by my trainer Christian. I'm going to have trouble remembering how to get started on most of them, what with programme selection, resistance selection, weight selection and number of repetitions - I'm going to need my glasses too as I can't make out the instruction notices without them!


First attempt on a treadmill was not good but I got the hang of it after 5 minutes walking at 3 miles an hour. Lots of work to do there! I fared better with the rowing machine and maintained 25 strokes per minute quite easily over 500 metres. The Cross Trainer - arms and legs going at once - can't be programmed until you get it moving. I had some difficulty pressing the buttons and keeping everything going at the same time but as I got a bit of rhythm things improved. My heart rate went up too, but not alarmingly. Christian said it was pretty good for my age - he'd seen a lot worse!


Into the weights room next, for work on my upper body using 3 different machines. I discovered that my arms don't mind pulling but pushing is another matter. Even more work required! Finally I treated my lower back to some 'reverse sit ups'. After pushing myself down from a sitting to a lying position the machine sent me back up. Not bad at all except for the stiff neck needed to keep my head from falling off! And so my Training Schedule card was completed, placed in the rack and I booked another Induction session with Andrea same time next week.

By now the pool was open for lunchtime swimming and I managed 20 lengths before driving home for a very late lunch.


No picture today.

Wed 16th January

Today I was on a mission! The USA photos from my on-line order had been sent to Tesco in Redruth - why not Camborne or Pool which are so much nearer home? Anyway, I reckoned it was about 5 miles, the early morning rain had cleared and I should make it in the short time available.

Left home at 09.50 promising to be back by 11.15 in order to drive to Truro with Richard. Initial shock: as I passed 'Blanco's' house - it was empty and a For Sale sign swayed in the wind. I nicknamed this old gentleman because of his likeness to David Jason's character in Porridge; he's always waved to me from his conservatory surrounded by his plants, pictures and models - cyclamen and geraniums, peacock and dodo(?) portraits, Cornish engine house and Viking longboat etc - I'll miss him.

It was very grey day with far too much wind. Keeping away from the main road as usual, I went through South Tehidy, past St Mary's Well and into Illogan village. 3 miles from home and the rain reappeared; no point turning back so I pedalled on towards Sparnon Gate down the 'big dipper' and up the other side with water dripping off every part of me. I kept thinking 'It could be like this on the way to Paris - or worse'! Luckily it turned out to be just a shower.

Reaching Tesco, I noted exactly 5 miles, (what a good guess) - and my photos weren't there! 'Please call back after 1.30pm when we have a delivery' was all the help given. Time was beginning to run out, so the main road had to be the way back. It was great to whizz past the traffic held up by the long-term road works outside Barncoose Hospital and once through, no overtaking cars as they were all held up by the next red light!

Illogan Highway is at the heart of the big local redevelopment scheme - Camborne Pool Redruth Regeneration. Much of it is still at the planning stage but the grandly titled Camborne Retail Park has sprung up in the last couple of years, with the usual mix of B&Q, Halfords, Comet etc - nothing too exciting, but I like the group of Cornish Miners which keeps guard outside the perimeter wall! Passing Trevenson crossroads the sun was actually glinting through the headgear of South Crofty Mine and my clothes were nearly dry!

Not too far from home by now, a quick circuit of Camborne 'made up the miles' and with 10 showing on my bike computer I was home at 11.10.

Mission accomplished!!

Todays picture - the group of Cornish Miners outside Camborne Retail Park.

Mon 14th January

Nine pounds heavier than I should be and haven't been on my bike for over 4 weeks, so the training for my London to Paris ride in June starts today!

Nothing too strenuous, Richard and I enjoyed a 4 mile walk through the woods after breakfast, then after a quick maintenance check of the bike I was out on the road.

A lovely sunny morning, too windy but not too cold, I followed 3 reasonably traffic-free country lanes on the outskirts of Camborne which I call my loops! Penponds and Baripper loop, Kehelland loop and finally Reskadinnick loop. All involve a few hills but I was pleased to find it all pretty easy going.

I was only out for an hour, completed just over 8 miles and even had time for a quick sauna and shower at the Leisure Centre before lunch! I must join the gym there before too long and try their Spinning sessions - exercise-biking to music I gather! Very good for building up stamina!

Photo of the day shows the Clapper bridge at Penponds.