The lovely weekend weather didn't last but as it was still dry I fancied going west for a change, back on National Cycle Route (NCR) No 3 - much ridden in 2005, both in training and all 450 miles from Bristol to Land's End on the last leg of my John o'Groats to Land's End ride. Not so far today - just down to Hayle!
I joined the route at Penponds beside the little river and had just turned uphill towards Carnhell Green when a sparrowhawk swooped low over the daffodil field on my right - a good start to the morning! Halfway up the hill it was my turn to be studied - by the owner of a mobile home and his five Alsation dogs -luckily he kept them well under control - not a single bark in my direction - I wondered what his dog food bill must be each week.
At Carnhell Green (John Wesley once preached there) I bought a cauliflower and some spring greens from the farm gate stall (beautifully fresh and so cheap) packed them into my panniers, then carried on to Gwinnear. The village is little more than a row of houses but does have a pub and also boasts a 'Hall for Gwinnear' - if Truro has a 'Hall for Cornwall' - why not?! Half a mile further on the morning session at the little granite primary school had just ended and the infants were coming out eager to show off the morning's artwork to their mums waiting at the gate.
Another of Cornwall's 'big dippers' ahead - I whizzed down past the ancient church, taking care of the slight bend on the bridge at the bottom before pedalling crazily to try and get at least part way up Nanpusker Hill on the other side! It was still a long haul to the top but after a sharp right over the railway bridge it was downhill again (very steep and narrow) into Angarrack.
Brunel's immense viaduct carrying the main London to Penzance railway line dominates the village - I looked up its community website and discovered they have just celebrated the viaduct's bicentenary; they're also very proud of their Christmas light displays - which you will notice from my photo . . . are still up!
Luckily the way out of the village was not 'up' but along the valley to Loggans Mill, the enlarged A30 junction outside Hayle. A new branch of M&S has just sprung up here and I couldn't resist going in for a quick browse even though I looked a little out of place among the smart shoppers of west Cornwall in my back and gold cycling kit . . . . . but I did take my helmet off! I couldn't stay long (it was far too hot inside) and felt quite smug as I left, breezing past the queuing cars - the car park is totally inadequate and it isn't even summer! I'd had no trouble parking my bike!
Nearly into Hayle I stayed on NCR3 around the edge of Copperhouse Pool, over the bridge housing the tidal gates at the seaward end and back onto the road alongside the inner harbour. By now it was well past 1 o'clock so I succumbed to the aromas wafting out of the bakery and decided to buy a pasty for lunch. Tucked in a sheltered spot, I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the kingfisher flitting between the boats, but sadly not, just a couple of egrets, a curlew and several gulls. Not a bad picnic site even so!
I briefly popped in to see an old friend of Richard's before heading back to Camborne. Choosing a slightly different route with gentler inclines(!) I took the coast road out of Hayle turning inland after about 2 miles to cross, first the new A30 then the old one at Connor Downs; back through Carnhell Green I finally retraced my outward route home. A very pleasant way to spend a Monday morning and I'd clocked up another 20 miles.
Today's photo - (Part of) Brunel's viaduct at Angarrack.
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