Wed 13th February

Boy was it cold today!! I had to dig out my balaclava and ski goggles - with my cycling helmet as well I looked like a real alien; in fact a small boy fired an imaginary 'star-wars-weapon' at me (complete with sound effects) as I rode past him in Redruth!

It was another shopping mission which took me east to Redruth on NCR3, and having made my purchase in Bond Street I pondered which route would make up a good mileage for the morning. Having toyed with continuing on the cycle route up the 'zig-zag mountain' out of town, I caught sight of Penandrea chimney; this landmark towers above Redruth and I'd always wondered exactly where it was, so went to investigate - amazingly it stands in someone's front garden!! On towards Mount Ambrose, somehow I totally messed up a gear change and had a real struggle getting my chain back on its cogs. By now I was roasting inside my balaclava and my goggles kept steaming up, but it was still too cold to leave them off. Turning back west I left the town down Drump Road (Redruth has some very diverse street names!) and headed for Portreath after making a quick stop to take today's photo - which features the full-size replica of Murdoch's Flyer standing on the roundabout outside Tesco!

I enjoyed having the stream running alongside me for the next couple of miles and crossed over it at the head of the beach in Portreath. On the steep half mile climb away form the sea all my spinning sessions proved their worth - I was able to 'attack' at least half the hill! Once at the top it was easy going for the last couple of miles to the Leisure Centre where it had been my intention to finish off the morning in the sauna, but in the changing room I was horrified to discover my face was totally smeared with black oil! I'd kept my gloves on while fixing the chain earlier, and each time I subsequently pulled at my balaclava, I rubbed another layer on! It took ages to get clean using paper towels and 'not-the-sweetest-smelling' soap in the dispenser! Needless to say I had to suffer the cold without gloves or balaclava on the way home and . . . . . . . . . . I just kept wondering how the girls on the reception desk hadn't remarked on my 'black looks'!!!