Mon 25th, Wed 27th & Thurs 28th February

Monday

I was all set to cycle to my Spinning class when . . . . . down came the rain, and how! Nothing for it but to revert to the car, which made for a very hectic couple of hours. The actual Spinning went well with continued improvement - but I had to leave early to collect Richard so that we'd have a decent amount of time in the pool; the local schools take over after 8.30am. It was too much of a mad rush and I vowed to use my bike in future - whatever the weather! With growing confidence, I'd booked another Spinning session for 7am Wednesday so would be keeping an eye on the forecast!

Wednesday

These 6am wake up calls are getting easier - and there's progressively more daylight by the time I leave home. Luckily no rain this morning, a good breeze helped to blow me up Tuckingmill Hill and there was even a rosy glow in the sky over the 'Golden Arches' of Macdonalds(!) when I reached the top.

A different instructor today, Alex, greeted me with a handshake as a newcomer and made sure I was happy with the adjustments on my bike. The class was full, with a few familiar faces from Monday, but the routine differed slightly so it was interesting to make comparisons. Alex is very strong on 'focus' so I have dubbed him FI (Focused Instructor!). At times we were supposed to be cycling as a group on an imaginary race - chasing a group ahead and attempting to overtake them on a hill (and all this to very modern music!). The 'hill' was more gradual than SS's on Monday and I was determined to keep up if possible, but have to admit my 'sprint finish' was nowhere near as fast as everyone else's. Even so, it was a fantastic workout - I was'dripping' come the end. As I thanked Alex on the way out, I told him I wasn't insured for racing . . . . . . I think he got the joke!

Thursday

I should have been out on the road today but an afternoon committment meant not enough time, the weather wasn't very inviting either - so I settled for the gym instead. I'm quite relieved to have it as a fall-back and often silently repeat my training schedule advice - 'an hour in the gym is worth two on the road' - in order to convince myself! I'll know when I get to be an 'old hand' with all this equipment - I won't have to carry my instruction card round with me (and glasses to read it)! Nobody else seems to need their's.

No photos from all this indoor work but our pond has been a real joy this week with so much frog activity. They don't mind all this rain - they also make washing up a pleasure for me as I can listen to them and watch their mating antics from the kitchen window. The pond now has a good amount of spawn and we look forward to our tadpoles!

Thurs 21st & Sat 23rd February

Thursday

I made the early gym session as planned and put in nearly 1½ hours. Pushed a few of my settings up too much (trying to run before I can walk!) so was disappointed with only 65 floors on the stepper - but as it felt more like climbing a ladder than stairs it must have done me some good. Cycled home in time for coffee for a change - then spent the rest of the day catching up on housework :-(

Saturday

It was nearly 3pm before I got out today - I have too much to do!! However, as I always try to do errands around town by bike, shopping in Trelowarren street was my first stop before setting out into the countryside! I always love the unusual place names round here, Praze-an-Beeble via Haleggan and Carwynnen were on the first part of my route and on NCR3, Coswinsawsin Lane always has me wondering 'What did Win see?'!! Through the bluebell woods again, I noticed a carpet of green beginning to show through the dead leaves - and so many primroses clustered on the roadside banks were a joy to see. But I had to head home . . . . via the supermarket to finish my shopping (back to reality) . . . . . and beat the fading light again. Another 18 miles - I seem to be stuck on this mileage at the moment, (not wishing to peak too soon in my training), but with the weeks to 11th June ticking away steadily, I'll have to start increasing my trips before long.

I forgot my camera today!

Wed 20th February

My legs complained bitterly yesterday after Monday's spinning efforts and were still aching this morning but after a quick swim I made myself get out on the road because it was such a lovely morning. Time for another Peregrine check along the North Cliffs, I rode to Hell's Mouth via Mount Whistle Road and Coombe - and managed a lot of standing-up-pedalling on the hills! There was some purple honesty flowering in the hedgerows down at Bell Lake, the first I've noticed this year, which is very early and a lovely sign of spring. Good results with the Pergrines too: the first pair were perched close together on their nesting cliff; I located just one bird at the second site and in the third cove I heard the birds calling (always a good sign) but couldn't find them. Pressing on through Portreath I was out for a good 2 hours and clocked up a pleasing 18 miles. I needed to conserve my energy a bit . . . . . . as I was contemplating an early visit to the gym in the morning.

Today's photo: a typical section of the North Cliffs and, believe it or not, there is a Peregrine in the picture!

Sun 17th and Mon 18th February

Sunday

I was all set for another workout this morning, reaching the leisure centre at 8am with Richard. I should have checked the weekend timetable - the gym didn't open until 9am! Never mind - ½ hour in the pool was a good warm up and as I left Richard he called out 'See you at lunch time.' - he wasn't far wrong.
'Upping' most of my routines, either by time or weight, I emerged about 1½ hours later; the call of the sauna was not to be ignored, so after luxuriating at 90°C for a further ½ hour, then the 2 mile walk, I finally got home just after midday.

Luckily I'd thought to pack a banana, which just about kept me going!


Monday

Start the week on a spinning bike!! I had to cycle to the class this morning so that Richard could have the car for his swimming; very strange setting off at 6.30 am in the pitch black but at least there was very little traffic. Whether it was the warm up on Tuckingmill Hill or just my general physical improvement, but I was 'up-out-of-the-saddle' for a lot longer than last week and really pushed myself. I was 'fairly dripping' like everyone else by the end, joined Richard in the pool for a few lengths . . . . then cycled home to finish my breakfast.

Sat 16th February

It was no warmer today, so I had to don the freshly laundered balaclava again - and the goggles! My only aim : as many miles as quickly as possible - and not too far from home. Round the Penponds and Kehelland 'loops' for a start, I then sped down the aptly named Race Hill achieving a new maximum speed for the year - 30.7mph! I thought I'd try the recently created cycle path through Tehidy Woods for a change but hadn't realized how steep the mid section hill would be. It was a real challenge, not least because of the drainage ramps every 20 yards, and my steaming-up goggles didn't help! I'd just about cooled off when I encountered another inconvenience - squeezing my bike through one narrow kissing gate, then a second, as the path crossed in front of 13th tee on the golf course - I had to hold up a waiting foursome too! I can't imagine who designed such a cycle path!

Out of the woods and across the road, the lovely new path looked as if it might take me all the way down to Portreath 'off-road' - but unfortunately not. It continued only as far as the Duchy College farmyard and then reverted to a very narrow 'bedrock' footpath with occasional low granite 'stiles'. Luckily I didn't meet any irate walkers as I bumped my way down (I would have been irate if I'd met me coming the other way in such a confined space!) and emerged safely onto the road at the bottom breathing a sigh of relief.

Always looking to vary my routes I followed a different road out of the valley and was delighted to discover another farm gate stall - selling organic cauliflowers and free range eggs. Hugging the side of the hill past Sparnon Gate, then under the towering supports of the A30 dual carriageway, Carn Brea soon appeared on the horizon and taking the direct route home along Illogan Highway I completed 16 miles.

I pass the house with the latin name (shown in today's photo) on one of my 'loops': Pax huic domui. I have a fair idea how it translates but would be interested to hear anyone else's version.

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'!!!

Mon 11th February

Another 7am Spinning class (I have to be really organized to get there on time) and have to say, I showed a marked improvement! All this 'pumping iron' and standing-on-my-pedals climbing hills out on the road is beginning to pay off. I probably only achieved a third of the 'up-out-of-the-saddle' instructions, but at least I felt I was taking part at last. Even SS remarked on my improvement at the end of the session: I glowed all the way home!!!!!