Day 1 - Sunday 29th July - Land's End to St Austell

Weather - Hot and Sunny

Distance - 59.2 miles

Camp Site - The Meadows, Nansladron, Pentewan Road, St Austell

It was not a good night! I found it difficult to get to sleep on the air bed which seemed determined to throw me off to one side or the other every time I tried to turn over. Also there was a group of young people on the site who seemed to spend all night crossing and recrossing through our tents in noisy groups to visit the toilets. Then I heard a fog horn from a light house off Land's End in the early hours. I was told afterwards that it had been sounding from much earlier than I heard it so I must have been asleep after all. And above all this was the thought that I was actually about to start the ride which I had been planning for so long.

I was up and dressed ready for the day's cycling well before seven and after the trek to the toilet block there was the first of Pete's breakfasts. They were to include at various times, coffee or tea, porridge, fruit juice, fried and boiled eggs, bacon and baked beans followed by toast or bread with jam and marmalade and fruit. What a start to the day!

Then we had to pack our bags that had been so carefully unpacked in the tent the previous night and put them in the heap with everybody else's near the van to be loaded up and transported to the next stop.

Alex had arranged for the Land's End official photographer to take a group photograph at 9.00 am so just before this we all started to make our way along the 1¼ miles to Land's End. While we were waiting for the rest of the group to assemble Molly and I had a photograph taken by the photographer at the signpost and Molly was able to take others while the group were sorting themselves out.

Then suddenly the party began to disperse and we set off in small groups or singly as we were ready. There was no formal send-off. As we left the area there was a sea mist rolling up over the cliffs which made it rather cold for a few minutes but we soon got moving and then the sun re-appeared and the day eventually became very hot.

The route followed the main A30 all the way to Penzance and here we rode along the sea front with views across to St Michael's Mount which we soon passed as we cycled through Marazion. Then through minor roads to Carnon Downs and on to the King Harry Ferry. Throughout the morning I was passing and being passed by other cyclists from the group but at this stage they all seemed to be strangers as we had not got to know each other as yet. As time went on we all settled into our relative places according to our cycling ability and fitness and whether or not we stopped often or took diversions to see things along the way and then we got to know each other better.

I had arranged to let my family in Truro know when I expected to reach Carnon Downs and as I struggled up the steep hill out of the village to the roundabout on the main road Mum and Janet my sister were waiting in the car. They were impressed that I had completed the first 35 miles and after stopping for a short chat and some photographs I went on towards the Ferry arriving just as it was about to leave. The boatman saw me and waited until I got on board joining several others from the group who were already on board and waiting to cross. After the very pleasant short trip across the River Fal the group of us climbed the very steep hill rising up from the river side - some walking - and stopped at the pub at the top for a very welcome lunch and rest. We sat outside in the sun and had long drinks and sandwiches to give us the energy to carry on.

After lunch the route took us down steep hills and up the other side again past Caerhays Castle and the very busy beach and even busier car park, through Portmellon and into the very narrow streets of Mevagissey. The pedestrians here did not seem to see or hear the cyclists even though they were facing us, they were so intent on looking in the gift shops, so we had to negotiate through them very carefully. We were now coming to the end of the first days ride and our hearts sank as we saw but then passed a couple of very busy camp sites after the hill out of Mevagissey. Fortunately our site was a bit further on and proved to be much quieter with a few tents and caravans around the perimeter of the site. Our vans had arrived and the "council" tents were already up and tea was ready. The first thing was to check ourselves in on the list to let Nic know in due course if he had to go out to look for anyone at the end of the afternoon.

Tea, which was always available at the end of the days ride consisted of bread and jam or peanut butter or Marmite, cake and biscuits and plenty of tea or coffee or squash. We found that we needed to eat and drink immediately we finished each days ride to replace the energy and liquids which we had expended during the day.

Those who had their own tents had to find a suitable spot and erect their tent whilst those with "council" tents only had to choose a tent and reclaim their luggage before taking a shower. Then there was followed by time to relax and recover from the day's ride until a drink from the bar at about 7.00 p.m. followed by dinner at 7.30 p.m.

The site owner here was very friendly and obviously proud of his shower block which he was building himself. It was almost complete and would have been fine for individuals in small groups but it became very crowded when a party of our size all wanted showers in quick succession.