Day 1 - Penzance - Land's End - Downderry (Cornwall).

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Cornwall is so hilly. Why weren't we told this at school? All we heard about was tin mines and a moribund language. One hill broke a spoke in Ben's back wheel. We can fix most things, but not that. So a cab all the way back from Godolphin Cross to Penzance for Ben, as Gareth and Rolfe continued. One new wheel, and two hours later, Ben's mission to catch them up began. It was eased by a puncture for Rolfe and a pub lunch for him and Gareth.

"Cornwall should either be steam-rolled flat or turned into a ski resort, a fkn disgrace of a county." Rolfe.

Our original choice of accommodation was busy, prebooked a year ago, it turned out, by ten 50-somethings, who were doing the same trip as us. Our humbled sense of pride was improved when they told us all their gear was being carried in a van. Filthy cheating scum.

So on we travelled to Looe, to the home of Phil and Mavis (in-laws of a Sanj, a school friend of Gareth's.) Actually we had to travel another 5 miles to Downderry, but Gareth didn't tell us about that. We arrived in the dark. Despite us cocking up their plans for going out for dinner, they made us feel incredibly welcome, especially as all we could do was dribble into the lovely food Mavis had prepared.

Day 1. 95 miles. Over 7 saddle hours. One puncture, one new wheel. A lot of pain.

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Photos

Penzance Youth Hostel
Blissful ignorance

Land's End
Gareth and Rolfe have already jumped of the cliff in despair.

Land's End
Ben is impaled for his crimes

St Michael's Mount
Mont St Michel?

Ben's knackered spoke
26 miles in: Words fail me.

Flowerpot Men
Cornwall is rather odd.

Comments

[Ruth]

Use the force!
Hey fellas! Sounds like your having an eventful time already! Go fat (not really, I'm sure they're very toned - don't really want to know that's my brother - eww!!) bottomed boys!!! Good luck! Xx

[Sanjay]

Downderry hill
HAHAHA!! I wondering what Ben and Rolkes faces looked like after biking an extra 5 miles and then being faced with a very steep hill to the house - brilliant.

[Em]

Day 1
I have just hired a roller for you to take out the humps and dips in Cornwall but it is too late! I believe Cheshire plane is a lot flatter. keep going Lads John O'Groats beckons next Saturday.