Claire and Adrian's End-to-End

Congratulations Blakeney! (oh, and your support crew).

We saw a tractor just the right size for you on the Isle of Harris, with pedals and everything. It was green, but you could always get a respray.

We're off to Rum tomorrow in a cockleshell, weather permitting. I'm anticipating nausea...

Day 15: Sunday 15th September - Fowey to Porthleven via Lizard Point
 
Distance: 73 miles (59 to Lizard)
Ascent: 1568 metres
Time (elapsed):  8h 50m
Time (riding): 7h 5m

Having checked the weather forecast, we set off from Fowey as early as we could, in order to make the greatest distance before the weather really closed in, somewhat later for us than most of the rest of you. As we prepared for departure, it was clear that the previous day's climbing had had an effect, Claire reporting a sore knee, which she soon worked off, and the skin of my right buttock finally beginning to show signs of wear, despite having acquired a leatheriness unlike ever before. An extra-generous dressing of arse lard saw me through the day without it getting any worse.

With our minor injuries, and the expected weather, our mood as we started the day was more one of determination than anticipation. Getting going early turned out to be a good move. It was soon clear that, with climbs and headwinds, this was going to be a slow day (indeed we did deliver our slowest average speed, other than that first day of Scottish winds) but we got to the King Harry Ferry before the rain started just after midday. This ferry, across the Fal, is a great one for cyclists, not only cutting off a huge loop around the estuary, but being free, and even featuring a self-service repair bay, with workstand, track pump, tools, etc.

Once started, the rain continued, varying between thick drizzle and torrents, whilst the wind rose. For the most part, those high Cornish hedges did the job I'd hoped, sheltering us, though the final approaches to Lizard across the Goonhilly Downs were exposed to the full force. It was chucking it down when we got to Lizard, where my parents were sheltering in their car. We decided to keep the celebratory bottle of fizz for later - there isn't really room for four, two of them very wet, to party in a Kia Piccanto - and made a quick dash down to the lighthouse for the obligatory photos. Blakeney, who had spent all afternoon keeping dry in Claire's pannier, not seeing the tractors that weren't out playing in the rain anyway, insisted on getting into some photos, even though it made his ears very wet and he had to spend the evening doing headstands on a radiator.

The last few miles to our accommodation in Porthleven were among the hardest, physically and psychologically, of the day, but we got there in time to get showered and dry and for me to dismantle the bikes ready for our train journey home tomorrow, before eating. Snozzle beers again, in the Harbour Inn, this being the one in easiest walking distance. I tried their Trelawney, a new one to me and pleasant, but not quite as good as the Tribute I switched to. HSD was available, which led to a minor disappointment - I'm not sure whether with my memory or reality - because the pump clip bore, as well as "HSD" in large, not especially friendly letters, very much smaller text reading "Hicks' Special Draught".

congrats, sounds like a fantastic adventure!
Main issue with end to ending is the anti-climax at the end, always seems so oooof when you've done it.

Are you going to get that write up in the club mag? Doesn't need editing, reads brilliantly as is!

Edited by Adrian Setter - 02 October 2013 at 2:05pm