Day  1./16          Monday Aug 21.

Lands End to Penzance

Distance: 15        (Km) 

Time:  o:46

Average Speed:          18.7 (Km/ hr) 

Ascent:               210 (m). 

Heart Rate:          131 (beats / min). 

Cumulative Distance:           15 (km) 

Cumulative Ascent :           201 (m) 

Punctures so far : 0

Well, I’m on the way. Relieved!

Professionally transported to Dublin Airport by Margaret.

Not feeling relaxed there this morning as an Aer Lingus person at Dublin Airport ‘assured’ me that there was an 80% chance that my flight would happen as there had been plenty of cancellations recently due to some industrial issue. ‘Keep an eye on your phone’ says he. I wasn’t at ease till I had the boarding pass in my hand and the bike box safely deposited with Large Luggage. 

But the flight was delayed 1.5 hrs (damage to an aircraft during recent Storm Betty. For this regional flight we were spirited away to a forlorn spot way off beside the hangars. With this small aircraft (100 passengers) resulted in quick boarding and deplaning in Newquay.

Pleased to see my bike box sailing out on the Large Luggage belt.

Due to late flight my Plan A was scuppered i.e. transfer to Penzance by train (rocket already purchased). With expedition cycling there is no Plan B. JUST DEAL WITH IT. I just came up with Plan A.1. Arranged a taxi from airport right down to Land’s End. Just about 1.5hrs.

Arrived there at 4pm and proceeded to re-assemble all at this popular spot.

Got my LeJoG Log stamped to officially send me off. I should have checked the photo that a kind lady took for me to mark the occasion.

Generally I followed the A30 into Penzance. There was plenty of tourist traffic but very understanding drivers. Got a taste of the constant hills that face me down here in Cornwall and Devon. It’s continually either up or down. The landscape ahead looks amenable enough but the road seems to find every hill and hollow. Had my last view of the sea; something I won’t see for another considerable stretch.

I have my complete planned route downloaded to my Garmin and it led my directly to the door of my booked accommodation. I’m in The Pirates Inn; and properly so, after all   I’m in Penzance.

Glad to have this Prologue done and the show on the road.

I’ll get an earlier start tomorrow morning so time to observe more of the countryside.

 

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.