Eden Project in Pictures

Me and me pet chicken called Lunch

Day 5 - Monday August 31st

I need some of this. 

Bananas (Who would have guessed) 

A Biome

 A dionosaur is born

Hemp

I resisted the temptation

Snooze Box

Seed made from 167 tonnes block of granite, weighing 70 tonnes after sculpturing.

A Long Walk Home

Day 4 - Sunday 30th August

King Harry Floating Bridge

I started cycling at about one o’clock having attended the Quaker meeting at Come to Good. To avoid the A390, a very busy and fast road, I decided to pick my way through the lanes. This was easy as I left Carnon Downs but as I got closer to St Austell it became increasingly more difficult. At one point the quiet road ended at the A390 and I had to choose between cycling along it or turning back and finding a quiet route. I chose the latter and managed to pick up a cycle trail for a while. As there were no signs I took to asking people to direct me to the Eden Project. Everyone started their answer with, "It's a long way" something I didn't want to here. I finally arrived at Trethurgy the village above the Project and there I saw my first sign for Eden. This took me down another cycle trail, but I still couldn't see it and wondered if I was going the right way. I had stopped to phone the hostel when two cyclists appeared and I finally heard the words I wanted to hear, "You are nearly there".

Having booked in at the hostel I found my Snooze Box unloaded my bike and took it to the lock up. A cyclist appeared from nowhere and helped me hang the bike in the rack. He and his friend were cycling the End to End from North to South and only had two days left before reaching Lands End.

Today has been a hard day. I thought I was on a cycle tour, my mistake! I'm on a walking tour and instead of carrying my kit on my back I just happen to have a bike which I am pushing around Cornwall! However I was reassured  later when talking to the End to Enders that they had also been pushing their bikes a fair amount.

Them wasps....

Day 3 Saturday 29th August

Thank you to Jude and Phil for letting me stay the night in your home and making me so welcome.

The loo in Trelissick

Only a short distance today to my next bed for the night so I decided to take a detour via a cycle trail that run alongside a creek. It was great to be cycling on the flat and I saw many other cyclists, although none of them had a load like mine.

I found a nice spot to stop and have a cup of tea, but as soon as I started to eat an apple I was surrounded by wasps, so I had to abandon the apple and continue on my way.

Visited Trelissick house in the hope of finding a tea room where I could have some lunch. Unfortunately there was nothing dairy free so I ended up with a boring black coffee while everyone around me ate bowls of soup and lovely cakes.

Come to Good Quaker Meeting House

I then headed for Come to Good where there is a Quaker Meeting House. It is a beautiful old thatched building and so peaceful after the busyness of Trilissik House.

From Come to Good it was only a short ride and a long push to Bridget's house where I would be staying for the night.

After a very welcome cup of tea and a long natter, Bridget kindly put my washing in the machine and made me some supper while I checked my route for the next day and caught up with some emails.

Come to Good Quaker Meeting House

Bridget

Cath and Lynn

Day 2

After another fine breakfast I left Penzance and headed for Lizard Point. For the first two and a half miles I cycled along the sea wall around Mount Bay with good views of St Michael's Mount. Once at Marazion I joined the A394 for eight miles to Heston. This was a fast and busy road and only when I passed through the villages did the traffic slow down. I joined the A3083 at Heston which would take me for ten miles down to Lizard Point. This was another busy road but at least the first three miles had a cycle path.

As it was too hot to wear my high vis jacket I decided to attach it to my bags so I would be clearly visible. I found a suitable drain cover where I could stand my bike and started to sort the jacket out, before long could feel something crawling on my legs and looked down to see I was standing on an ant's nest and my feet were covered with ant's!!!

I arrived at Lizard Point and pushed my bike down the cliff path where I met Cath (my sister) and her friend Lynn. After I’d had my End to End sheet stamped we found a spot to sit and have lunch.

I was able to take a much quieter route for the next few miles and it was lovely to cycle across  moorland with far reaching views. I met up with Cath and Lynn again at Gweek for a cup of tea and then continued for the final few miles to Carnkie and a bed for the night.

Lizard Point

I'm Off!

Day 1 Distance 27.62 miles

After a wonderful cooked breakfast I headed off on my bike to Lands End along the coast cycle path to Mousehole. Once I left the coast path the road became lined with high hedges and rather hilly. I had to resort to pushing my bike some of the time. But that did have it's own rewards as I found some of the sweetest blackberries I have ever tasted.

Lands End was as busy as I had expected and rather like a theme park. Having had my picture taken at the signpost I found the hotel and registered as one of the End to Enders and then beat a hasty retreat to a small cafe I had spotted on the way down where I enjoyed a lovely lunch which included a piece of carrot cake.

Once refueled I returned to Penzance in time for some vital food shopping and  then I headed back to the Bed and Breakfast to catch up on three days of blogs and sort out my bags for tomorrow.

A Long Journey Made Shorter

I woke early to a bright morning but by the time I was ready to leave it was pouring with rain. I decided to take a different route to the station along the Clyde in the hope that it would be easier to find my way rather than through the city. Once I found the cycle route it was fairly straightforward and I reached the station in ample time, if rather wet.

A man with his dog kindly helped me to load my bike on the train and once it was secured I found my seat and then changed from my wet clothes.

I had thought about travelling First Class as it was such a long journey, but I’m so glad I didn't as I would not have met the many lovely people who were travelling in my carriage. I would particularly like to thank Dimetri a young lad travelling with his Nan and Grandpa who helped to make my journey so enjoyable and pass quickly.

This trip is not just about cycling it's also about all the wonderful people I will meet on the way. 

Fond Farewells

The first loo!

Finally I'm heading for the great unknown. I stood outside in the garden early this morning, the smell of autumn in the air and only the sound of a curlew calling and thought about how many different sights, sounds and smells I would be waking up to over the next few weeks.

I left home at 9.30 so I could pay a flying visit to Lochdon primary school to talk to the children about the tour and Toilet Twinning. I was made very welcome and the children are now going to follow my route through my blog. After a couple of photographs they gave me a lovely send off and waved me on my way. I'm sure that was what powdered me up the hill.

I arrived in Craignure to be greeted and seen off with good wishes from friends on Mull.

Richard came with me to Oban where I did some last minute shopping. We then enjoyed a hot smoked salmon sandwiches on the quayside. It was then time to head for the station where Richard assisted me onto the train with my bike and waved me on my way.

It seems hard to believe I will not be sleeping in my own bed for at least 6 weeks!

There's too much to do

Not sure why I'm sitting here writing the blog when I still have lots to do before setting off in the morning. 

I have spent today doing last minute washing so at least I will start the tour clean. I've even cleaned the bike! 

I'm looking forward to the trip although I am feeling a bit apprehensive at the moment, but with all the support I've had from so many people and the generous donations to Toilet Twinning I'm spurred on.

 

Too much STUFF!

I have been very busy this week trying to get everything ready for my trip. l  only have three days left before I head south. I’ve managed a couple of rides this week, once to Salen and another up Glen More.
Simon serviced my bike for me on Monday and he suggested I needed some new break pads and cables. So that meant a trip to Oban yesterday to the bike shop where l also bought a few other bits and bobs that I thought I might need.
This morning was another trip to Oban this time to get my hair cut, it's nice and short now (less weight to carry) and should now be okay until I return home.
The spare bed is now covered with STUFF that I think I will need, but I'm not sure it will all fit into two panniers so I might have to weed some of it out!
Off to work now for my last day for six or maybe eight weeks.

Where does time go?

It's a week since I last posted, so high time I told you what has been going on. The days have been passing with such speed that it's hard to remember what has been happening.

I have continued to go out on my bike most days, but as I had a stand at the Salen show last Thursday selling my baskets, time has been  a bit limited. The show day was the first day of real sunshine we have had for sometime and we were all thankful for that as the ground was already quite muddy.

Once the show was over it was time to do some serious rides, so I was thankful when Saturday dawned bright and dry for my ride around part of the island. I left home around 8.30 and headed north for Salen, the wind was against me most of the way so by the time I arrived in Salen it was definitely time for coffee, although I did have to wait for them to open. Once refreshed I headed towards Gruline and Knock. As I approached Loch na Keal I was joined by a fellow cyclist, Stuart, who was heading to Iona, so we cycled together for a few miles until I stopped at a friends for a cup of tea. As I had enjoyed a leisurely cup of tea I was surprise to meet up with Stuart again a few miles further on (he had stopped for lunch and a nap), so we cycled together again for another couple of miles.

We parted company at the junction and I headed very slowly up Glen More, and was thankful when I arrived at the top! Which was followed by some lovely downhill runs. I arrived home safety at about 5pm having cycled 50.5 miles.

The ride wasn't totally without injury, I managed to split my lip whilst having a drink from my water bottle!

It's Better By Bike

Training is back on track and I've been out on my bike every day, doing approximately 15 miles each time. The plan was to cycle every day gradually increasing the mileage with at least two longer rides each week. Today Sunday my intention was to cycle to Salen, go to the church service and then return home again, about 30 miles in all. I had been keeping an eye on the weather but by Saturday night it wasn’t looking good. I woke up at about 7am to the sound of wind and rain, and my resolve to ride rapidly disappearing. Maybe I would go to Salen but take the car instead! That was until Richard said he needed the car.

One last look at the weather, and it still looked bad but wasn't raining, so I'd go by bike. The ride there shouldn't be too bad as I would have a tail wind and the journey home could take care of itself. It turned out to be a good ride and nowhere near as bad as I had expected. As I rode home in the pouring rain I passed runners coming towards me doing a half marathon and I just kept thinking, 'It's better on a Bike!'

Time For a Coffee

I know it has been some time since I have written, and I would like to say I've been busy training but that would be a lie. The truth is my

niece and her family are visiting, so I have been rather distracted, but they return home tomorrow so I will then be back on track.

The weather here has been very wet and windy but I did manage a 30 mile ride, well 29 mile ride to Salen and back where I had a cup of coffee, a very important part of the training. There were cross winds in as I cycled in each direction, but I managed it without any problems although not sure how I'd have been after another 20 miles. This week I intend to do at least one 50 mile ride. I hope the wind drops a bit!