Moving from Cornwall to Devon

Tuesday 9th September

We were given a healthy breakfast by our hosts in Bodmin – loads of fresh fruit, cereal and brown toast. From no-one knowing the family last night when we arrived to when we left, we felt we had become good friends – bon voyage to Sue and Alvin on their holiday in Tenerife and may you out foxtrot all your peers at the Sequence Dancing!

Corinne was not a happy bunny at the thought of doing 13 miles on the A30 which is the central route up the county of Cornwall, especially as it was misty, rainy and the visibility was poor. However, there was no choice, so heads down and we just had to get on with it. This was over Bodmin moor where the only beasts of Bodmin were the lorries thrashing by the side of us. Full concentration was required trying to avoid cats eyes and drains in the “bike lane” but we managed – Corinne lost a light in the process and John lost a water bottle (his “best one”!) We reached Launceston where we discovered a friendly road digger man who seemed to be tracking our progress (“I saw you yesterday coming up ‘amburger ‘ill [Hamburger Hill] and you were struggling and I thought you were mad”). Well he’s right there!!

We stopped for lunch in a rather bijou little cafe because the sign beckoned us in with “fresh Cornish pasties”. Well after 20 miles of mist and rain, the pasties which were truly Cornish (real meat and potatoes) tasted absolutely delicious – John felt they were to die for and promptly fell off his bike afterwards!! (twice, but he was ok). John, will you please stop going on now about Cornish pasties...!!

In the afternoon, we ambled along beautiful B roads which took us from Launceston to Okehampton and up over 1,000 ft to the edge of Dartmoor. So we are now in Devon – we’ve already crossed one county and are one tenth of the trip down.

The people in Cornwall seem to be lovely – loads of banter and genuinely pleased to see us. They think of themselves as a separate state – not as English and certainly don’t have much of an alliance with their neighbours from Devon.

We stayed in a place called The Betty Cottles Inn which looks rather as it sounds – bit ramshackle, one bathroom between 5 rooms and a big wet patch by the shower! But lovely meal and congenial host.

Today our rabid reporter, Tina Bruce made her first broadcast to Radio Nan Gael, the Gaelic Radio station in Lewis. Tina gave them an update on how the trip is progressing for all you Gaelic speakers and listeners out there in Gaelic land. James reckons that “tha gu math an duigh” explains it all!!