Day 55 – Truro to Hayle
Actual distance 39.11Km or 24.30miles
Total Ascent 619m
Staying with 5th Redruth Scout Group
Today was sort of our penultimate day. We’re very aware of the need to try to get home for the start of the school term, but are also conscious that we have a fantastic group of people joining us on Sunday for our approach to Lands End. We therefore decided to re-plot our journey from Truro to Lands End, splitting it in to two good cycles and a very (very) short final walk that everyone can join us for.
This morning started with our usual routine of packing up, breakfasting (consisting of pasties and cake for Phil and James!!!), and making lunch (pasties for Phil, James and Bethan!). Just before 10am we were joined by Scouts, Cubs, Leaders and Leaders children from 18th Truro (and Sarah, Abi and Moby) to walk with us for the first 5km of todays route. Having people join us is always such a boost.
However, today was slightly complicated by a scheduled interview with Lou Hannan from BBC Radio Solent that was planned to start about 25 minutes after we set off, so we wandered down as far as BBC Radio Cornwall and paused at a picnic table just outside their building. Aware that the larger group was getting restless we split up, with a few of us staying to do the interview, whilst the rest continued on the walk.
We sat listening to Lou Hannan’s show (with Jennie playing along with a name that theme tune game, and the kids giggling at the that fact that certain names are associated with people who moan a lot!), then it was our turn to be on air (you can listen here.. ). Once we’d finished chatting we headed off to try and catch up with the others, reaching them at the point where the 18th Truro and the Woggle JOGLErs were due to part ways. Sarah and Abi (with Moby) also left us at this point, although we were rejoined by Moby 5 minutes later who merrily ran down the hill to join us as clearly our walk seemed more entertaining than theirs!
After a reasonable climb into Playing Place we met up with Niall who had brought our bikes ready for phase 2 of today’s journey. We hopped on and set off along the national cycle route number 3. The route quickly lead to the Bissoe Trail, an off-road path through the old mineral tramway that takes you passed several old tin mines and quarries, passed picturesque pools filled with lilies and purple hillsides covered in heather. The path itself was rough and stony in places, and littered with fairly sizeable puddles from the persistent rain this week.
We reached Saint Piran Cafe at lunch time and paused to eat and have a coffee. Jennie was very excited to chat to a guy who was delivering cakes from his daughters bakery business, BB’s Bakery, that only make gluten and dairy free goods. She therefore had to buy a little something to sample and can vouch that the ‘Brookie’ slice was utterly delicious!
There were two potential routes from the cafe, and without realising, the team chose to take the wetter of the two! We headed off with James leading, cycling through muddy puddle of increasing size until we watched him pedal through a puddle that was so deep that it came half way up his wheels! At this point Jennie insisted on the rest of the group turning back and taking the alternative path, leaving James to negotiate the last couple of puddles before we rejoined him.
At the end of the Bissoe Trail the route 3 climbs and climbs and climbs along winding country lanes leading up to Redruth. The hill appeared to go on forever, but impressively we all managed to keep going. With the knowledge that we had conquered the biggest climb of the day, we continued through town. There were a few more steep ascents and a rather blocked single track road to negotiate before the day was through, and we did have to pause for an ice lolly break before the end, but we reached Hayle in good spirits.
We were met in Hayle by Niall (whose birthday it is today – Happy Birthday!), and he drove us all back to the lovely holiday apartment that Emma and Niall are staying in on the outskirts of Redruth. Emma had been busy baking scones so we could all join them for a birthday cream tea, Cornish style. A fantastic treat!
We then headed to 5th Redruth’s HQ, our home for the night. Paul (Group Scout Leader at 5th Redruth) and his lovely wife have looked after us fantastically, treating us to a fish and chip supper, inviting us to their home to use the shower and providing us with ingredients to make a cooked breakfast tomorrow. We are beyond grateful (and clean!).
It’s an odd mixture of emotions reaching the last few days of this journey. It has been so heartwarming to experience the utter kindness and generosity of strangers. The unity in Scouting is phenomenal. We have met so many adults with a real passion to ensure our young people can continue to learn, grow and have fun new experiences together outside of school. Grass root Scouting is so successful thanks to the dedication of amazing teams of volunteers throughout the world and we have been honoured to have met a some of these amazing people during our travels.
We have felt a real want to bring Groups together, and with this in mind we are thinking of arranging ‘Woggle JOGLE Jam’ for some point next year. We would love to meet up again with all the fantastic people we have met on our journey, so a massive camp seems the most appropriate way forwards. Watch this space..
Tomorrow we will be cycling almost to Lands End, leaving only a 3km walk to complete on Sunday. We really can’t believe it’s nearly over.
