I had planned to do this ride earlier in the week, made all the preparations the night before, got up next morning and got togged up in my
The plan was to do a big (for me and my modest legs) old loop taking in a couple of sections of road and also Bridleway that I've only ridden once before (and on separate occasions, and on different bikes...) and one completely new to me bit of country lane - a bit of an adventure then! It's an exciting life...
Anyway, Thursday was a beautiful day for riding, dry and sunny but chilly to start with - indeed there were signs of frost on the roof of my shed first thing, but once again there was a bit of a wind blowing, but not hard enough to ruffle one's bouffant much.
I set off thinking to myself 'first stop - Probus' as I do spend a lot of time faffing about and thought I'd get a move on for a change. But, barely a mile under Fatso's wheels had passed before I was pulling up and setting up the tripod for a ride by selfie, as the lane up to Four Turnings from Trevella Stream was looking very photogenic in the morning sunshine.
Selfie time.
Selfies done and all packed away once more it was across the tops of the flatlands beyond Four Turnings (no hedges and the fields worked right up to the roadside) before dropping down to Riverside, then hanging a left and immediately grimacing and groaning up the ugly hill before the brake cooking descent down towards Truck Fork and Probus.
First bit of the route but the map is downsized a bit to fit the page, and hence a tad fuzzysome.
Point B on the above map, and the Truck Fork area where the Ladock Road (the road shown 'ere) meets the Probus Road (behind me). That's the mainline from Paddington to Penzance running above the road, and if you look closely, that train has actually got some passengers on it!
I wasn't taking the main road up into Probus on this occasion though, I was taking the narrow country lane that runs parallel instead, much nicer.
Looking back the way I'd just come, from The Square in Probus, which is actually a Triangle, but still. Now once again, at my end here on my PC this photo looks fuzzy as hell, and if it does at your end too, just right click and open in a new tab. I have been told though that the photos look fine on other folk's computers so it might just be my end.
Fatso, the Jubilee Lamp in Probus and a Corvid.
The lamp was erected to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897, and given its slightly vulnerable position, it's amazing it has lasted this long without being scat down by a drunk driver or some other random hazard.
From The Square it's a short ride through the village out to, and briefly over the busy A390 to reach the first bit of Bridleway.
Hmmm... some very odd things went on with this map when saving the image, duplicated labels for a start - what's that all about? Anyway, The Square is where the 'S' of Probus is in't map, and the first bit of Bridleway was what used to be an old country lane that runs parallel to the main A390.
A quick hop over the main road then left through a gate and onto this old country lane.
Another view of the Bridleway and it all looks peaceful enough, but in fact there is the constant roar of passing traffic on the adjacent main road to the left.
It's a bit of a mini roller coaster to ride as the Bridleway climbs slightly then dips a couple of times, usually with mud and/or puddles in the dips to make things interesting.
By now I was really relaxing into the ride and enjoying myself Immensely, which after recent weeks was just what I needed. The healing power of a ride on a bike eh!
The Bridleway finally climbs up alongside some woods on the edge of the Trewithen Estate (you can tell it's that estate due to all the fences/watch towers/gun emplacements,* and in particular all the signs - 'No Trespassing!' 'Private!' and 'Bugger off' etc. At the top it's through a gate and then out onto the A390, albeit only briefly.
*Ok, there aren't actually any watch towers or gun emplacements, but it wouldn't surprise if there were...
A quick mash of the pedals down the A390 and then it's time to hang a right into the Trewithen Estate entrance but then immediately a left to find the start of the second Bridleway.
The estate signwriter must be a busy chap, they do like a good sign there.
Anyway, time to get my feet wet and open this large gate and get off roading!
This section of Bridleway along the edge of the Trewithen Estate used to be a Turnpike road belonging to the Truro Turnpike Trust that was formed in 1754 to collect tolls to pay for the upkeep of the main routes to and from the city. This Turnpike went east through Grampound as far as Lostwithiel, but I wouldn't be going that far - they're a funny lot in Lostwithiel, best avoided. Mind they're a funny lot in Grampound too...
This bit of the ride is one of those that I'd ridden previously, just the once, and on the Voodoo. That grass may look easy riding, but in truth it is quite lumpy and bumpy in places, waterlogged too. Compared to the Voodoo, Fatso just breezed along here, not suffering the jolting, jarring wheel deflections and bumps caused by horse divots and the like.
This fuzzmungous map shows the course of the Bridleway, where it is joined by an estate road, then crosses a country lane (point 6) before heading down into Grampound, joining 'Old Hill' down into the village itself.
In the map above, you can probably just make out a 'photogenic tree' marker pointing to a bit of the Bridleway (the pointing lines are thin as a slice of wind so hard to see...).
Well, this is that tree, and ain't it a beauty. I couldn't decide whether it was shot best alone or with Fatso reclining gracefully, so did both, and still can't decide, so have included both.
This part of the Bridleway leaves the lumpy grass and joins an estate track.
Where the Bridleway crosses the lane that leads down towards Tregony, there is this mirror, which is rather oddly placed well away from the actual road. This placing is a bit of a puzzle so I thought I'd better look into it, and on reflection, I still don't know exactly why it's where it is. Oh well. Yes, you can see along the lane a bit, but you can see just as far when you actually get up to it, so it's a mysterious mystery for sure.
Cross the lane and the Bridleway once again is well maintained and hard packed, making for some easy wheeling. This section is used by farm vehicles accessing the farm at Carvossa.
Just Bimbling along in the sunshine...
You're never far from a Spinamathing in the countryside these days, and this area is no exception. Those turbines over the hill are flipping whoppas too by the look of them.
Getting closer to where the farm track splits off to the right, and the Bridleway is starting to get muckier.
Once past the farm, well, things get decidedly wetter and sloppier. But who cares! This is all part of the fun and I'd much rather be plugging along here in the sunshine than hacking along some road being battered by passing traffic.
Progress was slow on this ride, not due to the riding conditions, but due to me continually stopping to hang my nose over a gate, or fence or whatever, to take in the view and just immerse myself in the moment. There are some good views to be had along here, although they don't show up well in photos unfortunately.
I don't know anything about trees I must admit, but normally they grow like this when they're in gert big clumps (or stands as I believe the correct Arboreal term is) as they reach up to get the light. Lone trees normally spread out nearer the ground, so maybe this one had company that has long been lost, or maybe this particular flavour of tree grows like that anyway...
The going got a bit sketchy...
I took this as a joke, but over on Flickr I do wonder if some people think my attempts at 'art' were serious...
S'alright, plenty of room to the side, so no need to test my bunny hopping skills out.
After a good ride along the flat, the Bridleway starts to drop between high hedges down towards Grampound. There isn't much too see on this last section, and even less to photograph, thanks to those hedges. The last few yards of off road are potentially booby trapped, taking one over some very smooth bare rock, which in the wet, or in my case, with muddy tyres, makes for some slippery going and much care needed with the front brake, it being on a very steep down hill.
Once onto Old Hill it's a short drop down into the village of Grampound and over the River Fal and up into the village itself.
Grampound takes its name from the Norman French 'Grand' (great) and 'Pont' (bridge) but has obviously been corrupted a bit over the years to become Grampound.
Back on the A390 again and looking up Fore Street in Grampound, East towards St Austell.
Strung out up the hill as it is, it's a pretty village alright, but the road is a busy beggar (I time my photos to exclude traffic as best I can!). I see they have the same crap bus shelters as we have in my village too...
Halfway up the hill are St Nun's Church on the left, and the town hall and clock on the right, with the Market Cross in the middle.
The Church is a pocket sized affair, jammed in there as it is, and a mere youngster too, being built in 1869 (Truro Cathedral is a pup as well, being even younger, having been built between 1880 and 1910).
The clock on the town hall there is correct, and it was indeed lunchtime, but I wasn't watching the time but instead just enjoying being out and taking as long as I liked as I pootled and pottered along.
Grampound was the Calor Village of the Year for the West of England for 2007/8 and it does have quite a sense of community about it from what I've heard. Not a bad place to live at all, apart from that main road that is.
Why it's a town hall in a village I don't know...
Looking back down the hill towards Probus. That's the Market Cross on the right that is. He in't bent like that in real life, that's just the camera doing that, but where the actual cross is I don't know - I haven't got it, he's nuthin' to do with me, honest. The cross dates back to the 15th Century apparently, and it is a Grade II listed building.
I wasn't travelling any further up this hill on this ride, but was going up the lane (the oddly named Pepo Lane) that is seen emerging from the right. A new to me bit of road this, a lane I've never been along before - whoop!
Very pleasant the lane was too. I was only following Pepo lane for a short distance before turning off left as ultimately I wanted to be heading back towards home. Plenty of daylight left in the day - another sure sign of Spring coming, but not so much left in the body, as I don't eat immediately before, or on, a ride, and by now could just start to feel the beginnings of some tiredness setting in.
Heading North out of Grampound I left Pepo Lane just before point 8 above heading for the hamlet of Trenowth. These maps are bugging me! Where has that random 'Trenowth' label come from, hovering in the middle of nowhere like that... Grrr... the real Trenowth is the one at the top of the map at point 9.
It'd be a crime to rush along lanes like these!
High hedges are a pain sometimes! Great when the weather is bad and you want some shelter from a raucous wind, but not so hot when they tease you with a glimpse of a view but make getting a better look rather difficult.
On this occasion the hedges were steep and without hand or foot holds to make scaling them easy. Finally though, after much searching, I found a critter hole in the bank, and so after apologising to whatever was slumbering within, I stuck my foot in the hole, heaved myself up on one leg and with my other knee stuck in the bank could just manage to get this shot of the view ahead. The viaduct (the Paddington mainline again) is at Trenowth and in the distance is one of the Cornish Alps - the China Clay spoil heaps that used to be pointed like proper Alps, but a few years ago, the tops were lopped off, presumably for safety reasons (less chance of a landslide I imagine).
Getting near Trenowth.
Trenowth. On the right was a drying kiln for the China Clay industry but was in use apparently as an agricultural store until 2003 when the roof was destroyed by fire. That's all I can find on the net, but it looks like rebuilding is taking place, presumably once again for agricultural use.
The rather tranquil lane towards the village of Grampound Road where it passes the edge of Trenowth Wood.
It was around here that I noticed I had only done about nine miles, yet had been out for some four hours! Now that is some quality Bimbling right there! Always the sign for me of a good ride that is - lots of time spent covering bugger all miles! It might even be a personal best for me that...
I wasn't going into Grampound Road itself, but nipping across the top bound for Ladock and home.
Arriving in Ladock. A quick right and then a left and...
... over the Tresillian River and I'm on the lane towards home.
Leaving Ladock I only had a few miles to go before home, but the lane in question features two big lumps of geology that need huffing and puffing up, and on this day, they certainly took their toll as I found myself struggling more than I'm used to on this road.
AS ever, having reached Five Turnings I opted for the longer route home, as I usually do when coming from that direction, to avoid another climb up the narrow lane past Trevella Stream. I happily ride down that hill, less happily (and very rarely) up it.
By the time I reached home I knew I was almost cooked. My legs were running out of power and I was feeling a bit weary. No doubt I could've gone on as I have done longer/further rides without issue, I imgine it's just the relative lack of riding since Christmas that has taken its toll (and putting on a few pounds too -whoops!). I also didn't have anything to drink with me - no water bottle, no kettle for a coffee... Silly man!
Now I have a confession to make. I have a Chicken Noodle Soup habit - I'm addicted to the stuff and have been for some while, but I've recently had my head turned by another simmer soup, and it is just the job for after a cold ride:
I'm a huge fan of Knorr's Chicken Noodle and also Minestrone simmer soups, but have recently discovered this, and boy is it a keeper for the winter. Thick? You could walk a mouse across it, and it is very tasty indeed and just the job for reviving the tired winter bimbler. Serves 4? I don't think so! I have the lot I do - lovely jubbly!
So that was a very enjoyable 17 miles of sunny, tranquil and interesting bimbling about, and thankfully, my back held up without a single twinge or ache, a real relief after the recent weeks of constant pain from it.
Personally, I think those cyclists, whether roadies or mountain bikers, who hibernate for the winter are missing out big time on some spectacular weather and scenery. The soft sunshine is far more agreeable than the searing heat of summer and the views every bit as splendid, even more so perhaps, than in warmer months. Not so much fun when it's cold wet and windy granted, but on days like this one it is an absolute pleasure drifting about the countryside, even if the bike does need a good clean afterwards!
A rather poor map of the entire ride, but a fuller version (from a different source) can be found HERE
I'm now going to upload this before checking it for spolling and grimmar so apologies for any mistooks in it, but I'm late for my evening scoff - this post has been a bit of an epic and took longer to put together than it did to ride!
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