Friday 19th July To the Lizard ( it’s closed) and getting soaked.

Heavy rain during the night. I like hearing it on the canvas.what I don’t like is packing away a wet tent 6.30 Still raining but can hear a woodpecker calling. Up and packed and bike loaded by 7.30 then a cooked breakfast. Good call to book it last night. Especially as I got to meet Martin, Scottish bloke cycling the coast line as if I need any encouragement. Top man hoping to complete in 12 weeks and travelling light. Yesterday Genevieve was trying to make going up hills harder by changing into a more difficult gear on her own. Quick message to Pirate Steve and Jaime and same advice came back. A quick fettle and it was as good as gold today. Not enough signal to upload photos so will try again tomorrow Set off in the rain and a few navigation hiccups in Penzance but soon I was on my way the 27 miles into the wind and rain to the Lizard. One of my route choices to avoid main roads would have been more suited to a mountain bike. On approaching I could hear the lighthouse foghorn but could see it because of the sea mist. I pull up near the lighthouse to be told by a disgruntled bloke the Lizard is closed Thursday and a Friday. I had a quick poke about and then consoled myself with a cream tea. Ham first obviously! Back wind from then on helped. A really warm day if wet and I was running out of drink. Some serious long hills and I was getting wetter and wetter. All electronic devices started to play up. Touch screen on my phone I was navigating with and my Garmin refusing to charge. Very busy and hilly around Truro. No proper lunch and Clementine hill beat me. Well I was stopped halfway up and couldn’t get going again is my excuse. Finally I hid in a bus shelter and thought about where to camp for the night. First one comes up Gnome Land. That’s it only a mile further on. Angela the owner kindly gave a free pitch for the night when she saw my drowned rat impression. An hour in the laundry trying to dry stuff and failing but also charging phone etc but still no joy with the Garmin. More rain tonight but hopefully tomorrow day is looking brighter. Despite the rain I still loved every minute of it. One fb and old college friend described me as crazy tonight. She may well have a point.