Wind

Cycling in the wind brings its own challenges:sailing uphill with the wind on your back or turning a corner to go head first into a blast strong enough to send you reeling. Cycling along a high banked lane is fine and you forget it's even windy until you pass a field gate when you are suddenly pushed sideways into the hedge. The coast path to Marazion can be exciting, one way you bowl along at a rate of knots enjoying the wind surfers but the other way can be hell, head down with sand blasting into your face and sea gulls going sidewaysThe old joke "I had the wind the whole way" couldn't be truer for us cyclists.

You always know it's serious when the Scillonian creeps into the harbour and shelters against Albert Pier when she should be chugging her way over to the ScilliesThis weekend she has been in the harbour both days so there must be lots of people kicking their heels in Penzance, the ones who took out insurance smugly watching the angry seas from their hotel windows.

I decided to make the most of the wind today by opting for variety:today's ride included the north and south coasts, open moorland, valleys and little country lanes. a foolish whim, I should know better, which ever way I went the wind was either in the face or threatening to blow me sideways into the traffic. The leaves were blowing inside out, buzzards hung still and then at the flip of a feather swung sideways crossing several fields in a split second, the cotton grass danced and the skies constantly changed from leaden grey to summer blue. Coming home I pass the sign to Carfury and Ding Dongthe very names of these little settlements clinging to the side of Mulfra Hill sound of Cornish wind. I cannot imagine a still day at Carfury and they say that the bell at Ding Dong mine never stopped its ghostly clanging.

Where I live we don't have proper trees, the few that do cling to the thin soil end up surrendering to the elementsHigh in my moorland cottage I understand Ted Hughes' lines "This house has been far out at sea all night...the tent of the hills drummed and strained its guy rope...the wind flung a magpie away and a black-backed gull bent like an iron bar slowly"

Nature Walk

In glorious sunshine about 20 people and Grace set off from the pub for a perfect walkBrian had said that he did not want to be described as an 'expert' but he was incredible, not only could he name the birds, their songs and the plants but he shared fascinating stories about them all AND he could explain the principles of the hydraulic ram.

Passing between blackthorn and hawthorn bushes a white throat called and our legs brushed between the bluebells and stitchwort. We joined the coast path in sight of Tater Dhu light house and Brian showed us the shy little squilland described the difference between sea campion and the more common bladder campion. Fulmers were busy in their nests and buzzards hung in the thermals above our heads.

The coast path was at its best and made the perfect contrast to the dappled path back through the woods beside the Lamorna stream.Thank you to everyone who joined the walk and donated to the hospice and an enormous thank you to Brian who gave up his Sunday morning and shared his incredible knowledge.

Including two donations from people who were unable to come we raised £90 for Cornwall Hospice Care.

Turn Right At The Llamas

The recent floods washed out my lane and I was only able to get out by mountain bike so by this weekend I was ready for a proper ride and did my second trip to Falmouth. Since I knew the way I kept stopping to take photographs rather than pour over the map, much nicer but not conducive to a fast ride nor getting fit. I don't know as much as I wish I did about mining but it was interesting to peer over a hedge and see a line of chimneys all with their brick tops presumably following a lode.

Every year I wonder if the ash or the oak will be the first into leafthis year I am sure it is the oak which bodes well for the summer.
"if the oak is out before the ash we will have plenty of corn to thrash"

After the "Falmouth 6" sign there is a nasty bit of main road with crazy cars roaring past well over the designated 50 limit ....but it is lovely to turn right at the llamas and get onto the quieter road through Mabe Burnthouse and even lovelier to get the first view of boats up the river towards PenrynBy this time I was running late so no time for photos of the elegant Georgian and early Victorian houses on North Parade, more of those next time, nor of the yummy chips which ended the evening.

Don't forget the Birdie Walk Sunday 10 May, starting 10 o'clock at Lamorna Wink pub. Places limited so please book by emailing peggyrickaby@ladydowns.com or ringing 796952

Zennor

It has been a difficult week: last weekend was totally overwhelmed by the awful events in Zennor when three young people were killed in the floods.
My sympathy and thoughts are with the families involved and my thanks go to the emergency services who searched through atrocious conditions.