Mileage: 102
Time cycling: 7hrs 10mins
Total climbing: 9,200ft
As expected it was a tough first day through the Cornish hills with a punishing final climb up to Dartmoor, but thankfully the rain held off all day which was a great help.
Passing through Tavistock at the foot of Dartmoor it was tempting to call it a day but we pressed on to our first night's stop, the Cherrybrook. Our hospitable host Dave has already ploughed us with plenty of jail ale, named after the local prison, while we're about to tuck in to some chocolate cake.
It was an eventful day out on the road. We didn't set off quite as early as planned after our promised early breakfast didn't materialise (we started worrying when the chef was locked out), but the delay was soon forgotten as we reached Lands End to start.
We were soon greeted by plenty of cheers from passers-by on leaving the coast. Stopping for coffee was eventful after a local stopped to tell us about his treatment for prostrate cancer -after seeing our shirts and telling us what a good cause it was. Cyril and Joan from Stafford were also impressed with our cause and gave us £10!
The highlight - or maybe lowlight - was when big ring Nigel's chain snapped just as we crossed the Taymer river into Devon. But have no fear for ace technician Richard came to the rescue and impressed us all with his sprocket knowledge! He fixed it in 10 minutes and left us all in awe! However we all blamed Lance Taylor for taking us up the steepest hill in Devon.
Tomorrow should be a slightly flatter day although our original plan of making it to Wales looks unlikely judging by how exhausted we all feel!
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