Cornish Run (29th September – 2nd October, 2022)

Cornish Run (29th September – 2nd October, 2022)

The Somerset Section organize two long weekend touring events and the Cornish Run is in early autumn to give a longer distance tour in September when the holiday traffic has subsided. We started this year on a Thursday morning from a friendly garden centre near Wellington (Somerset) and aim to leave by 9.30am so that we have all day to wend our way across Somerset and Devon on our way to Falmouth.

Preferred roads are old A roads and lots of B roads so that we can enjoy the ride as well as the views, trying to avoid busy town centres. After Launceston we skirted the edge of Bodmin Moor, through Minions to Doublebois and then to Trago Mills for a lunch stop. Onwards to St Columb Major and down through Indian Queens and Ladock to pick up the A390 and A39 to pass Truro, which was much better on a Thursday afternoon, as there were no traffic queues.

The Falmouth Hotel looks after us very well and coned off a parking area for our group and had someone waiting on the door to hand us our room reservation details. As it was a glorious afternoon there was time for a walk around Pendennis Point before sampling the Doom Bar in the hotel bar and our evening meal. A good day was had by all. 

For the next two days there were organized routes laid on to explore the peninsula, the Friday route was across to the north coast to Portreath, onto Hayle and around Penzance before returning via Marazion, Godolphin Cross and through Gweek (nice little café in the boatyard) back to Falmouth. On Saturday it was down to the King Harry Ferry to visit the Roseland area and stop for coffee in St Mawes before exploring some minor roads around the River Fal estuary.

 

Weather predictions for the ride home were somewhat wet, with heavy rain predicted overnight and affecting Cornwall and Devon. However, with a basic understanding of weather predictions from my time spent in flood forecasting I reckoned that we should set off a bit later than usual and follow on behind the storm. This worked a treat and we had dry roads after Newquay and across Davidstow Airfield to Altarnum. After Tavistock we climbed up onto Dartmoor for a lunch stop at the Old Police Station Café, then on through Moretonhampstead to Exeter on a good twisty B road. Only half of the company finished at the Willowbrook Garden Centre as the others lived in south Somerset or Devon and chose to go straight home.

 

There were only a couple of minor issues over the weekend with a starter solenoid / battery problem and a puncture on a three wheeler, but these issues are what we thrive on and want to help resolve! Overall, it was a most enjoyable weekend with a small group of friends riding, drinking and eating together. Sadly, this is the last one that I’ll be organizing as I’m taking over the Twin Dragon Run for next April.

 

Phil Ham