Day 12 Bodmin to Land's End Part Two

Awake at seven and listening to the cars splashing through the puddles outside. Roll over and go back to sleep, we've only 58 miles to do today and plenty of time for the cycling business later.

Another cup of tea was presented and I decided to open my eyes. Elected against the custard creams though. Either way we were awake and hungry so a quick shower then out to Weatherspoons for breakfast again. A cup of tea, bowl of porridge and a sausage bap then Land's End doesn't seem too far away.

No BBC forecast today, just look out the window and see that we shall probably get a shade damp at one point or another. Either way we're in Cornwall and are actually going to do this. Yesterday we tested ourselves against the West countrys hills and were not found wanting, whatever comes from the skies today isn't going to be a problem.

We left Bodmin on the old road and climbed to the West towards the main road. No thoughts of back roads, just get there then home for tea and medals. We only made it four miles before having to take shelter in a bus stop for a shower to pass. Despite thoughts full of bravery and speech declaring the rain unimportant the bus stop was handy and there's no point in getting wet so early in the day...

Onto the A30, busier than yesterday but legs pushing us with determination we burned through the miles pretty quickly. Familiar name places from the hundreds of times we have driven this road passing us by. Indian Queens, Fraddon, Summercourt, all places we've been before but of no interest today. Today the mileage signs to Penzance were all that mattered, that and the next hill of which we knew were going to be many of. Showers all around us and occasional above too forcing us to sprint for shelter under bridges but still the miles to the finish were dropping.

 A cup of tea at Chiverton Cross and an enforced wait in a petrol station whilst another heavy downpour passed became the midpoint of the journey. More hills and Penzance was getting closer and closer. More names of places we were familiar with, Newquay where we've surfed so often, Perranporth where I caught my first clean, green wave. Hayle roundabout then the climb towards Penzance and we were ticking off the miles one by one.

Just as we left Penzance for the final ten miles a spoke on my rear wheel gave way with a horrible snapping sound. I ground to a halt as the wheel deformed and pushed against the brake block. Undo the brakes, bend the spoke and pray for it to last. Ten more miles, don't fail me now! As gentle as possible up the hills, searching the road ahead for imperfections to avoid. Five more miles, two more miles and it's smiles all round as we know we are going to do this thing, something that seemed impossible standing on a wet quayside in Northern Scotland.

Past Sennon church and the last pub in England, down the final few yards and into the tacky theme park that is Land's End to be met by a familiar face. Mister King holding a camera wishing us welcome with a cheeky grin and a handshake. We've done it, 880ish miles give or take a few by bike in 11 days of cycling.

We've come a long way baby...