Day 43  - Crantock to Hayle

 

Date: Wednesday 16^th June 2010   Distance: 26.88 Miles

 

Breakfast was better than expected, with fruit salad, cereals and cooked breakfast all served in the conservatory, where there were beautiful sea views. It’s a shame our room was so small.

 

We rode out through Cubert with quite a lot of ups and downs. Perranporth was very busy. We stopped at the outskirts of St. Agnes at a funny little tea –shop, where the ceiling was completely bedecked with cups and mugs, old and new, porcelain and china. No photographs allowed, which was puzzling. He also sold old postcards and a bit of bric-a-brac.

 

Porthtowan was next. Stopped by a sign “Pasty & Pint” but as it was by a cycleway for the Cornish Coast to Coast they had a rush and there were none left. Amazingly busy bike shop was part of the shop, it was just in the middle of nowhere. Next to Poltreath for late lunch of jacket potatoes, sitting in squashy leather chairs- heaven for a sore bottom! Extensive and busy climb out was quite stressful but then along a welcome ridge-top to Hayle.

 

For several years since doing Lands End to John ‘o Groats we had hankered for a pasty from a particular shop in Hayle that we relished. We weren’t sure if it was because we were really hungry or if it really was as nice as we remembered. Big pieces of steak and tasty vegetables in its pastry parcel. Just as delicious! We shared a medium one just to try it in case you think we were being greedy. Tried to book somewhere for the night but everywhere we tried was full so we hoped we’d have more luck later.

 

We hadn’t gone far outside the town when we saw The Old Quay House Inn and Motel right on the water’s edge. You couldn’t find a B and B closer to the water and the birds here caused a few problems judging by the anti- twitcher signs. We were glad we had our binoculars and the chalet we had gave enough room for the bike to be brought inside.

 

The tide comes in very quickly here and there were whimbrels feeding at sunset. It was a quiet night, despite being near a main road to St Ives and the 3 beds we had to choose from was good due to a sore back. We managed to book the next 3 B and Bs for Thursday, Friday and Saturday which was good going!

 

Good evening meal but breakfast a little disappointing, being greasy and less choice than we had been accustomed too at the little B and Bs.