To 'tech' or not to 'tech' that is the question

I'll get back to the title all in good time. First of all we met the rest of the group last night, 21 riders and the leader, made up of the usual assortment of oddballs, eccentrics, the mildly deranged and a few masquerading as normal (but who will probably be outed in due course). We fit right in.  Remembering all the names is the first challenge, a responsibility that the mechanic has passed on to me.  Of the 21 riders 7 are female (all one half of a couple) and there are 7 single guys. 2 of the couples are over from Australia, one couple from Scotland and one chap from Cork who is doing the same tour for the 4th time!!

This morning we didn't have to repack the bags (this only happens once more on the tour) but we did have to collect our pre-programmed garmins to use for navigation. I had already decided against the option and have printed the whole route off Memory Map on A4 paper using 1:50,000 OS maps.  Just as well, judging by the way Chris and some of the others got on!  We were riding from Redruth to Lands End and back today (using different routes each way) but it turned out that most people did that yesterday on their way to the hotel, so the headed off to the Lizard. Having had a lesson in garmin usage and a short practice in the car park I eventually got Chris going. It was lucky I had the maps - I will say no more. We also crossed paths with the only other 3 doing Lands End and they were struggling to use the technology. There were very envious of my maps.........

The weather started bright and sunny, but clouded up earlier than expected so was a bit dull when we made it to LE. We took the quiet coastal route and stopped for coffee in Mousehole. There is a monster hill out of the village and it is a narrow one way road except for bikes, which can go both ways. We gritted our teeth and set off only to be forced to dismount and try to sidle past a Tesco delivery truck which had stopped on the way down the steepest part and then, seemingly been abandoned by the driver - of whom there was no sign. We then had to squeeze past the cars trapped behind it and found it impossible to get started again until the gradient slackened a bit.  By the way I strongly recommend a slice of hedgehog cake it you ever find yourself in the area.

Land's End is, reassuringly, just as tacky (if not more so) than it was in 2002. The photo below of us with the signpost in the background is evidence that we are too mean to pay £10 to stand beside it!! We picked up a tailwind on the way back to Penzance and flew along before stopping for a bit of lunch in the tourist hotspot (?) of Penzance.  We have felt a bit let down at missing many of the holiday attractions such as Circus Funtasia, the 'All new Daredevil Stuntshow', the Dairyland

Fun Park and so many more.  Perhaps next year?

There have been weddings on both days we have stayed here and it is quite amusing to see sweaty cyclists rubbing shoulders with poshly dressed wedding guests - you do feel you are lowering the tone. Chris is currently trying to work out the garmin, while I sort out the maps for tomorrow. It will be interesting to see if everyone has made it back!!