T +1 Home To Penzance

What a wonderful day (well...)

The roads were clear, the sun was shining. I got to Paddington in double quick time. The ticket machine worked (doesn't sound much; but it wouldn't work last year and I almost missed the train as a result). The train was quiet and it ran on time. The buffet was fully stocked, the staff friendly and polite...

When we pulled into Penzance, it was glorious A fit of enthusiasm: I'll ride to Land's End this evening - it's only 4.15, make the most of the weather and shave 20 miles off tomorrow's total.

Land's End was, well, Land's End. Hopelessly over-commercialised, but blue skies, lots of wild life and 3 other end-to-end cyclists to talk to (Lycra, gear ratios, how many days are you going to do it in - nothing competitive). Two were just starting. Planning to complete the ride in 13 days. One had just finished in 6. 'Photos taken (the official booth was closed, so the Land's End sign post had been taken down, but there's a millennium beacon with 'Land's End' emblazoned on it, so we made the best of it)

It was such a nice evening, I decided to get some extra miles in by going back to Penzance via St Just. St Just used to be a bit of a dump; but it was really nice. Some of the old 'antique' shops had been replaced by art galleries (the artists from St Ives moving out?) and the empty shops had been filled. The whole was so good that I was already planning next year's run (if that guy can do it in 6, so can I (remind me about this later).

A steady run down into Penzance to the hotel...

And guess what...

The hotel that I booked and payed for in February was shut, gone, empty, out of business. All around me are B&Bs and hotels, and every last one has 'no vacancies'.

Long story short: eventually found a B&B that was better than the hotel I'd booked and negotiated the price down from £60 to £31. If Barclaycard will refund the cost of the original hotel, I might even save some money.

Had a brilliant meal in a harbour front fish restaurant and turned in for the night.

Total miles so far: 50.53. Total calories: 2,606
Nos of End to Enders spotted :3 (Might run a book on this - how many end to enders will I see this year?)