Camel Tales

The ride down off of Bodmin Moor was a fast descent via tiny lanes, through the charming sleepy village of Blissland whose quaint old pub we had visited the night before. It wasn't long before we had arrived at the Camel Trail a traffic free cycle route following the Camel River.

The trail clings close to the river in places as it meanders along through the wooded valley and apart from crossing a few minor roads it's a very peaceful, quiet route. It wasn't all peace and harmony though, as cycling towards a middle aged couple out hiking I did the courteous thing and rang my bell as we approached from behind. I could see they had both heard it as they immediately started looking around obviously thinking they had heard a rare breed of "Bike Bell Chough", I passed the couple slowly, with plenty of room, but the women jumped out of her skin insisting I should "get a bell", I rang it incessantly with a shrug of the shoulders as I disappeared down the trail to show her maybe she should get a hearing aid! There's no pleasing some people!

With the first section of the Camel Trail finished we decided to take a short diversion into Bodmin to grab a second breakfast. We were treated on the edge of town by the usual collection of men with Mohawks, derigueur it seems for this corner of the UK. The trail kicked us out opposite the grand but imposing Bodmin Gaol, a disused historic edifice on the edge of town. (Gaol \ Jail what's the difference, answers on a postcard please!)

We eventually asked a local to point us in the direction of a good cafe where we consumed a brunch whilst pawing over our route map and hijacking wall sockets to charge our numerous iDevices !

Maybe it was the amount of time we have spent out in the Cornish wilderness, but being in a town seemed kind of strange and we were both getting paranoid and eager to head to the hills or the Camel Trail at least.

Back out on the trail we soon realised that the Bodmin > Wadebridge > Padstow section was going to be a lot busier. Even on a dull Thursday in September the bike hire companies were doing a roaring trade and the track had it's fare share of dangerous cyclists to avoid, on a fully loaded touring bike this can sometimes prove tricky!

The Camel Trail is a lovely picturesque route, not as nice as the Exe Trail, but I would say that as it's my "local", but well worth a visit! It could also make a good socioeconomic study into the routes Poundland > Lidl > RickSteinLargeYachts diversity. Uni thesis anyone!

After an ice cream on Padstow harbour watching the world go by we headed out to Higher Harlyn Farm to camp for the night. This site was in stark contrast to the small Eco style places we had stayed in so far on this trip, more of a massive caravan car park and a field for tents. We did end up with a field the size of a football pitch for us and one other camper and despite the amount of space available the other camper decide to pitch near us! Why do people do that? I new someone who would drive into a near-empty car park but always drive over and park next to the few cars that were there! Pack mentality I guess!

The facilities consisted of an aircraft hanger sized toilet and shower block all no more than a year old and bedecked in fine quality taps and fittings..... Shame they forgot one thing... To employ a loo cleaner, give me Eco pit toilets any day!

It was a relatively easy 30 mile day as the Camel Trail is pretty flat which certainly helps two grumpy old men cycle and chat, have a good rant and put the world to rights, but most of all smile like fools at the joys of cycling in lovely Cornwall!

Night all x

Sorry about the lack of pics, lack of wifi and a naff Blogger app are to blame. I'll add them soon.