I was on the bike for an hour, riding the dirt road to Pencarrow Lighthouse. I’d walked out there before to do some astrophotography, and it’s roughly a two hour walk each way – it was only 20 minutes on the bike to the base of the lighthouse track.
Having awkwardly negotiated a weird bike gate the ride began. The ride was great on the way out – I did not realise I had a strong northerly behind me. Looking at folks who were heading north on the track I thought ‘I am doing so much better than them’.
The awakening was rude when I turned back. Riding into the northerly was a hell of a struggle at the southern most points of the road, but it got progressively easier and more sheltered as I headed north.
It took about 25-30 minutes to return to the carpark. I needed a few stops to catch my breath, and about half a kilometre from the car park I need to dismount to rest my hands and wrists, which we numb from the unfamiliar posture.
I felt great afterwards, although I also felt quite weak from the exertion.
