We rode down to the signpost again to get our pictures taken. Unfortunately, the site doesn't open until ten in the morning. We got there about 09:30, passing a guy going the other way in Sennen on a tourer with lots of panniers. The photographer wasn't there yet, but we did run into Fraser and Derek of Radio 1 fame, who had just arrived. I think they said it took them 7 days and 12 hours, although I can't remember exactly what their time was at time of writing. The pair of them were nearly through a bottle of champagne when we met up with them, and good luck to 'em :) After they left, Lewi and I hung around for a while until the photographer arrived. We got our pictures done at just gone ten, and were on the road by about half past, with trip meters reset and full of the eternal optimism reserved only for those setting out on a long trip...

Our route took us out of Land's End along the A30 to Penzance, then on the A394 to Helston. Just outside Helston, we ran into the guy on the tourer again. Turned out to be Luke, an Aussie who was going the same way as. We hooked up and rode together (at least for a while, more on that later...). We had lunch at the Halfway House in Rame on the A394. A customer on the next table donated £5 to the cause, which was gratefully received! Just as we were leaving the pub, the heavens opened and the wind (which had been gusty all day) began to pick up.

The first day's riding was very tough; most of the day we were riding into the wind as well as having to cope with many hill climbs. We continued to follow the A39 towards Truro, picked up the A390 to St Austell and then on to Liskeard. By the time we arrived in Liskeard, the three of us were just about done in. Totally exhuasted, damp (although not soaking wet which was testament to the quality of my waterproofs!) and getting cold, we stopped in the Spar shop for pasties (near the end of the day, so going cheap. Grease has never tasted so good) and coffee, which revitalised us enough to find a hotel. We ended up at the Lord Eliot, which was about the only place left that had room. The rooms weren't the best, but the service was top notch; they washed and dried our clothes, put on a decent Chinese in the restaurant and gave us a secure room to lock the bikes in.

We took the A390 out of Liskeard and continued towards Tavistock. The weather was considerably better in the morning, although the bikes were suffering from the previous day's conditions; chains were orange with rust, wheel rims were covered in filth affecting the brakes and gear changes were rough. It took us half an hour or so to sort the bikes out before we were ready to roll. We rode quite hard in the morning, to try and make up for yesterday where we'd not covered the sort of distance we'd hoped. We stopped for supplies in a Spar just before Tavistock, and had something to eat in preparation for the climbs across Dartmoor. My cold wasn't helped by the previous day's atrocious conditions. It took a substantial portion of the day to cross the moor, although the climbs were long and slow we built up some good speed on the descents. There were stunning views across the moors.

The afternoon saw us travelling through Exeter and taking the B3181 towards Cullompton and alongside the M5. The weather started to turn just the otherside of Cullompton. The rain was heavy and came suddenly, meaning I got wet as I didn't have my waterproofs on at the time. There was even hail at one point. We arrived at the Heathercroft B&B on Wellington Road, Taunton, in the early evening. After a hearty meal of takeaway pizza the three of us were just about ready for bed. The shower was hot and powerful and very, very welcome!

 Day 3 - Tuesday 29th May