So this was a Sunday off with one errand to do and finally a goal of say I’ve wanted to get for ages. Which was train and cycle to Padstow. Especially as it has been nearly 1 month since the bike was in for repair due to A lot of issues leading to the change and cassette and things the warranty should have done but those small terms and conditions between the lines, meant it was not covered. How can a firm ask to order elsewhere for bits when I just wait one week longer to get out ordered directly with them? It makes things ugh for sure. But that was the morning to plan out for this day out. Enjoy the vlog below:
Insert vlog here
The train to collect the Bike
Right, we start with waking up from a nice fap from someone I’ve flirted with on the f site. Then it was time to get things sorted like a shave, copy the footage off from the phone and also make sure I've got locks with me for the journey too. The copying files off was not too bad and Surface Go 2 was fully charged as well. But to fit this to work it was going to be something I was not prepared for.
By 9:55 I was on the run to get the train. I did book the tickets via the GWR Site. £8.55 return is not bad. The plan was to make sure that I was going to make the train home since the last train was 17:44 back to Gunni, and the last train closest was 16:58 from Bodmin. The time to get to Padstow is about 1 hour 38 minutes, which with the electric side to use the battery, but I need to push myself on the pedal and also enjoy a route I've not done part of ever. Maps will be my savour on this, or so I thought.
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| The station and the train on the overcast morning |
I got on the train and felt weird without the bike on it, which most trips have been with the bike near me for most of them. bit io sat down and got the surface go 2 loaded up and from there was the time to take it easy and prepare for this. The journey was smooth and a peek of sun at some of the times.
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| The Selfie on the train |
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| Attempting to type a post on via word with the surface go |
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| The view from near dockyard |
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| More typing with the keyboard |
Then it was dead on arrival at Plym at 10:56. I got off and then made my way to pick up the bike since it's been over a month due to parts that were needed. On the way to get some bits of snacks from Poundland which itself is fine but actually, I had a look and the phone tripod dead wax £2 so I added a blt sandwich for £1 and £0.75 for each strawberry flavour of aloe vera juice and then that totalled to £4.50.
Then I got to the bike shop and collected the bike, which was £80 since some parts were under warranty and I made a £65 payment 1 month ago as well. I spoke to the area and there was some warranty discount involved. I locked the bike up and had a quick browse in Cex for some bits then it was time to cycle back to the station at 11:25 for the train was to arrive about 11:45.
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| The road to the station |
The train to the woods
I got to the station then it turned out the train was delayed, not very much but it gave me some time to prepare, like to make sure the locks were ok and also to make sure that the bits were right. This is not the first time it is been kn a long-distance train, that was actually when I got the bike back im August 2023.
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| The station waiting |
I locked it up and went to the other platform to go for a pee since I was getting desperate. I got that done then it was a calm wait to find out which place to go and park before the train arrived the bike was about coach D or Zone 4. The chance of waiting meant I could go to the toilet and that locked the time so I then went to the 7,8 platform to then be able to get things ready fofis. Once the toilet was done, a quick stroll in the subway and then I was able to have a shot just for the train to arrive. The train arrived and I got on, the difference here was a very tricky struggle to have to leave the bike vertically to fit in if I had the chance to film the draggle, I really would have, but luckily the flexible pole did helped and so did the bungee.
Then I managed to find a spare seat with a table and relaxed since the journey was only about 35 minutes or so long. I rested and started to type his up using the surface and then had the first of the strawberry aloe vera juice drinks. They are quite refreshing, The blt sandwiches were also going to be for later on when I got back to the train. It was just so silent and comfy to breeze towards. No tickets we looked at, but then again getting on with Plymouth had nc the gate it is easier for them to find out.
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| The Aloe vera juice and the surface |
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| The view over the viaduct past Liskard |
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| Passing in the woods |
Some dudes were taking up two tablets and enjoying some cans of Carlsberg, but it was then getting to Liskeard when even another train stopped at the same time. Time passed and it was not too long until the train passed the woods by 12:26 I was then at the station, Bodmin Parkway, and as I was getting the bike unloaded, this upper style mm and daughter were smiling and speaking about something to me, before then I started vlogging off the train and was thinking I was speaking to them when I made a phone call style symbol to them. As I was getting to the entrance/exit, the steam train was about to go, so I walked back and filmed that, as I did, I noticed a girl whom I’d swiped right on Tinder like 3 times but not the same way back, but she was with a chap so maybe she not dating, since last I saw her was in Iceland back in late august 2023. But the steam train to central bodmin was about to toot off on the other side.
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| The train about to leave |
Then it was time to get the bike ready.
The Trails of Middle Cornwall.
So this was when it was time to plan out, with no phone holder and no bike lights, it was going to be a risk but since it's mostly flat and not on main roads, there was some safety here at least. Now it was also the time I could get the bike locks to go tighter since I was not expecting a smooth ride to Padstow here. But by 12:45, I was off and cycling down the path that had been smoothed out, which was going to be the only smoothest surface of the entire journey until the streets of Bodmin and Wadebridge. The gate had a VERY short chain so could only just get the bike through it before the carpark and the crossing of the road to a short gate on the other side which if not careful the bike would tip into a fast flowing least which was just before what was to be a VERY BUMPY part of the journey both there and back again.
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| The bike and the gate with the short chain |
This part was chaotic, plus it did not help with people In the way it was going to be worse as the camel trail section was to approach. But once I got past the Lanhydrock trails it was a confusing sense of where to turn. I did and then the confusion was a turn around to the left and then it was going to be on the left road, which then it was a cycle on the main road to get the part to pass over the bridge to get to Bodmin. Once I crossed the bridge, it was a small little trail, that led to a car park near the A30. That was the start of the easy part which in itself was just the easy way, mostly the road, But then I just had multiple texts to deal with, so that confused the direction to go. So it led to junctions and then I managed to get on a main road and follow it through.
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| The town in the roundabout |
But then it was time to cycle in the town which has its moments and I was then slowing down a little bit since it was finding the right street past the right park as well. But eventually passing an abandoned shop from my childhood closed down and a big stone whacking a pedal, the time was to cycle the camel trail.
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| The little path to get to the park |
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| Passing a narrow path path sainsburys |
The Camel Trail Cycle
So it was now near the carpark, passing Bodmin Jail and the flat or mostly flat path to Padstow. The first part was HECTIC and even was close to having to walk it, especially as no bells or lights about, it was like a busy road. But we passed and it was going on some of the landmarks. From the halts labelled up to even the chance to see some of the tea rooms on the right. It's been years since I’ve been on this trail.
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| Passing a holt |
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| The Hold of Boscarne |
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| Quiet parts of the path |
But it was on the way and by 1:30 pm, it was time to get past the path and it was getting near the town of Wadebridge
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| The nearing of the town |
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| Nearing another halt |
Eventually closing in by 1:45 pm, to the edge of the town. Which in itself, was quicker to pass than I originally guessed, with one street to then pass the old station eventually it was turning right by Co-op and then nearly knocking into a chap before attempting to cross the road before it was mostly a solid straight then right before the main trail to Padstow. Before this, it was seeing some places like the American Restaurant closed as well as a shop nearby now becoming a food bank as well.
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| Passing the old railway station |
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| The old American restaurant abandoned |
Then led to the main stretch and it got quite busy on some of the parts since it was now the passing of the Town and via the new skatepark and onto the path with people on both sides from cycle hire and those not alike, even some wheelchair users doing birdwatching as well. But it was eventually getting to the halfway point which was where the food of the Atlantic Coast Express used to be, it was still there and people still sitting down, but it was closed that day.
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| The cafe by the trail entrance |
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| A scene i've not passed by in nearly 4 years |
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| The estuary looking muddy |
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| More views and the clouds in the sky |
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| The sand on the other side is the low tide |
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| the banks |
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| The bridge appraoching |
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| the final highlight before Padstow |
But with some dogs being pulled ish on leads with bikes and more swerving, it was about the 2:14 mark and I finally arrived at the similar spot that me and my sister parked up at from the vlog 4 years ago now. Which was then time to lock up and explore the town in like 1 hour before having to leave to get the train home in time.
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| The bike parked up |
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| The distance for the way there |
A Quick Padstow Explore
So we decided to walk and it was a walk to the toilets which was from my favourite side of the town, the golf. But I casually strolled, the streets were far from packed compared to the summer when it was unable to move, but then it was able to go. I got in and peed, got out and made my way to the golf, it was closed. So a sigh of relief since it was already 2:30 pm and like 45 minutes to go before leaving.
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| The port with the popular boats with the tide ends |
I took my time to walk to the park and then reflected on the view and was close to finishing the end of the GTS 4 mini-review. Instead, I got the powerbank ready and then time to walk the back path into the town to make my way down the street to look at some of the shops in the 40 minutes I had left.
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| The top of the hill and views of rock |
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| Exploring a part of the park i've not ventured much of |
There were some lovely streets and also it was nice to see some of the crafts and gifts in the shops, like a cornish pasty thief and also various candles and diffusers, it was also time to go into this all which allowed me to look at some crafts, some of which had some cows of a painting that’s been in stock for 35 years and £65 +. But going upstairs the Stephen brown resemblances are quite shocking, which my mum would have loved but this might be. But the smaller prints were about £40 each. But then it was to start to head my way back.
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| The streets of Padstow |
Then it was passed a soap shop with some nice treats, but this was a tricky one of what smells are liked, so I skipped, but before that was a mixed bag of fudge for about £5.50. Then I was walking my way back to the port side, passing the pubs on the corner and it was nearing another mini hall where yet another craft fair was on, some things such as chilli sauces and also dog treats, but mum loved the rocky road, so for £2.50, I got some of that.
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| The Bag of fudge |
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| The view heading back towards the port and carpark |
There was also a nice bit of rocky road purchased from the craft market before leaving. Its nice to pop by here
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| The passing of the craft market in the hall |
Then it was the final walk to get to the bike, but passing Stein’s deli and finding no Garlic Aioli dip, burning my mouth on some hot sauce has to be another fun part. After that, it was 3:10 and it was a paced walk to get the bike unlocked and ready to cycle back to not miss the train.
The Cloudy way back
This was then the rush to cycle back which was going to be a simple way, but I left and then started to pedal and kick in the motor, but what happened was when I realised by the time before I went to the bridge, I forgot to the kick in the Watch so it was not recording from the time I left the bike. But I started to make my way back on the camel trail, passing some and having to slow down at others.
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| The path getting clearer |
As I cycled it was getting to bits and I also slowly but surely saw people I cycled past on the way in, doing the same as I was doing a fair bit of mileage and it was going to take some time, since of the 35 miles away, and the time was ticking on. Eventually, I got to Wadebridge in about 20 minutes, it was starting to spit with rain at this point.
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| The Bridge in the view |
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| The town was empty on the way back |
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| The sign of the Camel Trail as leaving wadebridge |
But then it was going to be the quieter bit once passing Wadebridge since the path was not as busy and I cained the battery and pedalled, to the point the mileage went up on the battery range, which this part of the path I was mostly still dry in, the mud on the path was not too bad. Even I got to Boscarne Junction before 4 and then headed to the final part of the path by about 4:05.
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| The path near the canal |
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| Heading towards another halt |
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| Reaching Boscarne Junction |
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| The final part of the trail before bodmin |
Then it was Bodmin, and my life of confusion with not seeing Google Maps on my phone all the time from the phone mount was taking its effect, like I ended up going on some odd router by turning left at the roundabout on the cobbled/paved surface instead of turning right/straight on like I should have and let the road follow, which lead me to a school field than in some estate but it worked out to go to the 3 signs for NCN 3, which then It was passing an industrial estate, which then turned around to the same road, but instead of going the path route, I turned left and stayed on the road which got to the bridge and then it was going to follow it to the A30 again.
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| The path heading towards the A30 |
Then it got to the last part of the following that, I crossed the road and this time stayed on the road, passing the car park for Lanhydrock, which then led to the part of the car park, following the road led straight to the trails and it was then to carry on the very bumpy track which even my hands were getting numb from the vibration.
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| The lanhydrock entrance |
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| The bumpy trails to get to the path |
Eventually, this is where the glass died on the battery, even though I could have charged it with the power bank, I forgot to get that loaded up properly in terms of bike mounted. Then it was a busy path of smooth asphalt to get to the station.
The Rush for the Train then Journey Home
So I got there and the TRAIN arrived, this was 16:36 so my panic to get the bike across the footbridge was the worst nightmare the bike had faced since buying it. Like it is one Heavy bike. But the train left as I was halfway on the bridge, I was PISSHED. Eventually, it was going to be the point to have to wait, but it was that wait which was stressful, since during this shortly like 10 minutes later, there was a nightmare of the trains being delayed which was making it even so much closer to the given of the time of shit, I’ll miss the train back to Guni.
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| The bike ride back |
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| The Bike on the platform |
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| The bridge |
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| The exhausted selfie |
Eventually, the station chap asked which train I was getting and said to Plymouth, he shrugged or something sly, and then it was time to wait, but by just after 5 pm, the train was here and the struggle to get the bike lifted to fit it in the storage, But I got it in the end. Time to find a table and sit down while I had my sandwich and tried to type this up. Plus partway through I was texting Lou which i'll get om to at some pint with a catching up blogpost, a nice growing girl so to speak.
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| The Aloe Vera juice and BLT sandwich |
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| The bridge overlooking Trago |
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| A selfie with the sandwich |
But since the train going to be later from plym than the one to Gunnislake, I had a plan, get off at Saltash and cycle across the bridge to get back home. That was going to work, but there was only one problem, Saltash has less room for carriages, So I had to do a wheelie across the carriage to get to the other end which then would let me get off the train. As I passed Forder Valley, it was time to prepare this earlier so I did not rush off the train and miss the connection. I just about did and nearly knocked the front wheel into some other passengers going as slowly as I could to now just but also making sure I was not slow enough to miss the platform off the train. I got off after some twists and turns on that end of the carriage and then was off. It was only 1 minute later the train was going to head off to the City, but I was then ready to prepare.
The Cycle to interchange and a final way home
Then it was time to get cycling and find my way to the Tamar Bridge, I’ll admit that it was only a short cycle distance to get there, will kid you not, I was about 2 minutes away from the Bridge before I was crossing the border to then turn right and pretty much follow the road to St Budeaux.
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| Cycling over the bridge |
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| The higher the barrier |
I then only had a bit of an issue crossing the road before turning right and up a bit of a short steep hill then there was Victoria Road station, I cycled down it and got off before walking to the gate, I parked there and relaxed for at least 10 minutes.
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| The making it to the station |
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| A better view of the deparetres |
Then it was time to finally finish the review for the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini at this point, which in itself is not too bad but it's more of a good all-rounder. But shortly after that, I was on the train, hooked up and got the relaxing journey home. The ticket was scanned and for £8.70 return was not too shabby. But the time to relax was nice. But it was then 6:30 and time to get out of the bike to cycle up the hill home.
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| The selfie to end the video of the amazfit review |
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| The Selfie at the end before going home |
And that the end of this chapter, enjoy and a full catch-up will be coming soon. For now, take care and more content and plans are eventually on the way
omracer
