Westerly Storm Force 10 Decreasing Severe Gale Force 9

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Just enough time to squeeze one more out before the year rolls over....

December was mostly defined by water… vast quantities of it falling from the sky, and seeping in everywhere. Also wind, the relentless wind. I can only recall one day over the last few weeks when the wind charts were not at the red end of the spectrum. Still, the best was made of it and in an effort to squeeze out just one more of these before the end of the year, a few snaps were collected along the way.

Last ride of the year, it felt important to get out despite the 50mph, gusting 60mph, wind, and spells of viciously torrential rain. mixed with ice pellets… I had been worried I might be getting soft…

2023 wasn’t a year of adventure, work mostly got in the way, but you know.. self employment, make hay blah blah. It’s something I hope to rectify in 2024 such that I can offer something a little more interesting for you than posts simply as a repository of “while out riding” snaps from my local area… like this one in fact.

Without further ado then, allow me to wish you all a Happy New Year! I hope it turns out to be a good one for you.

Swimmers in the drizzle. All year-round sea swimming has become enormously popular since the pandemic, and with the arrival of the festive season, the visiting DryRoberati were very much in evidence over Christmas. Not sure I’d be going in.. aside from the vast quantities of raw sewage that SW Water are dumping (while paying billions to their shareholders), the run off from all the rain is a proper witches brew too… run off from surrounding farms, dogshit, badly managed waste residues, microplastics and so on. It’s not a wonder that infections amongst surfers and swimmers are on the rise. Criminal really.
Dedicated to the craft. Christmas morning.. in the traditional festive drizzle.
Mevagissey. I’d gone for a wander to meet my sister and justify an extra chocolate biscuit with my coffee ;-)
Looking northeast to Black Head.
Mevagissey
Walking for a change…
Fantastic textures in the wintertime woods near Golowras Mill. The lighter shades come from lichens on the bare branches.
Same place. This old growth woodland is a genuine treasure, it’s a tragedy that there is so little of it left in Cornwall, and the UK in general.
I managed to drag a mate out for a spin in the gale…
Conditions felt suitably dramatic. This is along the coast road between Rinsey and Porthleven, looking south towards The Lizard. I love this stretch and use it often.
Porthleven. I can’t help it, it irks me that, along this road, almost every single dwelling is a holiday home with its little plaque and stupidly twee name… same on the cliff road along the other side of the village.
It was a good ride. I struggle to stay indoors.. this is the path from Porthleven to Loe Bar.
View looking northwest to Porthleven and Rinsey Head.
A spot out of the gale for a brew. It’s always worth the effort.
Before the long, windswept slog across the sand bar to reach the trail at the southern end.
Walkers going the other way.
A brief moment of somewhat lighter winds (still around F7) and finer weather.. looking out over Keneggy Sands…
.. and Praa Sands. The period between Christmas and New Year always feels a bit weird. Lots of people apparently deal with it, when it’s not chucking it down, by mooching on the beach (so long as there is a car park within a few metres). It’ll be deserted again next week :-)
aaaand… more wild weather. This morning in fact, and the reason for borrowing today’s shipping forecast for Lundy (this area) as a title for this post. Last ride of the year, it felt important to get out despite the 50mph, gusting 60+mph, wind, and spells of viciously intense rain mixed with ice pellets… I had been worried I might be getting soft ;-)  This is Cape Cornwall. I could easily have spent more time here but, the rain was relentless and windchill was becoming a problem for me having already been out for almost 3hrs at this point.. not to mention worries over water in my camera bag thanks to my saturated gloves.
There were a few brief spells of beautiful light along the Tin Coast. Looking down towards the Crown Mine engine houses here. It was low tide unfortunately, so not quite as spectacular as it might have been, but still a fabulous view. Again, only a brief stop for a snap from the trail, much as I would have liked to spend more time here. I chilled very quickly when stopped, and with a couple more hours to get home was quite keen not to let my energy levels drop. Times, and spots, like this do rather feel like Cornwall at its best.
Not a soul out….
The track to Botallack.
Wild. It is always worth it no matter how bad the weather.
Stopped by Lanyon Quoit for no other reason that I quite like this neolithic pile of rocks. Carn Galva in the background. The wild and empty Penwith moor is a favourite, and such a contrast to the coast just a few km away.
In the lanes near Grumbla. It can be hard to push myself out when the weather is crap, but oddly it’s easier when it’s really wild rather than just a heavy featureless drizzle. The rewards are much greater.

So there you have it, the last dregs of 2023. See you next year :-)

17 thoughts on “Westerly Storm Force 10 Decreasing Severe Gale Force 9”

  • And a Happy New Year to you too, sir! Going soft? … I don’t think so! I actually think it appears you’re going the other way as society softens around us … may 2024 bring more balance and cake! VBW

    Reply

  • I love your photos & reflections on life. No you are not soft. I paddled the adart in an open canoe a month or so back. It was minus 5 degrees. Pretending it was a SUP I paddled standing up, hit a rock & enjoyed a swim. Wishing you a peaceful year and fulfilling some of your dreams.

    Reply

    • Hi John, thanks for writing, and the kind words. Your paddle trip sounds great, hopefully no damage done! A happy new year to you too, may it be an excellent one!

      Reply

  • I feel the Range Rover in the Porthleven pic rather illustrated your point; absolutely no attempt to blend in with something that ungainly.

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  • Happy New Year to you Mike. I’ll never tire of your while-out-riding snaps, they bring the best bits of Cornwall to our eyes without us having to the burden of tourism on the Cornish countryside.

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  • I’ve missed a few of your updates this past year and need to retrace over them as, as ever, the photography and story behind them is A1. Have a great 2024 Mike.

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  • Happy new year to you, too!
    We´ll fly on the 5th to Mendoza, cycling southwards all the way to, hopefully, El Calafate. We read your inspiring blog…, we promise not to do as many daily miles as you did :-)
    Oh, and great pics, as always.

    Reply

    • oh fabulous, I’m very envious. I’d love to head back to the Andes. have a brilliant ride… will you be posting any pictures?
      as for the miles.. i was young and stupid…. ;-)

      Reply

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