A Ride With Nige Late January 2005
Wadebridge to Helland Bridge
Is it me or is it that the hint of Spring gets earlier and earlier. I travelled upriver in full daylight today (unusual for me, my trips are normally pre-dawn), I took photos of not only riverside Snowdrops but Primroses and even Campion.
There are two great advantages of cycling the Trail at this time of the year - a quiet trail in terms of human use, and, undisturbed wildlife which ventures closer to the Trail and the lack of vegetation enables you to see so much more.
The great advantage of travel by bike is the silent approach and the speed at which you meet up with our feathered and four legged friends. I came face to face with a Buzzard that I could almost reach out and touch - he in turn cast a rather languid eye in my direction, decided I was not worth bothering with and just pushed off his branch. Likewise I surprised a Heron and a pair of Jays.
The whole trip up to Helland Bridge was a joyous experience and resounded to the sounds of the birds in full voice, streams feeding the main river - just a trickle in the Summer- tumble down rock faced escarpments and added to the general feeling of a foretaste for Spring.
Yet another Winter bonus is that minor roads are relatively quiet so I ventured off the Trail at Helland and made my way over to see friends at St Mabyn for a very welcome hot cup of coffee and then on back down to Wadebridge. It really was the perfect way to spend a morning - highly recommended.

Did you know? The Railway line from Wenford Bridge with branches to Bodmin and Ruthern Bridge cost just £21,882 and opened on the 4th July 1834.

A Ride With Nige Pages
January March
Go To Destination Cornwall Web Site For Local Information Go To Bridge Bike Hire Web Site For Full Information