Cornwall Group - Cape to Cape Scenic Tour
To prove that not all TRs spend the winter in hibernation, Pete and Ju Probst accepted an invitation to take part in the 2019 Cape to Cape Scenic Car Tour of Cornwall.
The event was run as a precursor to the 2019 Cape to Cape Grand Tour Classic Car Rally, which this year will start at Cape Trafalgar in South West Spain and finish at Cape Cornwall near Land's End.
The Grand Tours have been held over a number of years to raise funds and awareness for Macmillan Cancer Support.
You will find images of the coffee stop at The Lost Gardens of Heligan in our Gallery section.
Here is the story in Pete's own words:
The tour started from Alverton Manor, Truro in heavy rain showers, with hood up, driving along lots of narrow mud strewn lanes with grass growing along middle. At Golden Mill, near Grampound, we were treated to a cross country trip on a private, gated, gravel road through farm fields, potholes and more mud. (Navigator, not impressed, got muddy!) We were among the last three or four cars to set out from Truro so did not get to The Lost Gardens of Heligan till about 12 for our coffee stop.
From Heligan we progressed via Pentewan, Fowey and Lanlivery to Lanhydrock Golf Club, light showers of rain with not quite so much mud. Arriving at Lanhydrock, most cars were leaving, however, along with two other teams in a Mini (real one) and MGA we settled to our carvery. We left there as last car, but the lid was down. The Mini and MGA had to leave the tour at that point.
From Lanhydrock we went down to Respryn Bridge and through Newbridge and Labell Woods (straddling the A38 along from Bodmin Parkway) and onto Cardinham with mud, bits of tree and slippery leaf mould. Following some more open and drying road onto Blisland, going over the A30 at Preeze Cross, we continued to St Mabyn. After that we turned south to Washaway and back onto little lanes and steep hills in the woods to Polbrook Bridge. The route took us down the 1:4 (28.5%) Hustyn Hill (as once used in the Land's End Trial.) Surprisingly there was mud, running water, gravel and other exciting debris lying around. We enjoyed the open road over St Breock Down before joining the A39 at Winnard's Perch and letting the 6 stretch a bit via Fraddon and Ladock back to Truro.
As expected the 6 performed perfectly and we enjoyed the drive greatly.
If anyone wants to sponsor us in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support or Nigel and Rose Stephens, who are taking part in the real Cape to Cape, I am happy to pass any donations onto them.