Right, as I sit here in a room full of too much stuff for two panniers, almost ready to go, I thought it worthwhile providing the background to this journey. I have been staggered with the response from everyone in getting behind this, but I'm sure there are some who aren't fully aware of the reasons behind it. So, to quote the ageless Cilla Black, "here's our Gordon with a quick reminder..."
To put this all into context, in January this year my father passed away after a short fight against liver cancer. He suddenly became ill in October; terminal cancer was diagnosed soon after and he was given 2 weeks. It is hard to put into words the impact that this diagnosis had on those closest to him, most descriptions would be an understatement. Being given two weeks to live is utterly brutal. However, Dad fought and we moved him to the
Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice where they could provide the specialist care he needed. To everyone's amazement, Dad recovered enough strength to make it home, where he was desperate to spend his last days/weeks. As a result he enjoyed his last 2 months at home surrounded by family and close friends. Undoubtedly, without the truly inspirational Hospice, we would not have enjoyed this most precious time. It really is only when you know you have a finite time left, that you become grateful for every day gained.
Pretty soon after Dad died, I knew I wanted to do something to help the Hospice that had done so much for us. After a few weeks, I had the idea of a sponsored bike journey. Lu and I knew a bit about a ride that Dad did with school friends 50 years ago. I contacted a couple of his his cycling contemporaries who advised on the route and plenty of stories about the what group of 17 year olds got up to. You can read more about this pioneering ride
here.
The idea of following in my father's cycle tracks took shape and developed as the best possible way I could repay the wonderful staff at the Hospice. I'll be covering about 4000kms through France and Spain over about 2 months. Setting off from Calais on 5th August, through Normandy, the Loire Valley, across the Massif Central and into the Alps. At this point I'll be joining up with 150 cyclists to take part in a 4 day road race in the Alps for Help for Heroes, just to make sure the ride is challenging enough. Then I'll head off across the Pyrenees, and down the east coast aiming to finish in Tarifa, the southern most point in Spain, on 12th October.
So, this ride is for the Hospice, in memory of my father, who I look forward to raising a cold beer to when I get to San Feliu de Guixols, in Spain, where Dad finished his adventure.
I'm delighted to have the company of a good friend, Humph (formal introduction on the way), who has so far committed to completing the French leg of the journey with me. We'll see if a month in lycra cycling 100kms a day leaves him feeling pumped to carry on through Spain or happy never to see a bike again!
So do follow the journey. It'll be entertaining, challenging, tough and I'm sure will have it s fair share of comedy moments. If Humph pulls out his pink lycra to kick off with, it might even be over before it begins....
Thanks to you all for getting behind this - really makes it worthwhile. And for anyone still wanting to support, there is still plenty of
time!
Charlie
