Story
UPDATE: I've finished! I arrived back in Trowbridge at 4pm on Sunday having cycled 213 miles including some spectacular scenery and some very painful 9200 feet of climbing (two-and-a-half Snowdons!).
A fantastic thank-you to everyone who sponsored me - you've made it all very worthwhile.
I've added a few photos which describe the journey.
For those of you who like details:
Day 1:
Land's End - Penzance - Marazion - Leedstown - Camborne - Redruth - Chacewater - Truro - St Austell - Lostwithiel - Liskeard - Callington - Gunnislake - Tavistock - Two Bridges - Postbridge - Moretonhampstead - Cranbrook Down
112 miles
8 hrs 53 mins (not including rest stops)
Day 2:
Cranbrook Down - Dunsford - Exeter - Broadclyst - Broadhembury - Smeatharpe - Staple Fitzpaine - Hatch Beauchamp - Langport - Somerton - Castle Cary - Bruton - Batcombe - Nunney - Frome - Brokerswood - Trowbridge
101 miles
7 hrs 41 mins (not including rest stops)
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On 25 - 26 September 2010 I'll be cycling from Land's End back home to Trowbridge to raise money for Robin Hood Ministries.
They are a Trowbridge based charity whose projects include bore wells providing safe drinking water in India, a medical centre in Romania, a childrens home in Nepal and two orphanages in Haiti. Their orphanages in Haiti were badly damaged by the recent earthquake and a special appeal has so far raised over £13,000, most of which has already been spent repairing the damage and buying new land to extend the orphanages and allow vegetables and fruit to be grown to provide sustainable funding.
The charity work with many small projects internationally aiming to change lives by releasing communities from poverty. Their philosophy is to focus on particular geographical areas and to work with existing project team workers, empowering them by providing funding, training, equipment and expertise to make projects sustainable and enable people to take control of their own lives.
Robin Hood Ministries also run child sponsorship programmes in Romania and Nepal ensuring the children have access to food, clothing, education and medical care. My wife and I started sponsoring two boys in Nepal following a recent trip to visit my parents who were working in the country and I would really encourage anyone reading this to consider sponsoring a child as it is amazing being able to see the incredible impact a small amount of money can have on these children's lives.
Please consider sponsoring me on my cycle ride and give generously. Any amount, however small can have a massive impact on some of those trapped by poverty.
Many thanks
Matt
P.S. Many of you have been asking for details of how many miles it is, what route I'm taking etc.
I'm doing the trip solo and my plan is to take the bike down to Penzance on the train on Friday afternoon, camp near Land's End on Friday night and then cycle back throughout Saturday and Sunday, camping somewhere around Dartmoor on the way back.
It's just over 200 miles and I've got a lightweight 1-man tent so not too much weight to carry. The route I'm taking is mainly on B-roads and country lanes so avoiding the worst of any heavy traffic.
I hope to make it back to Trowbridge by mid-afternoon on the Sunday.
A fantastic thank-you to everyone who sponsored me - you've made it all very worthwhile.
I've added a few photos which describe the journey.
For those of you who like details:
Day 1:
Land's End - Penzance - Marazion - Leedstown - Camborne - Redruth - Chacewater - Truro - St Austell - Lostwithiel - Liskeard - Callington - Gunnislake - Tavistock - Two Bridges - Postbridge - Moretonhampstead - Cranbrook Down
112 miles
8 hrs 53 mins (not including rest stops)
Day 2:
Cranbrook Down - Dunsford - Exeter - Broadclyst - Broadhembury - Smeatharpe - Staple Fitzpaine - Hatch Beauchamp - Langport - Somerton - Castle Cary - Bruton - Batcombe - Nunney - Frome - Brokerswood - Trowbridge
101 miles
7 hrs 41 mins (not including rest stops)
--
On 25 - 26 September 2010 I'll be cycling from Land's End back home to Trowbridge to raise money for Robin Hood Ministries.
They are a Trowbridge based charity whose projects include bore wells providing safe drinking water in India, a medical centre in Romania, a childrens home in Nepal and two orphanages in Haiti. Their orphanages in Haiti were badly damaged by the recent earthquake and a special appeal has so far raised over £13,000, most of which has already been spent repairing the damage and buying new land to extend the orphanages and allow vegetables and fruit to be grown to provide sustainable funding.
The charity work with many small projects internationally aiming to change lives by releasing communities from poverty. Their philosophy is to focus on particular geographical areas and to work with existing project team workers, empowering them by providing funding, training, equipment and expertise to make projects sustainable and enable people to take control of their own lives.
Robin Hood Ministries also run child sponsorship programmes in Romania and Nepal ensuring the children have access to food, clothing, education and medical care. My wife and I started sponsoring two boys in Nepal following a recent trip to visit my parents who were working in the country and I would really encourage anyone reading this to consider sponsoring a child as it is amazing being able to see the incredible impact a small amount of money can have on these children's lives.
Please consider sponsoring me on my cycle ride and give generously. Any amount, however small can have a massive impact on some of those trapped by poverty.
Many thanks
Matt
P.S. Many of you have been asking for details of how many miles it is, what route I'm taking etc.
I'm doing the trip solo and my plan is to take the bike down to Penzance on the train on Friday afternoon, camp near Land's End on Friday night and then cycle back throughout Saturday and Sunday, camping somewhere around Dartmoor on the way back.
It's just over 200 miles and I've got a lightweight 1-man tent so not too much weight to carry. The route I'm taking is mainly on B-roads and country lanes so avoiding the worst of any heavy traffic.
I hope to make it back to Trowbridge by mid-afternoon on the Sunday.