Firstly most people are probably wondering, why? Why would you
want to cycle over 1000 miles, facing whatever the best of the
British weather can throw at you, with nothing more than you can
carry on your bike and still manage to turn the pedals!
Hmmm madness would probably be a very fitting answer. The truth
is an unfit, overweight, 45 year old, dedicating too much time to the
appreciation of fine wine and pizza! Then being hit with the loss of
his Father and the realization that you only get one chance at life!
Since that sad day last year (February 14th), I bought a road bike
and re-awakened my long lost boyhood passion for cycling, five
months later I announced to family that I would like to cycle from
John O Groats to Lands End, having convinced them I was serious,
Katie (my wife) insisted that I should not do the ride alone, Ok, so
who would be mad enough to want to go with me? Phillip! I emailed
him that night and almost by return a reply saying that he
too had always fancied a Lejog or Jogle!
It maybe madness and seem a huge endurance to undertake such
a trip, but my motivation is my Father, a modest man, a man who
endured a far bigger challenge, a fight for survival during one of
Europe’s coldest winters, as a WWII POW he was evacuated and
force marched across Poland and Germany, a journey that
constantly changed to avoid the Allies and lasted five months, a
journey covering almost 2000 miles on foot, a journey that claimed
more lives than those that survived, a journey that fills my heart with
pride, my Dad. So if I should have moments of despair and my
derriere starts to resemble that of a red ars** baboon, I will remind
myself of those that have truly suffered and gleely stamp down on
those pedals until the very end.
And so the planning and intensive training started, another 5
months on and almost 3 stone lighter, the transport booked to get to
John O Groats, it's time to tell the world or at least as many folk as I
can, with the aim to raise money for Marie Curie and give a little
back for the help and support they gave the family during my
Fathers final days.
So this ride is dedicated to my Dad Tony Lovemore, my hero....
You can follow the journey as we progress, both on www.twitter.com user name granfondouk and www.facebook.com Username Richard Lovemore
