I'm a double cancer survivor, cyclist and walker who does various challenges for different charities, mainly cancer-related.

In 2016 I climbed every single 'Birkett' in the Lake District - all 542 fells over 1,000' within the National Park, including all 214 Wainwrights. I've also done a three-week cycle tour of Tasmania in February 2015 and amongst other things, I've cycled from Land's End to John o'Groats (2003), Rotterdam to Lemvig (Denmark) (2005), walked the Pennine Way (2008) completed (my first) ascent of all 214 'Wainwrights' in the Lake District in only 55 days (2009), cycled 4,500 miles around the coast of Great Britain (2011), cycled all 42 of the accessible Western Isles of Scotland in under a month (2012), twice abseiled 230 ft from the top of The Big One in Blackpool, cycled the WWI Western Front from London to Compiegne via Ypres and Arras (2014), cycled 750 miles in the Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton (2014), done a bit of sky-diving and cycled Australia's Great Ocean Road - just before lockdown in 2020.

Altogether I've raised over £120,000 for my charities including The Christie, Cancer Research UK, the Rosemere Cancer Foundation, and ABF (The Soldiers' Charity) and I was mightily chuffed to receive the British Empire Medal in the 2014 New Year's Honours List.

I'm a Rotarian and give illustrated talks about my adventures in exchange for a donation to charity, so if you're looking for a speaker leave me a message. I am also Event Organiser for the Ribble Valley Ride Cycle Sportive, to be held this year on Sunday 5 September 2021 - more details at www.ribblevalleyride.org

You can also follow me on Twitter - @CancerBikeMan and on Facebook - just search for Bill Honeywell

Cancer Research UK is the world's leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research, whilst The Rosemere does fantastic work for patients in Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Saturday 4 June 2011

Day 23 – Findhorn to Banff

56 miles: total mileage 1,565

First of all, own up all those who didn’t spot yesterday’s deliberate mistake – yesterday was Day 22, NOT 23!  Ah well, my fault, just not paying attention I suppose. I’ve put it right now.


















Today was the last day with son Mark and daughter-in-law Sandra crewing the van, and Mick Bryan as companion rider.  Not a very long day at a planned 57 miles, but it’s quite helpful finishing early when there’s a change of crew. The weather forecast was for cold and cloudy, and that’s how the day dawned.


















Our SatNav problem didn’t repeat itself, so we quickly set off, past RAF Kinloss where there is a superb Nimrod at the entrance. With only a light wind we managed a good pace, soon reaching Lossiemouth, where there is another RAF base: a Sea King helicopter was circling the town just to prove it.


















We found a cyclist who seemed to be in trouble, and when we stopped discovered that his chain had come off and seemed to have become hopelessly entangled around the bottom bracket. Mick and I (mainly Mick) soon got to work and freed it, then found that three of the links were bent out of shape, so we removed them and rejoined the ends of the chain with a snap-link.  Michael, the unfortunate cyclist, was very grateful and gave us a tenner for Cancer Research UK, which was very kind.


















It was further than we expected to Garmouth, our first planned stop. We cycled through more arable land – mainly wheat but with a field of lavender too.  In a small stretch of woodland a Buzzard took flight barely fifteen feet from me.


















With no sign of the motorhome where we expected it on the far side of Garmouth, we doubled back and found that Mark and Sandra had had a slight ‘wrongslot’, parking on the wrong road.  But this turned out to be good luck as we discovered that NCN 1 (National Cycle Network) ran from here over a disused railway bridge towards Buckie, where we were headed, so we took this and saved ourselves about three miles, as well as keeping closer to the coast.




































Buckie
































Findochty



















Cullen

There followed a succession of historic old fishing ports, all interesting and mainly picturesque too – Portgordon, Buckie, Findochty, Portnockie, Cullen and Portsoy – which slowed us down as we stopped to take in the scenery, but before long, and with the skies clearing, we arrived at the caravan site in Banff to find Mark and Sandra briefing new arrivals Peter & Gerry on the intricacies of the motorhome. Soon Dr Mark, spouse and Mick were on their way home and Peter & Gerry were fully at ease.



















Meanwhile yours truly emptied the chemical toilet and gave it a good clean. It’s a glamorous job this long-distance cycling!


1 comment:

  1. Logistics Manager4 June 2011 at 18:02

    Excellent blog Bill, liked the pictures especially the old Nimrod.

    ReplyDelete