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 12 May 2012

Hopping on and off the Small Isles

Early start this morning, catching the 0730 ferry from Mallaig to visit Canna, Muck and Eigg. The day was bright, the sea calm. It's a six-and-a-half hour trip, full of enjoyable, dramatic views, and after Rum, the first port of call (which we visited yesterday) we continued north to Canna. We also picked up passengers from Rum, including Sophie, a girl from Sabden - only four miles from our home town of Clitheroe, so we found plenty to talk about.

Canna, and its neighbour Sanday, looked stunning. We nipped down the ramp and got a quick photo to prove we'd been there.

On the way to Muck we encountered a pod of 20 - 30 Common Dolphins who were keen to show off, leaping out of the water off the port bow for a short while. They vanished as quickly as they had appeared. Magical.

Muck, then Eigg (where Sophie disembarked) saw repeat performances of the Canna 'shuffle' and then it was back to Mallaig.

My overall impression of the trip was 'don't do it this way unless you have to - it must be far better to get off and spend a day or two on each island if you can.
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1 comment:

  1. Anonymous11 June 2012 at 19:11

    Hi Bill
    Sorry it has taken me so long to post you something! I just found your blog address in my coat pocket- haven't had to where it for the past few weeks- it reached over 30 degrees on Eigg a few weeks ago!
    Thank-you for the mention, it was great chatting to you both and hope the rest of the trip was a success. I imagine you are now back in Clitheroe planing the next adventure.
    All the best
    Sophie

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