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.

Tuesday, 8 March 2011

Caledonian MacBrayne

I've just calculated that I've visited the Isle of Mull on no fewer than 44 occasions, plus Iona, Lewis and Coll, which means around 100 journeys on the familiar black, white and red Calmac ferries.  And I'm (now) slightly ashamed to admit that I've been a little critical of Calmac in the past - mainly to do with the fact that you have to pay 20p to spend a penny at the Oban Ferry Terminal, and at Fionnphort on Mull (I know, it's a grumpy old man thing).


So today I'd like to sing the praises of Caledonian MacBrayne because they have promised to carry not just me and the bike but also the motorhome on our journeys across the Clyde (Gourock - Dunoon & Portavadie - Tarbert West), and to and from Mull and Skye.  This saves us a considerable outlay on what is fast becoming a rather expensive venture, so it's a great relief.  Special thanks go to Karen Moreland at Calmac HQ for taking the trouble to arrange things for us.

All this Scottish hospitality (which after 40+ visits to Mull is not surprising but just as welcome as ever) restores your faith in human nature, and even puts a spring in your step!

I'm been working for several days on the detailed route which is actually incredibly complicated, particularly wheh you have to factor in where to spend each night.  So often what looks like a caravan site turns out to be a static home park, which is no good to us of course.  But once again I have been really heartened by the number of site owners who have offered a free pitch for the night - my thanks to them all!
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