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.

Wednesday, 13 April 2011

A Not So Dry 'Dry Run'

Yesterday we got the motorhome prepared and loaded up, then drove to the beautiful market town of Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales (see picture taken when I walked the Pennine Way three years ago) to stay at the Caravan Club's Brown Moor site on the outskirts of town.

All seemed to go well apart from the fact that the fridge wasn't working en route, and although it was fine once we got hooked up to the on-site electricity supply, we found ourselves a bit marginal for ice for the pre-prandial G&Ts!

It's a very good site and the wardens, Ian & Ros McCall, were really friendly - Ros even made a donation to Cancer Research UK once she found out what we were doing.  The cooking facilities worked fine and so did everything else, and we learnt a few things about the heating system (very necessary as it was freezing last night!)

The satellite dish does lots of whirring and direction finding but we couldn't get a picture on the telly, so I suppose we'd better get that sorted out!  As you can see the sleeping arrangements are fine - mattresses slightly hard but OK. The smoke alarm started making a beeping noise every time we got near it or went over a bump in the road, but as soon as I took the battery out it was fine (OK, I'll fix it, don't worry).  Contrary to what most people on Facebook think, the bottle of wine isn't empty (or at least it wasn't when the photo was taken...)

Water & sanitary appliances all OK but I'm not sure I like emptying the toilet cassette thing. Val says it's a man's job but I disagree. I think it's anybody's job providing it's not me!

Driving very steadily I managed to get just over 25mpg, so the fuel sponsorship we've received from Primrose Garage, Texaco and Shell is very welcome but if any other oil companies are reading this, don't feel that you need to be left out!  By my calculations the sponsored fuel will run out after 1,900 miles and we've over 4,000 miles to do!

Next up is a briefing for all drivers on Saturday, the day before I do the Bay Dash, a 60-mile 'easy' sportive in the South Lakes, with two of the cyclists who'll be joining me for part of the Big Ride.

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