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.

Monday, 6 June 2011

Day 25 – Peterhead to Stonehaven

52 miles, total 1,664 miles

Peterhead is a great location for a caravan site – overlooking some of the busiest sections of the harbour there. I set off around 8.30 after a hearty breakfast and was soon spinning along country lanes leading to the Forvie National Nature Reserve.

I crossed a large estuary and thought for a moment I was in Wales – the River Ythan – with a superb block of modern residences overlooking.


















A busy section of main road followed, then an ‘elevenses’ break in Balmedie, where Peter (he says he isn’t a Cordon Bleu chef but he may as well be one) showed us how best to cut a cake – cut a circle in the middle, then slice as usual but leave the middle bit and cut into four – no thin pointy ends etc. It was Val’s Victoria Sponge so I hope she approves.



















After another busy road section I arrived in the Granite City of Aberdeen – very impressive, although with all that grey granite I was wondering what it would look like on a miserable wet day.












































The docks were busy but then afterwards there was an impressive headland with lighthouses, golf courses etc.  More country roads followed, through Cove Bay and Findon, past a massive new college building in Portlethen, and finally, after another busy dual carriageway, Stonehaven.

What annoyed me was the fact that on this section there was a cycle path to the left of the road, but much of it was unrideable – with stones, hardcore, broken glass and so on. If local authorities are going to provide these facilities, why don’t they maintain them?

Tonight we have been joined by Clitheronian (although he says he’s from Read) David Berryman, who works in the oil industry in Aberdeen.  He says he’s going to take us for a pint, so this blog is a bit rushed! I’ll catch up tomorrow – see you then!

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