A big Pee for Pocklington

Day 4 of our Coast to Coast

They call Yorkshire God’s own Country and this trde really reminded us all of why. It really has everything. 

Today we started off in the picturesque town on Pocklington, after talking a long walk around the centre. Lots of small businesses and the sort of market town that has disappeared in much of Britain.

The ride took us through Yorkshire Wolds (hill’s with woodland and open country) and hardly any traffic.

Lunch at the Crosskeys in Driffield and really looked after by Lee the very kind landlord who made a donation to our fund. Thanks Lee.

                                                     

Then on to the beautiful Burton Agnes stately home for tea and ice cream.

Richard Bircher joined us for this ride and his company is always great.

And finally down to the North Beach at Bridlington, toes in the sea, a photo shoot of course and then to the bar of the Ransdale for a celebratory drink.

Ricard Jacobs took Richard Bircher back to Pocklington to collect his vehicle and drive up to Durham during the evening.

While it was exhilarating to finish the ride successfully there was more than a little sadness that it is over. A tough challenge on a wonderful route and we would recommend it to everyone.

We reached our target which is even more satisfying.

Thank you to all our sponsors.

Are we nearly there yet/

Day 3 of our Coast to Coast

Are we nearly there yet?

Today we did the  52 miles from Ripon to Pocklington passing through some lovely Yorkshire places. 

Like Roecliffe, Boroughbridge, and York. Mostly downhill which was quite a change from yesterday.  

Lunch was at the  Dawnay Arms in Newton on Ouse and that where we met cancer survivor George from Troon in Ayrshire. What a guy. He had already cycled 1200 miles around Scotland and England and was on the 600 miles back home. Simple old bike (no eBike for George) and all his kit in a rucksack

He is raising money for Ayrshire Cancer Campaign. It made us feel quite humble.

The route into York was alongside the River Ouse and was just for cyclists and pedestrians. Great.

York was overflowing with tourists but that was no surprise.

The journey form York to Pocklington was across very well organised farmland. EU subsidies for agriculture help but they still voted OUT. I really don’t understand. Enough of that.

Approaching Pocklington we were excited to see that they had put up flags and bunting to welcome us. Then found out it was for something else. Mabe Donald Trump's visit to London?

The Feathers at Pocklington is a really nice place to stay. Dinner at Judson’s was worth travelling to Pocklington for.

Tomorrow is our final day and I think we will all be very sad, but Trustee Richard Bircher will join us and that’s always a bonus 

Day 2 Settle to Ripon

Lycra used to be everyone’s favourite cycling thing. Now it’s batteries.

Day 2 of our Coast to Coast for Kids was the most difficult day ever. It meant crossing the Pennines from the lovely town of Settle and finishing 44 miles on in Ripon.

After a wonderful seafood linguine at Matteo’s in the square a great nights sleep at the King William 4th bed and breakfast and straight into Settle’s infamous hill climb. 

A cold and rather overcast day. There’s something about Pennine hills. You think you are nearing the summit and then another more distant one appears, again and again. A sort of mirage.

Great pub In Appletreewick where battery recharge was done. Just as well we did because the subsequent 24 miles to Ripon just about flattened mine and Richards. Bob did rather better. I say it’s because he has less weight to take up the hills but maybe he is just stronger!

We were surprised to see Llamas grazing on the top of the Pennines.

White Horse Inn for the night and rides get easier from here on.

Day one War of the Roses

Well it should read Way of the Roses but some of the hills east of Lancaster made me feel like I’d been at war.
Meet up for breakfast at the Art Deco Midland Hotel in Morecambe and then of course a photo shoot at Eric Morecombe’s statue on the lovely promenade. I believe there are plans to create a garden like the famous Cornish one and this could really rejuvenate what is a lovely seaside town.

The first 9 miles was along a wonderful cycle path, vert well signposted and with an excllent surface. Its worth going to Morecambe for this alone.

Lucky timing for lunch when it rained for an hour. The on over some of the most wonderful scenery in England. And what a joy to be able to take our time and see it all with hardly any traffic at all.

A great day finishing at Settle at about 4 0m after covering 30 miles. Now a rest and a nice meal tonight.

Two weeks to go!

There will be 5 of us starting the Way of the Roses, Coast to Coast Ride on May 28th although Chris Bishop and Richard Bircher will only be with us for day 1. Work won't permit any more time off.
Peter, Bob Blundell and Richard Jacobs plan to do the full journey.

We will be taking 4 days to do the 170 miles and there will be no speed record attempted.

All the money raised will help to fund the build of a new school for deaf children in Jinja, Uganda. The land had been purchased and we are working with our partners in Jinja in thinking through the most suitable design.

Sponsors are really welcome and the link below makes it easy.

SPONSORS PLEASE DONATE HERE

Why Francis de Sales?

Our partners in Jinja, Uganda, led by Sebastian Waiswa, have this week made a start on the building of their special school which will help deaf children and also provide space for medical reviews for children who are deaf and those with eyesight problems. It will also become the operating home for his Organisation for the Parents of Deaf Children. (OPDC)

Teaching deaf children Sign Language will be an important part of its work.

The school will be named after St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of the deaf and of journalists.

Francis was French, born 1567 near Annecy, with very rich parents who had hopes that he would marry well and become a magistrate. They invested in the very best education for him both in Annecy and in Paris.

But Francis had other plans and entered the church becoming Bishop of Geneva, a city he only visited twice because of the very strong Calvinist opposition which he experienced there.

He persisted in his religious work and is credited with being the first person to distribute handbills to householders telling then of his work. Hence his link to journalists.

But he also invented what is thought to be the first example of sign language for the deaf. This was needed for him to communicate with a young servant who helped him.

We are helping Sebastian with his project but he is also doing some great fundraising himself among his contacts and supporters in Jinja. This will be a locally designed projects and many of the parents are already helping to build it.

Land has been purchased and 10,000 bricks were delivered last week.

Trustees Peter, Bob, Richard and Chris together with Rotarian Richard Jacobs will be doing a UK Coast to Coast Cycle Ride in May as a fundraiser for this project. Sponsorship would be welcome.

LINK IS HERE

News from Charlotte who was a long term Trustee

Many of you will remember when Charlotte visited Uganda with a team a few years ago. We sent some pictures of her wedding and I know they are still on the wall in some of the schools. She was a wonderful Trustee and a great fundraiser. When she had to resign dur to family and new baby duties we appointed her as a HUGS AMBASSADOR.

Well now there is a little one. And here are some pictures of new baby with Charlotte and Steve, her husband.

Baby is called Allegra.