Thought it's probably time to update the Blog

Well it's been awhile since I updated the blog ... sadly Dad has hung up his cycling shoes and his boots and has put his feet up! He's got a more sedentary lifestyle now having moved into a care home back in January 2024. Following a diagnosis of dementia in March 2023, Dad declined quite quickly and after a few spells in hospital and a few months having help at home Dad decided he could no long cope or felt safe at home so he moved into a local care home. If I'm honest I don't think Dad would still be with us if he hadn't have made the move into care, he had kind of given up at home and kept saying he'd had enough ! Care homes get a bad press, but Dad has enjoyed being cared for with no worries for himself or for me.

So nearly 3 years later Dad has just celebrated his 92nd Birthday ! Of course I had to find him a card with bikes on and the first thing he said when he opened it is "look a bike" !  We talk about his cycling and his many adventures ... he could probably still tell me the size of his racing bike frame or the size of the wheels, but not what he had for lunch ! It's been 17 years since Dad cycled the coast of Britain and 16 years since he cycled the coast of Ireland, it really doesn't feel that long ago.

Dad is always happy when people ask about him, he says things like "at least I've not been forgotten", as if he would be forgotten ! I'm off to see him later, so I will tell him I've updated his blog because people still ask how he is doing. 

I will try and keep the blog updated a bit more frequently !

12 Years since Dad set off cycle the coast of Britain

Well good old Facebook reminded me today that it is 12 years since Dad set off from Keele to ride over to Liverpool for the start of his cycle ride round the coast of Britain ! Where has that time gone !

The route !

 

The Start

and he was off !

Unfortunately Dad doesn't ride his bike no more ... but the bike is waiting for me to take up the saddle and follow in his wheels !

Well hasn't 2020 been a strange year so far !

Dad is keeping well ... no longer riding the bike but still out most days for a walk. They closed the car parks on two of his favourite walks at the start of lockdown so he walked along the canal instead - it's nice and flat !

Just recently the car parks have re-opened so he is back to his usual walk keeping a social distance from others !

Been lovely to see people out and about walking and cycling in their local areas. I've walked around my local streets and followed the routes that I used to take walking to school. It used to feel such a long way when you were a kid !

Hope everyone is keeping well and safe. Stick to the guidelines the best you can and then hopefully we will be through this strange time more safely and with a bit of luck more quickly.

It's 8 years since Dad set off on his ride round the coast of Britain

How time flies ... it's been 8 years since Dad set off on his ride around the coast of Britain at the grand age of 74. Unfortunately Dad doesn't ride anymore, not since his heart op but he got the best part of 80 years of riding in before he hung up the bike (or whatever it is you do with a bike!).  The bike is now waiting for me to take up riding ... that saddle will need to be lowered so my feet reach the floor for a start!

We made lots of news friends with the blog and fellow coast of Britain riders. Dad even inspired a few to ride the coast when they heard of his trip.  Many of them are still riding and off on new adventures on their bikes.

I learnt about lots of places around the coast of Britain whilst writing the blog ... even now my ears will prick up when I hear a place name of somewhere I know Dad rode through, so what I didn't learn in Geography at school I learnt from my Dad's travels :)

Coast of Britain - 7 years

It's 7 years today since Dad finished his cycle around the coast of Britain ... and to quote Dad "I wished I could do it again". Alas his fitness is not what it used to be and he's not been on the bike for awhile. However he did read his blog about the trip again and there was a lot he'd forgotten !

Here are a few photos of the finish after 4,500 miles of cycling !

Heading in for the finish line

Victory salute !

The finish line

Well deserved pint with the bike

I think he deserved it !

The Bike !

The route .... we kept tabs on where he'd been !

It's been 7 years ...

Well the 1st June 2009 is the day Dad started his cycle round the coast of Britain and put an extra 4,500 miles on the pedals. I can't actually believe it was 7 years ago ! 

There have been quite a few "round the coast" cyclers since! I remember when we were researching the ride we couldn't find much information on other cyclists who had done the same. However during Dad's ride Mike Carter (a journalist writing an article for The Guardian) was cycling in the opposite direction to Dad. They meet up twice ... once at John o'Grouts (article here) and again in St Davids.


The following are a few links on Dad's trip.

Here is a link to Dad's blog for his ride around the coast for anyone thinking of doing the same The Start

Here is a YouTube video of Dad talking about his trip

An article in the local newspaper  

Dad is back from his travels

Well he's back ... not even a strike by Lufthansa could stop him ! Folk from his party were scattered around various airports in the UK but Dad flew back to Manchester and even managed to get back earlier than his original flight!

He's had a good couple of weeks ... apparently the first week was too hot the second week too cold ... there ain't pleasing some folks !