We are delighted to have been able to match-fund for Barry Evans, Deputy Manager at Horsham Farm, who completed a bike ride from Lands’ End to John O Groats in aid of Action for Children along with his colleague, Dan. Below, Barry shares his journey:
“Dan and I have worked together for many years at Horsham Farm in Devon. Although Dan has since moved on (now working for Action For Children, for whom we were fundraising) we have remained friends. I mentioned to him while camping one night that I wanted to cycle Lands’ End to John O Groats. Dan was keen and plans were made!
Barry Evans standing with his bicycle in front of a sign indicating locations and the distances to them.
Originally set for the spring of 2020, but delayed by COVID, we eventually got going on August Bank Holiday this year and hoped to complete the ride in three weeks. We carried all our camping equipment on two heavily laden bikes.
Unfortunately Dan developed a knee problem and was forced to retire somewhere near Gloucester. Both of us were disappointed to not make it together, but I decided to carry on solo. I was lucky with the weather, hardly any rain, but some blisteringly hot days which necessitated being on the road for 05.00 to avoid the heat. It was a great day when I climbed Shap Fell and later in the day made it to the border with Scotland. Then a realisation of just how big Scotland is….
My mantra was ‘a day at a time’ and, soon enough, I approached the highlands. I enjoyed the ride through Glencoe and then followed the crease of Loch Lochy and Loch Ness. Near the end the terrain was horrible, but little by little and utterly sick of camping I finally finished on a wet and windy day at John O Groats.
