Charles, an Interaction Practitioner with Us In A Bus, needs your help
with sponsorship!!
In September 2009 I will be cycling, alone, from Ness Point in Lowestoft to St David`s in Pembrokeshire to raise money for Us in a Bus.
The two places are the most Easterly and the most Westerly in a straight line, horizontally across England and Wales.
Us In A Bus is an independent, not-for-profit organisation working with people who are often isolated and can seem ‘difficult to reach’, people with profound learning difficulties. They may find the everyday things that we take for granted – talking to friends, sharing a joke or choosing what to eat – a huge challenge. This may also be because many have complex needs, often physical, which can make life difficult. What Us In A Bus does is to cut through these complexities and concentrate on what makes us all the same: connecting and communicating with each other in a way that means something to us all.
I need to raise £2500 to assist with the provision and maintenance of the vans required by us to carry on with the sessions in our service users homes. The demand for the service is increasing and we need to acquire another van to be used by another team of practitioners. Sponsorship; per mile or for the trip is the simplest and may produce the money needed, but assistance with the bicycle, maps, accommodation are all required to make the project a success
How it all began…………….
This cycle ride, to raise funds for Us in a Bus as part of the 20th Anniversary celebrations of Us in a Bus`s founding, has come about from a casual comment by one of my colleagues. “You could do something to raise money, couldn`t you Charles?”
Together we looked at ready made fundraising trips on various websites. To start with these all involved great expenditure and were not wildly exciting. Though not the most original of ideas either, my ride came to me on my way to work one day-a solo trip from East to West across Britain on my bicycle; something within my capabilities, if I trained for it, and requiring minimal outlay, on the assumption that I could find sponsorship.
At the beginning of June, as I write, the financial sponsorship is beginning to trickle in as a result of flyers handed out to people I deliver Riverford vegetables to on Saturdays! To make a success of the trip, I really need the support of a local bicycle shop, prepared to give some of their mechanics` time and possibly equipment too, either free or at least at a hugely discounted rate.
Help would be welcomed in the form of contacts for sponsorship; names of people I could contact with a view to staying with them on my way; people who might be able to help publicise my venture, and any other ideas that might be useful.
Support does not only have to be financial.
My route is shown on the 14 pictures below (click on "Charles' cycle route" to view). I hope the idea is of interest to you and please contact Us in a Bus if you think you can help.
Thank you.
Charles T Pollard
CHARLES' BLOG
4th September 2009
My last afternoon in the office before going to Southwold on Saturday and then on to Lowestoft on Monday.
Everything would seem to be in place. I have rescheduled myself, trying to go as far as I can on the Monday to balance the distances on the other days, but until I am underway I cannot really know how it will go.
I have spent the last few weeks commuting on my new bike. I progressively added all the bits I need, rack, panniers an extra light and then added weight to equal everything I would be carrying on my ride. I have also been on my weekend rides and culminated in conquering Leith Hill last weekend; riding through Holmbury, down towards Abinger and then up again to Coldharbour and home. (I have lived at the foot of Leith Hill for a little over 22 years and never cycled to Coldharbour before) .I felt fine, and even though I know Wales will be hillier I feel pretty confident that I can do it, especially as the last couple of days have been as windy as Cambridgeshire can be. And anyway, how could I get to Wales if I set off not feeling confident?
Lily and Caroline will, very kindly, be updating these notes as I phone in from my ride as well as the list of those who have supported me. The numbers of donations seem to be increasing as the time gets closer.
Monday 7th September 2009
The day finally arrived........ Charles set off this morning from Ness Point at 10am on the dot. Charlotte (wife), Caroline & David (colleagues & friends) were there to send him on his journey.
Charles phoned the Us in a Bus office at 3pm today to say that he’d cycled approx 45miles and that nothing terrible had happened so far, (we were all very pleased and relieved to hear this).
The weather was sunny when he started off this morning but is cooling now, some cloud and a little wind. Charles made a slight detour to Hoxne, this was to visit a house that had belonged to Charlotte’s late aunt and he took some photos (with his new camera). He also visited MADGETTS CYCLES LTD, in Diss, the cycle shop that are so kindly supporting us, he had a welcome cup of tea and a look around the bike shop.
He also mentioned that he was very pleased with the gifts that he’d received from the family, the Gel Cycling Pants from Alice and Charlotte and the new “small” camera from the family. Charles also asked me to pass on his thanks for all the good luck texts and e-mails that he'd received from friends, family, colleagues and supporters.
Charles is aiming for Coveney, west of Ely, for tonight’s stop-over. GOOD LUCK CHARLES.....
CHARLES – Setting off
Tuesday 8th September 2009
Charles phoned in a cheerful “report” at 2.30 today. Last night, he’d spent half an hour determining the right road at one point, which meant the end of his journey had been in the dark. This was compensated for by the very warm and sociable welcome he received from Doris Brenke at the Old School House in Coveney. He’s very grateful for the hospitality and interesting chat.
Charles was off to a later start than planned this morning – too much good conversation to go with the good breakfast – but made good time before lunch, crossing the A1 at Huntingdon at 12.30, which felt a little like leaving the East behind him. The countryside was changing, becoming more rolling and consequently more interesting from the cyclist’s point of view. He was no longer being buffeted by the wind, describing it as now being a presence rather than an arch enemy! Over lunch in a pub, he had found himself discussing the wonderful countryside with the barmaid and an Australian – agreeing what a joy it was to be passing through England in harvest time.
At 2.30 he was at Titchmarsh, between Kettering and Huntingdon, expecting to cross the M1 within the hour. He’d set himself an ambitious target for the rest of the day, hoping to be at Harbury, 12 miles short of Stratford on Avon to sleep tonight. He cheerfully described how each of his “map cards” that he’s prepared covers 30 miles; he has 25miles left on the current one and another 30 gets him to Harbury, so if he does “only” 10 miles an hour, he’ll be there by 8 tonight! I just hope the gel cyling shorts can take the pressure as well as he seems to be doing himself!
Wednesday 9th September 2009
An upbeat Charles phoned in his report at 1:30pm today. It’s all going well so far. He reached Harbury last night as planned after a very tough 95 mile day’s ride which was very windy and very hilly in places. There were lots of lovely spots to look at though. It got much tougher in the second half of the day and Charles got depressed at times.
At one point he got completely lost. It was near Braunston where there is a canal (Charles mentioned a wonderful narrow boat). There was no sign of the road which was definitely on his map and he ended up knocking on doors to get directions. Eventually someone was in and able to direct him so thank you to the young father with bleached hair holding a big white bulldog who was able to point out a farm track that eventually turned into a tiny tarmac road which brought him to Flecnoe and then he was back on track.
While he was getting directions the young man gave Charles some local history. Apparently all the inhabitants of Braunston who died of the plague were buried in Flecnoe churchyard. The sun was going down as Charles cycled past the church and he felt a wonderful foreboding atmosphere about it! The road then led him through some beautiful tiny villages.
Charles had a very welcome rest when he arrived at BraesideB&B in Harbury. Rosemary Harley was most welcoming. The room was nice and the breakfast lovely. Charles enjoyed his chat with her grandson William in the morning. Charles mentioned an amazing windmill outside Harbury. He has taken a photo and it will get posted on the website soon.
There was a tiny bit of rain when he was cycling last night and it rained during the night but it was a beautiful sunny day when he set off this morning. He got lost again once or twice in the depths of Worcestershire. Worcester cathedral is beautiful. Car drivers on the whole have been courteous but he noticed quite a difference in the city.
He has done about 50 miles so far today. He was 20 miles away from Bromyard when he phoned. He had originally planned to stay there tonight but now wants to push on further. Charles wants to get as far as possible in these first three days so that he can take it a bit easier towards the end of the ride. That’s the plan anyway but there is still the small matter of the Welsh hills/mountains looming. Charles plans to finish his ride on Friday all being well.
Thursday 10th Sept
Charles phoned in at 3.15 today to day to report that he has already reached the B & B he is staying at tonight – New Hall in Llanwrtyp Wells, after covering 45 miles today. He was anticipating a restful afternoon, but on his approach to the town, noticed that he could see the white wall of his back tyre – which was not what he should be seeing. Sure enough, closer inspection has revealed that he has a puncture in his puncture-proof tyre! So he’s just settling down to repair it now.
He didn’t push himself as far as he at one stage thought he might yesterday. [Good decision Charles!] He covered 75 miles and had a good night’s rest at Weobley. This was a beautiful little place in Herefordshire, that looked as if it had been transported from Suffolk – lots of half-timbered ancient buildings.
His response to our question “How are the hills?” was “Up and Down!” I guess we were asking for that. He says his legs, the bike and the weather are all doing what they can to make this trip work. The only physical discomfort so far is a numb left little finger!
He is aiming to cover 70 miles tomorrow, which will leave him just 30 to cover to his destination on Saturday. He reckons he is averaging about 10 miles an hour, and although the hills are slowing him down, he’s enjoying the downhill stretches very much.
Friday 11th September
Charles had a good run this morning as it was mostly main road, however after lunch the route was hard going with some “very hilly hills” to climb. He said he found some of the hills gruelling, he has at times realised why people thought he must be mad to do this trip!
He has been lucky with the weather, and it looks like this will continue tomorrow too! There's not a cloud in the sky in Wales today apparently! The country side is stunning and he has enjoyed taking in the views.
Tonight he is staying at the Twmpath Guest House, Maechlochog where he has received a very warm welcome and the kind offer of a fresh trout!
Only 35 miles to go!! Charles plans to arrive in St David's at about 1pm!
Saturday 12th September
UPDATE FROM CHARLES HIMSELF
Set off still full from my delicious and huge evening meal-of the promised trout-after lots of conversation with the charming Diane and her busy husband Ifor at a relatively leisurely pace. Thinking that I had 24 hours at least before being collected from St Davids and being less than 30 mile away from it took a lot of pressure off me. Weather still absolutely superb, scenery large and open, reminding me a little of Yorkshire and started to notice trees all bent in one direction by the prevailing wind and eventually catching glimpses of the sea, to the south. Road signs seemed to ignore, totally, that St Davids was not far off and again I found myself erring slightly as a result of a bit of a lack of detail on my map and no signs at the majority of junctions, but with minimal help from a local cyclist out doing his sprint tour who said, also a bit puzzled “St Davids is over there” waving in the direction of the rocky mounds in the distance, I rolled into the town at 1pm, phoned the office from the “square” and continued to St Justinians, a couple of miles further west, a beautiful rocky bay.
Arriving in St Davids was not as exhilarating as arriving at Maenchlochog at 3pm the previous day realising that with such a short distance to go to arrive at my target time “ I had done it!”. I felt quite emotional when that sank in. In St Davids I felt quite sad that it was all over but enjoyed my time, chatting with people and looking around.
For the evening I went the few miles up the road to Carnhedryn where Rhian Thompson made me welcome at her lovely Pentigili B&B. In the morning I met Shaun whom I had seen, but did not know him then, letting out sun- loungers and deck chairs at the very busy Whitesands Bay. He remembered my blue cycle helmet!
Everyone who put me up was so kind, charming and made it clear that nothing was too much trouble for them, treating me almost like some kind of hero, that apart from the totally unexpected near Mediterranean weather, it is their memory that I carried back with me. Without their support the whole project would have taken on different proportions and it is they who have made it the success it has become.
I will be posting pictures in the site soon-when I have had a chance to look through them and select relevant ones.
Thank you all who contributed to Us in a Bus.
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MILEAGE:
Charles has totted up his mileage and he cycled the grand total of 397 miles
Shame he couldn't have managed just another "3" miles!!
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TRIP UPDATE, CLICK BELOW:
How it all began-notes on the trip JULY09
TO VIEW MY CYCLE ROUTE CLICK BELOW:
"THANK YOU" TO ALL MY SPONSORS, CLICK BELOW:
