“No,” would be a good starting point.

 

Knowing Rory as I do and realising he’s not someone who rushes into things lightly I did the next best thing, I decided to join him. 

 

Immediately I began thinking of cycling through France and Italy, over the Alps and taking in part of the Tour de France route and all of a sudden it was all possible. Rory would be able to fit in his studies as he’s already a keen cyclist and so he’d be out on the roads anyway so why not make it all worth something and turn it into the challenge of a lifetime for both of us?

He’d be off to University in September and this may be our last chance to do something as big as this together as father and son. It would mean lots of late nights and hard work for Rory but he would have experienced a very special summer.

Organisation began in October 2008.

 

The reason you do something as ambitious as this is for the challenge and wanting to prove something. I have been a keen cyclist in my time and have never lost the interest in adventure and so this was a great opportunity to feed this desire and raise some money at the same time. As I mentioned earlier, the chance to spend this time with Rory was also a major influence on making the decision to go ahead.

 

Two wheels, tent, provisions, oh, and... puncture outfit, cycle cape, Kendal Mint Cake...

If this is your image of what’s needed for a cycle trip then let me bring you up to date. Maybe if I’d been going on my own, the list would have looked something similar but when you are in a family who use modern technology as a way of life it becomes almost science fiction.

 

First there was the supporting website –  www.home2rome.webs.com, a GPS system – bit like a satellite navigation system – mobile phones, a daily blog and e-mail, all powered by solar panels. Our ‘sat nav’ became our best friend, female by the way, and called Natalie. We loved her and she was the third member of our team. The website was a great way to keep in touch with supporters and we never felt alone. Even shortly after setting off from home to reach our first stop in Birmingham we’d been spotted by a troop of scouts from Macclesfield and a good luck message was left on the site.   

 

The first thing you notice when you cross the Channel is the attitude of drivers towards cyclists. We had many occasions where people would stop to have a chat, offer us food and drink or shelter. Wherever we were, people were interested in what we were doing - far more than the public here in England. I think the cyclist has a higher status on the continent whereas in England we’re viewed as being a bit of a nuisance and perhaps a bit odd. Cyclists get in the way of the car and why cycle when you can ride?

My daughter Ciara, who at 20 is two years older than Rory, made signs for the bikes which explained what we were trying to achieve and why we were doing it. The Dutch especially thought we were mad to attempt to cycle so far.

 

There were no bad days. I can say hand on heart there was never a day where I woke up thinking: “I can’t face another ride.” It was so wonderful to be surrounded by all this lovely scenery and to be taking part in such a challenging adventure. There was a routine to the day and some things which we looked forward to as key points which kept us going such as our ‘elevenses’. I admit it must seem odd to be continuing this tradition while on a bike trip but it’s amazing how the thought of a cappucino can keep you motivated!

When you agree to take up a challenge such as this you are agreeing to see it through to the end. People are putting trust in you to reach the finish and are giving you money because they believe in you and the cause you are representing. No matter how you feel during the experience you keep this in your mind and it’s often a comfort to remember this during the difficult times.

We were representing two very deserving charities: Francis House Children’s Hospice and Dis+Abled Together. We were also carrying 160 letters addressed to the Pope from the children of St Peter’s Catholic Junior School of Hazel Grove in Stockport and we carried the expectations of family, friends and even people we’d never met.

 

No pressure then? There really was no pressure because we were never going to stop in our determination to reach St Peter’s in Rome.

 

Without question, passing over the Alps after three days and looking back and saying: “We’ve done that.”

An Australian woman who passed me in the Alps:

 “How’s it going,” she asked.

“OK, hard work but, OK,” I replied.

“Of course you’re carrying a lot of weight,” she commented.

“Oh, thanks!”

Wobbling up the road, the penny drops and she shouts back: “I meant your bike, not you!”   

 

Cycling into St Peter’s in Rome at the very end knowing how far we’d come to reach this point to finish in such an inspiring place and the surprise visit of my wife – Rory’s mum – Sheena.

 

If you have an appetite for adventure and the desire to experience something not many have the opportunity to do, then don’t put it off. Just go ahead and do it. It’s easy to dream about making a trip such as this, dream year after year, and then find your life has too many strings to allow you to make your escape.  

 

I can’t think of a negative aspect of the trip and it strengthened my relationship with my son to an even higher level. I’m fortunate to have been able to make the journey and share the experience with my family, with everyone playing a part in making the event such a success.

 

I did lose something:  a stone in weight during the trip and a stone during the training but I gained so much – we both did.

We raised £4,000 and Francis House will benefit by £2,000 as a result. I’d like to say a big “thanks” to all the supporters who kept us going along the way and assure them their money is going to help support the work of two excellent charities.

 

I’ll do it again one day but take my time and spend about three months doing it.

 

Many thanks on behalf of myself and Rory,

 

Mike Nolan