Cycle For Hope

Report from Gareth - Leg Six

admin — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:10:25 +0000

Andy’s thoughts after a few days at home

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:41:13 +0000

I’m sitting up in Coleraine, writing this as I lie on a big squishy sofa watching friends on a 42 inch tv, eating a box of original pringles and sipping on a diet coke. Sounds like a fun time to your average 20 year old male, though why do the pringles not taste amazing? Why is the diet pepsi not satisfying?

As I flew home from Cape Town on the 17th I thought I was ready to take on the Western world again, ready for the comforts we all take for granted, time after time. I’ve been here 3 days now and I’m already bored, longing for adventure -craving the simplicity that has been my life for the past 6 and a half months. Why do you never appreciate things until they’re gone? Cycle from a to b, get some food, sit around a camp fire with your mates and gaze at the stars. Now I have to worry about getting a job, going to university, and on top of it all I’m being bombarded by all the rubbish associated with western society, I’ve already spent 100 pounds on clothes I didn’t need! It’s going to be really tough not to slip back into such a common materialistic view on life.

One thing I am happy about is getting to see my family and friends again as well as my girlfriend Grace, it was quite an emotional reunion and it’s only when I recite all the tales of our travels do I realise what an amazing life changing trip I have just completed.

I’ve had many ups and downs over the past 6 months, and I wouldn’t change a single thing, for I’ve definitely learnt more about myself as I’ve struggled and been frustrated and angry and sad than when I’ve been comfortable and cruising. I’ve learnt what it’s really like to rely on your friends to get by, when teamwork is the only thing that keeps you going and most importantly how to give up that last piece of chicken for someone else!

Over the past 6 months I’ve learnt to question everything, to wrestle with all the spiritual issues that before would be pushed to the back of my mind. I owe this all to the patience and dedication of my friends as we sat around the camp fire night after night praying and searching for something real that only God can give. Without their guidance and discipline I would have struggled to discover the things God had to show me.

I can only hope and pray that I won’t forget the amazing things I have seen. The humble church with nothing to give inviting us to sleep on the floor, the sound of the whole village running to wave at the
‘toubabs’ as they cycle past or the smile on the face of a small child as I give him my empty plastic bottle to play with. I can only hope that the things that truly matter in life remain in the forefront of my mind and I hope that I struggle to settle into my old way of life, that I’m convicted to make a change and to inspire others to do the same.

Wherever life may take me, whatever plans I have next, I hope I can make a difference for the kingdom of God.

Saturday 12the June Cape Town, South Africa

admin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:37:54 +0000

So it’s all over and we have a few days break…well a break from cycling anyway. It’s been mad trying to clear things up and sort everything out. We are currently at the SA-France rugby game and have our final farewell meal with the team tonight before people go their separate ways. I’m sure it will be emotional as we say goodbye to people who have become like family in many ways. We have been through so much and will be good to get home and meet up again. Ollie is going to have to come to NI for a visit as he won’t have any others who he can share with who have been through it all.

It has been life changing but don’t think it will all sink in for a while. Seems like we’re walking around in a daze sometimes and is a really bizarre feeling.

God has been so good to us and we value the prayers and support of everyone who has been behind us throughout. You have no idea how much it has meant to us. We can only say thanks!

I can’t begin to evaluate this all but so much has happened and we have had an amazing time. So many highs and lows but God has brought us through them all.

A special thanks to Annette who has been at home all this time making sure everything has worked out ok and without who none of this would have been possible. She has done a great job behind the scenes and we really have appreciated everything she has done.

So thanks to everyone and we’ll hopefully have more stories and reflections on the website over the next few weeks or so.

Marks Thoughts at the end of the cycle

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:13:59 +0000

The day has finally come, heading into Cape Town now on four wheels rather than our conventional all terrain two wheeled vehichles. The city has a real buzz in the air, cars driving around sporting different national flags and the enthusiastic and proud south african people welcoming us everywhere (though I’m trying to blend in with my South Africa top on). After six long and tough months, being here for this is something I think we will all enjoy. Over the time here, there were times when things did not go as we had planned but the phrase “this is Africa” usually summed it up. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone from all over the world, following our journey on the blog, the people along the way who gave us great hospitality when we were in need and for all the prayerful support while we travelled. Without this all our journey would have been impossible. For the support and encouragement before we left, sometimes this looked like a mountain we could not climb but with your help we took the first step of many. At the moment I don’t think its really sunk in (the sixteen hour flight might help that) but I hope that our actions will show you that anything is possible with God. Before the cycle some people had never cycled more than forty miles, sixteen thousand kilometres later and we have made it, a real testimony to God’s Hand in our journey. It really has been the time of my life and glad I took those few seconds to think it over before deciding on doing it! I look forward to seeing everyone when I get home but for now “come on Bafana Bafana!”

Jan’s Thoughts on the cycle

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:41:37 +0000

Well, we have finally made it to Cape Town. There were times when I came over the brow of a hill to see another one before me-or sometimes 2 or 3! when I thought “Oh No, I just can’t do this”. But God is good and the guys in the Team were great and were always there to encourage me. Memories- bush camping under a sky filled with stars and the Milky Way; great sunsets; cycling as the sun rose over wonderful scenery; lions drinking at Etosha; Jude chasing me in the mornings when I was meant to be ready!; sharing in Devotions; horseriding in moonlight; struggling up hills and zooming down long ones; exhiliration of a really fast section; the affection and banter between everyone; sitting round campfires with Jonny always in the smoke zone-it always seemed to seek him out!; seeing a Hope Academy at work with young men in Drakenstein Prison and hearing the difference it has made to their lives -they have a creed, “Faith, Future and Football”-not necessarily in that order. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world and I feel greatly enriched by the last 3 weeks (is that all it really is?-seems like a lifetime). So, thanks to everyone I have met on the Cycle and lastly-Hi to my Mum, who has been following me on the blog!!

Day One Hundred and Eighty Five Wednesday 9th June Drakenstein Correctional Centre, South Africa

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:31:32 +0000

Update from Jude - An early start, cold and damp but spirits were high and people were excited to end the cycle at the Hope Academy! We met the Correctional Service Cycle Club and cycled to the Hope Academy! On arrival we had a welcoming party including numerous noisy horns! During the day we got a tour of the Hope Academy with music provided by a band and a dance! The boys had tidied their cell with photos of family and certificates to give us a climpse into their world which was such a privilege. The tour ended in the house Nelson Mandela stayed in during his last days in prison.

At this stage everyone was ready for lunch and after burger and chips the guys were sent to finish the day with a football game! Tired legs meant the guys struggled but managed to lose with a respectable score, 2-1! We headed back to the campsite which is approximately 40km from Capetown with beds, showers and ice cream for dessert! What a treat! People are very tired but such a great day and to see first hand what the cycle was all about was amazing! Praise God!

Day One Hundred and Eighty Four cont. Tuesday 8th June Paarl, South Africa

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:37:19 +0000

Typical Africa. No matter how much you plan things, they never turn out as you hoped. Today we had 230 to do. Up at 6:15 and on the road asap. We managed to get 75 done in rain and cold…miserable weather for the last full day of the cycle.

With so much to do it was a case of people jumping on and off the truck when they needed to and the lead group taking quick rests before heading on again.

We got to 75kms and the cycle ended there! The police told us to get off the road as it was illegal to cycle on the main road. Some had already headed on so I asked him to take me and catch up with them and bring them back in the back of the police car. So off we set but got overtaken by a truck absolutely flying. So the policeman put on the sirens and we ended up on a full scale police chase as the truck wouldn’t pull over. After about 5kms we finally got it to pull over, dealt with him and went on our way. We caught the lead group, piled everyone including bikes(photos to follow) into the back.

By this time the rest of the guys were at our truck and with so much time wasted and re-routing looking difficult, we decided to put the bikes on the truck and drive to our final destination. It was a brave attempt to do 700 in 3 days and I guess if it hadn’t have been for the hills, the guys could have made it. But it wasn’t meant to be. So that’s it over. We have to cycle 15kms tomorrow to Drakenstein Prison and another ride on Wednesday but the official riding is over. 6 months seems like so long but yet not that long.

Leg 9 has been class. A great way to finish. All the leg people have really mucked in and just bought into it all. Greg and Colin are nearly dead from the cycling. Lee’s arm is really sore from waving at them from the truck! Jan has been brilliant doing as many kms as she could and jumping on the bike at any opportunity. Stephen would be on the truck only for the fact that Kirsty keeps on going! Graeme is another ‘morton’ and is some craic! Richard has come in handy to stitch Hannah’s knee up after her fall and I think Rachel could have opened a full-time dental practice with the amount of complaints people have had. Jayne now feels like part of the core team family and is treating us to some class meals! Sally-Anne has joined the team on her and Ollie’s tandem and has settled right in! Hopefully she can keep Ollie in line better than we could. He certainly hasn’t lost any appetite since she got here.

Some tough cycling but great times too. So a huge thanks to them all for coming out and being part of this! And thanks to their families for letting them go!

It will take a while to get our heads around what we have just done. Will be a busy few days with visits to Hope Academies, matches and then SA-France in rugby as well as all the World Cup stuff! Kyla and I have been given tickets to France - Uruguay on Friday night thanks to Neil and Catherine who we have met several times on our journey down. So a huge thanks to them.

Well I better go. Feels class to finally be here but sad that its all over!

Some thoughts from Rob as the cycle enters its last 2 days

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:41:38 +0000

It’s impossible to put into words the experience we have been through but here goes my attempt. Many highs and lows. So frustrating at times, exhaustion, dehydration, and yet such a sense of achievement now that we are at the end. Incredible views from the mountains, starry skies at night, the sounds of the jungle as we peddaled through the rainforest. The feeling of getting into camp after 150kms and then having to shower in the cold, put up a tent, cook dinner and finally relax at the fire. You feel so tired and yet somehow around the fire the day doesn’t seem so bad and you get up again the next day for some more.

As a team we have come through so much together and feel like one big family. Living so close to 9 others for 6 months obviously has its challenges but despite the hard times, the team spirit has been amazing.

We have cycled through desert, rainforest, on dirt roads, through mountains and in 50 degree heat as well as the cold and wet.

Emotionally it has been incredible. By far the toughest thing I have ever done but I think that through it all, Kyla and I have grown closer and she has been amazing. Not many women would put up with what she has put up with and I’m proud that we have made it together.

The girls have been incredible. Camping, bucket showers in the cold, toilets behind bushes and just being dirty all the time and not being able to get away from it all. They have done so well!

Combine all this with visa problems, hold ups at borders, missing ferries and you get a glimpse of the adventure this has been.

We have met so many people along the way and been looked after by so many churches and missionaries whose generosity was overwhelming. Never has chocolate cake tasted so good as in Bissau at the WEC mission centre! Or Pizza at Jack Wilson’s house in Senegal.

It will take months for this to sink in and for us to be able to reflect on our experiences. Right now we’re just happy to have come through it all safe and sound. God has protected us and we’re thankful for so many at home who have faithfully prayed for us over the 6 months.

It will be great to visit the Hope Academies and see the work that AIS do with the young people there. We have seen so much and been so blessed. Many do not have the opportunities we have and to be able to raise awareness and finances for those who grow up with so little is really humbling. I hope this experience is not wasted on us and that we can use our lives to help others. A quote I like is ‘if Jesus Christ be God and died for me then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for him’. CT Studd (former English cricketer)

Jesus has changed our lives and we want to share that with others.

A huge thanks to Chain Reaction Cycles and our other sponsors. Without CRC this would not have been possible. Our bikes have been through everything and are all intact! Brilliant!

Day One Hundred and Eighty Four Tuesday 8th June Bitterfontein, South Africa

admin — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:00:27 +0000

Another early start after a huge day yesterday. Guys are shattered but all in good spirits! It was 220km or so by the time we got into camp. A bit of a mix up at the end as our driver thought there was a campsite 10kms south of a certain town but when we got to town and went to buy some food supplies, the shopkeeper said it was a lot further so we decided to just stay and find a place in town. Unfortunate for the guys who had passed ahead so we got the truck to catch up with them and bring them back as I went in search of a campsite. Finally got a place and when all showered and tents up etc we sat down to chicken curry! Lethal! And then pretty much everyone was ready for bed as another early start the next day.

So it was 6:15am brekky and everyone just gets up, has some brekky and then starts to head off when ready. A few of us then stay behind to take tents down, wash dishes and clear up camp. Then off to the supermarket to buy some supplies for the day ahead and off to catch the guys. Hope to get them by 40km where we will have a quick break and then stop another 40kms on up. Most are in small groups but with so many people at different paces, it’s hard to get food and drinks for everyone and then pack up and catch the front group again for another break.

With so many kms to do it’s just head down and cranking through it. Colin is a machine and just keeps going! Unbelievable! But everyone has done amazingly well. It’s hard to describe this all. Torture but somehow fun and you know it will be an incredible achievement at the end!

Tomorrow we will cycle to Drakenstein Prison to visit a Hope Academy and then somehow we’re down to play a match…not sure how that’s going to be possible! But we’ll give it a go.

Then off to some campsite to get a well earned break. Thursday will be another match…totally insane but that will be the last of it. Shattered but will be good to see first hand the work that we are supporting! If you are keen to sponsor one of the guys or give to the project directly then we really appreciate anything you can give. The guys are wrecked but it’s all worthwhile if we can make a difference in the lives of the young people. Jesus has changed our lives and can do the same for them!

So thanks for all your prayers and support! We have nearly made it and you have played a huge role in that.

Day One Hundred and Eighty Two Sunday 6th June near Garies, South Africa

admin — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 10:57:14 +0000

So this blog is coming to you from a cloud covered hilltop in south africa. The cycling through namibia was pretty tough going but fairly flat. Almost as soon as we hit the south african border the hills arrived- and boy were they hills! The first incline lasted for 30km and it was a real killer. But almost as soon as you are ready to give up a great big downhill gives you the chance to get a break and recover some enthuasism.

Cuthbert has been acting the chancer as usual,’working’ on the computer. Amazingly he always has transfer gossip whenever he finishes work!!

Yesterday’s hill section was toughest I have experienced, but once you get stopped and gathered round the fire its all forgotten around the fire- especially when you get a lovely big slice of cake for your birthday. I am assuming the presents are too big for me to carry on a bike so I’ll collect them in capetown I imagine.

My interesting story of the day comes from the border. I had some money in my passport incase I needed to buy some water in a shop. Unfortunately I forgot to take it out of the passport before I gave it to the customs offical!! I’m not so sure that she found it to funny when I said “that’s incase you wouldn’t let me in” as she then threw the passport back at me over the desk…..thankfully with my money still intact. Some people have no sense of humour.