We include a resume send in by John Allan, who actually pedalled across Spain to raise funds for the Help4Heroes charity, whose aim it is to provide support for members of the British Armed Services that have suffered death or mutilation in the line of duty. The highest praise and congratulations to Allan for his selfless gesture, amazing achievement and personal dedication to helping others.
“A month ago, the mere mention of the Ruta de la Plata was enough to bring about a feeling of nausea and a severe weakening of resolve. But that was a whole month ago. Now on 1st November 2010 the adventure is a part of our personal history.
We did it – we covered some 900 kilometres from Seville to Santiago – Elizabeth in the hired van, with all manner of belongings – and me on my bicycle. We covered our 900 or so kilometres in 16 days of cycling – an average of 56 kms per day – a truly modest achievement by any standards!
An idea which started as a drunken boast at the time of my 70th birthday last March finally took shape, it satisfied an ambition and some curiosity whilst raising over £2200, thus far, for the Help4Heroes Charity.
Starting from the mighty doors of Seville Cathedral, early on Sunday morning 3rd October 2010, we found our way via: Zafra, Merida, Caceres, Plasencia, Bejar, Salamanca, Zamora, Puebla de Sanabria, Verrin, Ourense to Santiago Cathedral, with its even mightier West door! A route, containing at times, sections of endlessly boring highway thankfully led us quite rapidly into the more varied and frequently challenging parts of the journey which we encountered as I pedalled ever northwards.
Countless travel writers have described, in detail, this part of Spain and I respectfully leave that description to them. But for us, it was a chance to experience, first-hand, the rolling, open spaces of Extramadura – not for nothing known to us as the ‘empty quarter’ – the mountains of Castilla and Galicia with their long, energy-sapping passes, the mighty rivers, Guadalquivir, Guadiana, Tajo, and Duero – the true arteries of Spain.
However, this cycle tour was not simply about ‘seeing the sights’ but more about doing something different together. Elizabeth and I still seek adventure ( of the more modest kind, it should be stressed ) and we try our best to resist the limitations imposed by increasing age. It proved not only a chance to explore territory ‘off-the-beaten-track’ – the area adjacent to the northern Portuguese border being a perfect example – but also a chance to meet with delightful people.
I think of the lady good-naturedly forcing us to pull over whilst she rode on one of her four fluffy donkeys all strung out, line abreast across the road way.
I think of the be-whiskered bar keeper in Albergueria, the ceiling, beams and walls of his bar covered in scallop shells inscribed and signed by a multitude of thirsty pilgrims.
I recall with gratitude the encouragement and advice resulting from chance meetings at cafes, bars and roadsides.
For us, no blinding flash of light on the road to Damascus ( or Santiago, in our case ), no ‘Guinness Book of Records’ broken but no bones either! We are back in Andalucía both of us intact and relieved that the ubiquitous ballast truck failed to get me, even after 900 kms!
The Rewards. These comprise a little log book readily stamped by hoteliers, gasoline station attendants, pharmacy staff, each one, along the camino, prepared to attest to the fact that I was there on a particular day and at a given time.
The production of the log book in Santiago elicited the ‘Compostela’ written in Latin and proclaiming that I have completed the pilgrimage. Most importantly, it is the memories and cameos which leap into one’s consciousness at unlikely moments and the little spontaneous images of a Spain which never disappoints but only surprises.
Following our little Odyssey we still hope to achieve our fundraising target of £3000 for Help4Heroes and we hope, too, for the extension of the good humour and generosity which we encountered throughout Spain. If so, this little adventure will all have been worthwhile.”
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