On Sunday 7th July 2012 a large group took part in a 100km cycle along the Bunyan trail in Bedfordshire to raise money for two charities, CRY and the Friends of CME Trust. It was a wet day but a tremendous effort was put in by those organising and those cycling to raise a wonderful amount for charity.
“When Dennis Tailor first told me he wanted 100 people to cycle 100km along the Bunyan trail in Bedfordshire, I immediately felt I should do it. After all, he was raising half the money for my charity in the Congo and I remember seeing others complete a similar ride Den had organised a few years before.
Yet as the 7th July approached and the weather looked like it would drown out our efforts, I began to have second thoughts. Rather than biking in fine summer weather, stopping off for a drink at a few pubs in cute villages, it looked like wellies and water skis would be more appropriate. And could I manage 100km anyway? I cycle to work most days but it’s only 4 miles. I had practiced 30km the week before and got soaked in the rain!
Saturday morning we woke early to see the rain pouring down as predicted. What to wear? What changes of clothes to add to our drink and food supplies? As I approached the Addison Centre at 8am, I knew Dennis had been there since around 6am, and the previous night at midnight! What a fantastic effort from him over the previous months to get us to this point – we would go on. I was due to cycle with my son, Daniel and friend Hilary. Pete, who had volunteered but knew no-one else (wow that’s commitment!) joined us to make a team of four. Others were there getting ready to leave – some I knew but others I didn’t – there was a great sense of camaraderie and fun – we would do our best! New friends were being made, new opportunities to talk of Jesus’ great rescue plan.
So, as we biked around, we chatted, we puffed up hills, we flew down them. We got soaked, we felt the stinging rain on a few occasions but we were encouraged on, every 10 miles, by volunteers, sitting in the cold rain, in cars or under umbrellas recording our progress, urging us on, giving us drinks and fruit if we needed it. We saw wonderful sights of Bedfordshire that I never knew existed despite being born and bred here. Seeing such wonderful countryside in the rain made us appreciate what it would be like to see it is the sun – we must do this another day!
Being together in our team of four enabled us to encourage each other as we went around. Each ten miles we would cheer – getting closer all the time – as the roads passed by under our feet, the sense of togetherness kept us going and made time and miles pass by much quicker than I thought they would.
Half way there, we reached Harlington and needed a change of clothes and Hilary needed the loo! The three men had found plenty of trees along the way but the pub was shut – it was only 10.45. Thankfully the Village Hall doors were open and we found a Saturday church in there where we were welcomed with free tea, coffee and ice cream!
Across south Bedfordshire, the hills of Sharpenhoe and Barton were beautiful even in the rain. We had debated whether to abandon our water proofs at Harlington but were glad we hadn’t as it continued to pour. We went through villages I didn’t even know existed, including one with an airfield and several small planes! As we began the approach north, we went through the idyllic Old Warden, Ickwell and knew we were nearly there. The 10 mile volunteers were really urging us on now – how great they all were.
When we finished coming along the embankment, my tired muscles seemed to leave me – we had made it. It had been worth it all – the poor weather made us feel more proud of our achievement. Not only had we had a great time, seen some wonderful things, enjoyed each other’s company, but we would be helping the young with heart problems and the sick in Congo. Well done Den for having the vision and energy to pull this off – bring on the next one!”
Chris Almond