To Russia with Philip

EAST TRENT CHURCHES
Besthorpe, Clifton, Collingham,
Girton, Harby, Holme, Langford, South Scarle, Thorney, Winthorpe

To Russia with Philip!

Philip and Keith testing their tandem, loaned by Collingham's Durham Brothers, before taking off for Russia.

Photo by courtesy of Newark Advertiser. Click to see larger photo, then click back button <-- top left of screen to return.

Journey to the Tsars 15 - 24 August 1997

My first trip on a tandem was to Russia. The Winged Fellowship Trust, a special holiday company for the visually impaired were raising funds for the RNIB. We had to raise £2000, plus work hard at mastering the art of tandem riding. Durham Brothers in the village lent us the tandem to practice on. My nephew Philip was going to be my sighted guide and front seat rider. After much fund raising, even an interview on Radio Lincs, we set forth to Heathrow.

Our journey started in St Petersburg with a coach tour of this very magnificent city with its famous Winter Palace. Then on to Novograd and finally reaching Straya Russa for the bike fitting. We were to learn later, to our cost, that the tandems were actually two single bikes adapted and welded together.

Over the next 7 days we cycled between 45 and 120km each day. The off road cycling was on sandy paths with numerous potholes, not an easy task. Made the Lincolnshire roads look good. We passed fields and woods, were chased by dogs and goats and were even joined by the village children on their bikes. Camping over nights on the banks of the Rivers Pola and Volga. The Russians bathe in the freezing waters in the summer; must be mad!! At one stage we even had a police escort, I feel sure this was to prevent us escaping from the torture.

On reaching Moscow we encountered a few problems going up hill, due to a buckled back wheel. Ninety five cyclists arrived in Red Square to shouts of encouragement and car hooters sounding to welcome us across the finish line. The 450 miles seemed to have flown past and the experience was amazing.

Little did I know it would be the start of many cycling holidays to come?

Keith Lauder

Like to come to America with me next?

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