The Cycling Nurse

Redline Specialist Cars of Knaresbrough UK Donated £1000 to Medecines Sans Frontieres (https://msf.org.uk/ ) towards our fundraising cycling challenge “Ride to the Rock ” fundraiser.

John Graeme is a true Knaresborian, a local – man who recognises hard work – especially by people from his hometown. He’s shown previous interest in our first big fundraiser “Trans USA San Francisco to New York. You can read more about this here: https://www.thecyclingnurse.co.uk/category/usa-2016/ and John is aware of our integrity , determination and grit in getting things done. Quite simply we finish what we set out to do and face challenges head on.

When Andy and I approached John with our 2nd cycling challenge “Ride to the Rock’ – John didn’t hesitate to invite us to talk at his Redline Specialist Cars office.

John recognises a challenge when he sees one and cycling from Amsterdam to Gibraltar – held his attention.

We connected, maybe because – John has worked hard to get where he is – I’ve done some of my own research on how Redline Specialist Cars began and canes across this:

Redline Specialist Cars started with a team of just two Rob Milner & John Graeme. Two local lads selling 20 hot hatches every month from a 25 car pitch. They bought, sold, cleaned & delivered every car themselves. John came from an automotive finance background and Rob just loved buying and selling cars.

I read this following quote and recognised my own character and how I see myself and maybe John recognises these words?!

“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.“ Sam Ewing ( former baseball player).

Andy and I turned up at Amsterdam with our bikes and had every intention in reaching Gibraltar – success was always in our minds eye. We are dependable and simply do our best – everyday and we completed our challenge “Ride to the Rock’ believing “I Can Do it’.

Here is Redline Specialist website: https://redlinespecialistcars.co.uk/

Johns donation of £1000 will be spent wisely by Medecins Sans Frontieres. Here is a link and some pictures on how this will be spent. https://msf.org.uk/how-we-spend-your-money

John we thank you for your continued support.

Cycling Day 55.

As most of you already know – WE MADE IT TO Gibraltar!!! I can’t explain how elated we/ I felt for reaching our goal. Please understand goals don’t have to be this huge and if you set smaller ones – the reward can feel just as good. It has taken years of building confidence and belief in myself to reach this point.

The plan was to meet Daniel from Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings (TGS) and Chris from Gibraltar Cycling Club at the half way point and they would take care of us.

They did just that. Andy cycled with Daniel. and Chris and I cycled together. Chris is an intellect and very knowledgable about the area and it’s history. He really took care of me!

After calling our mums – we cycled through boarder control with ease and even though it is a British overseas territory, passports are needed for travel into Gib. A Gibraltarian noted my black passport and I understand why. We are no longer part of the European Union and this has had a big impact of Gibraltar citizens! I am going to look more into this and see what this means.

As we passed over the boarder – we were papped!!! Really !! When turning a corner my friend Chris pointed towards a film crew and photographers – our pictures were taken from every angle. Even my legs got papped!?

Following our arrival with Daniel and Chris – we met our secondary sponsors Chestertons Estate Agents. Chris said his goodbyes and we had a big hug! He told me I was beautiful – very much received because I felt nothing like beautiful with dust from the road all over my face.

Mike Nicholls and his team welcomed us both with a round of applause. We had fulfilled our promise and they respected this! Chestertons have generously given £1000 to Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Thank you from Medecins Sans Frontieres.

After here – We continued cycling on towards the Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings (TGS) team.

This took around 10 minutes. The traffic was busy and something we’ve not been around for a while.

Here Andrew Flynn – head of marketing ( TGS) presented me with a beautiful bouquet of pink flowers (I love flowers) and gave Andy the bottle Champaign. I did a quick swap. The Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings (TGS) team have generously given £5000 to Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Thank you from Medecins Sans Frontieres and from Andy and I. Very generous and this will for sure save lives.

Both Chestertons and Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings (TGS) took good care of Andy and I throughout the rest of the day and days to follow. We also went for lunch with TGS Kevin the CEO. Such nice and caring people. They are all professional and proud of their contribution to MSF, and of their connection to humanitarian organisations. They understand how these donations help people struggling due to either having exclusion from healthcare, been affected by natural disaster like earthquakes and avalanche or simply been caught up in conflict.

Simply AMAZING!!!

Cycling Day 54!

Sponsored by Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings (TGS)

Medecins Sans Frontieres

We’ve been on quite a journey over the last 3 months and with only 1 more sleep to go before reaching Gibraltar – I can’t quite believe tomorrow is D -Day!!

Up at 0400. 6 hours cycling today because of the heavy bikes and load, and steep climbs – we can only manage around 4 – 6 mph.

6 words got me through today – The end point is in sight!

I’m feeling a little sad and I will likely cry tomorrow because this chapter is coming to an end.

However the pages that have been written and will forever be cherished.

These kind soles are on these pages. Here are some beautiful people who have made Our Amsterdam to Gibraltar journey extra special.

So I will leave you with some footage from today. We have a very beautiful world.

I want to share something special and very close to my heart. We have an official cycling song. This is called I Can Do It. “

Other words in the song are to inspire you on your journey and to remind you of the beauty around us – all the time.

This is our official cycling song. It can be purchased for any sizeable big or small donation from band camp and ALL monies go to Medecins Sans Frontieres. I Can Do It was written and recorded by Vegan Queen V. To listen just press open.

Goodnight to all my new and old friends from all over the world. I love you.

Gibraltar is in our sights!!! The rock in the far distance. Now let’s Ride to the Rock.

Cycle Day 52.

3 Cycle Days left to go – till the finish line in Gibraltar.

Amsterdam seems like a lifetime ago.

Everyday of our Ride to the Rock Challenge we’ve cycled from one town , village or field of some-kind like the straw field with sheep surrounding our tent – to the next place to lay our heads.

It’s been an EPIC adventure and sometimes a very difficult physical CHALLENGE, and OUR end point is insight!!

I can do it!! We can do it!! Only if WE believe that it’s possible. Please consider listening to our Ride to the Rock song https://andy4msf.bandcamp.com/releases

Todays early 0400 start isn’t getting any easier. I just do it. I put 2 feet on the floor and stand, get dressed and washed, brush my teeth , sort my bike – then step into the darkness.

However when the sun starts coming up around 0630 – this is what I see in my side mirror. A beautiful sun rise.

My view of Spain this morning was Epic. Golden skies and layers of hills rolling on top of each other – with the warm air engulfing my body.

The start of todays ride wasn’t however that nice – the climb was slow. The sandy gravelled and potholed road meant it was difficult to stop my wheels from slipping or dropping into potholes. It was dark snd I couldn’t easily see the deep craters until I was on top of them. I put lots of effort into staying upright.

I was feeling nauseous early on – around 0430. A mix of eating – not long before going to sleep and I don’t believe we hydrated adequately because we were so shattered – I fell asleep without giving any thought to it.

You must move forward because going back is an impossibility. The peddles need turning for the journey to continue.

I caught Andy in my side mirror. This is how difficult it is . We’ve struggled with the early climbing and also with the later climbing or upside down climbing – everything feels this way at 0400.

Moving forward: Plenty of climbing today.

Stay determined and positive – however much things are testing you.

The bikes are holding up well. The flags are demonstrating our pride and respect to the country we are in.

Here I am trying to hold up the moon. Asking it not to go to bed. But the sun is determined to wake up!

Our flags.

The wind picked up with 5 miles left to ride. This makes cycling more effort – though still we are determined to finish todays ride.

We arrive and celebrate todays journey.

We are up again at 0400 for our ride and need to sleep – it’s just after 2100. Best try and sleep.

Goodnight my friends.

Cycle Day 51.

Only 4 more cycle days to go.

Sponsored by Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings (TGS)

Medecins Sans Frontieres

Up again at 0400.

I am really struggling with these early starts – feeling nauseous and unable to eat. With very little energy to step outside in these high temps I feel drained before the day starts.

We tell ourselves “Let’s get going before time slips away’.

When the sun comes up – I really can’t explain how much more difficult it makes the ride. WARNING IF YOU DON’T LIKE EYES.

I’ve got a subconjunctival hemorrhage and maybe due to excessive exercise?

We very rarely see anyone exercise outdoors. Shutters are down. The rare times we do see anyone exercising outside – this is usually very early around 0700 and not much later.

Even road cyclists are a rare find.

I often think “People must think we are crazy!?‘ I know we always do our best – put both feet on the ground ( peddles in our case) and keep turning the wheels, and eventually we get there.

I struggle with anxiety and have done since I was a child. I deal with this in my own way. Sometimes words play in my mind “Can I do this etc but I reassure myself because like this ride to the rock I believe ” I Can Do This’ & “I’ve got this’ . I have learnt not to talk myself out of what makes my heart beat a little faster – even if sometimes fear steps in.

On the start of the ride dogs bark – as we pass by their homes. They run towards the perimeter of their gardens and stop at their gates to make sure we don’t get any closer.

However, this morning we did get a greeting from a beautiful – mix Yorkshire terrier. He crawled under the fence and just sat there watching us. No barking. I assured a car to slow – as not to run him over.

After every long slow climb uphill – we enjoy the big downhills. We always say “We deserve this’ or something similar. These descents help us to catch our breath before the next climb – usually straight after the down.

Our downhill at 0641.

Here’s a timeline from today.

0452.

0636.

0814.

Whizzing down – the downs at 0816.

Eventually we arrived into Cabra around 10:30. I feel like I’ve worked at night shift at the hospital and really need to get my head down.

And we did.

Cycle Day 50. Of Ride to the Rock.

5 Cycle Days left!!

Sponsored by Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings (TGS)

For Doctors Without Borders.

So, the cycling nurse is on track to reach Gibraltar, with Andy on the 20th July. The press will be waiting at the finish line and I hope to share all of this with you – in the blog.

@ 0400 hrs this morning – please press play below:

It was time to get up.

The journey started in the dark again.

The stars are even more beautiful the further away we got from Mengibar. As soon as the light pollution dropped away – the night sky became crystal clear.

Silence, darkness and the stars.

The planet Saturn brings special meaning to me. When my aunty Susan was very poorly and I was taking care of her – we would look out of her kitchen window or go for night drives. We would look up at the stars and point towards Saturn.

Because it was dark it was difficult to see our surroundings but we have great lights on the bike.

Passing through olive groves in blackness we heard the occasional noise of a rabbit rustling through shrubbery and the sound of cicadas in the trees – other than this we heard – nothing but Silence.

We passed through a couple of towns called Cazalilla, Lahiguera and Arjona. Our bikes rolled over their cobbled streets – passing closely by their front doors. The streets are narrow with lots of twists and turns, and mostly homes stood in darkness – people still sleeping.

The hills rolled again with some long, slow but progressive climbing.

The sun started to rise around 0630.

This is the view of the sun rising taken from the midway climbing point of our climb to Arjona. Arjona was one of two – of the bigger climbs today.

We pushed up our last biggest climb and reached Porcuna. With Porcuna being our last climb for the day – this was very satisfying!

Here’s a picture of our final push to Porcuna.

Arjona and Porcuna are towns built on top of mountains with steep zig zag roads – winding their way up to the towns.

Finally we arrived into Porcuna around 0930.

We came across a bar and I saw locals drinking a spirit – so I requested one for Andy and me.

I was feeling really sleepy. Time for a little nap. Goodnight or morning – I’m a little upside down with bedtimes these days.

Cycle Day 49.

Sponsored by Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings (TGS)

Ride to the Rock

For- Medecins Sans Frontieres

The day started off in the dark! The alarm sounded at 0400hrs.

Like robots we got up. I say this because we got up this early out of necessity – our legs and arms did the walking and dressed us but my head was definitely wanting to climb back into bed.

Sometimes we don’t share how difficult cycling in the heat has been – we don’t want to alarm our mums or family and we don’t shy away from the challenge!!!

44 C by 1700 hrs.

So sensibility also plays a role in our early starts. Lots more dark starts to come!!

The dark skies are beautiful and being part of the journey of the sun rising is quite the thing – with stars slowly disappearing and an orange glow riding from the behind the mountains.

So a little disorientated we set off just after 0400 hrs – all packed up and into the darkness of warm air – 26 C. I was surprised to feel the warm air! Though so much more cooler at this time!!!!

Here’s Andy around 0700. I tried to catch the sun rising in my side mirror but this didn’t b work out too well!?

To be honest with you I really wanted to see very little of the sun – on the ride today. Over and over and over again I repeated the words – “Tracey peddle faster, peddle faster, keep going’. Because I was so poorly on cycle day 48 – these temperatures have burnt some fear into me.

Along the journey – I asked Andy many times “How long now’. Meaning are we getting closer to Mengibar because it’s getting hotter.

We arrived around 0930 and the temp was 32 C.

I couldn’t have been happier.

An early night tonight and another early start tomorrow. Otherwise cycling in these temps are unrealistic and dangerous!!

Cycling Day 47.

Third Stage Sponsored by Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings (TGS)

Medecins Sans Frontieres

The day went smoothly. The roads were pathed well and the hills rolled, and trees made everything look so much more beautiful.

It was a little hot. Peaking at 32 C .

Waves of constant warm air blasted me in my face for most of the day – as I rode along the route. I can’t say this was pleasant but it was tolerable and as long as I could find some shade from a tree – I was happy.

We passed through a couple of villages. They were all picturesque and we were greeted with smiles and interest because of the Union Jack flag on the back of the bike. One time a food delivery man gave us a free cold drink.

I did some clothes washing in a public laundry washing room. Interesting to think these are still used. I believe the water is steam fed?!

I am taking in the view before heading into a small village called Masegoso. Here we met Jane originally from Lancashire and her Spanish husband and their daughter. They live in Madrid and spend summer holidays with her husbands family in the village. The village is quaint with an old water fountain, a communal fresh water drinking point and seated space were the locals gather, and a community outdoor swimming pool filled with water from the stream ( Jane said it leaks and frequently needs refilling ).

This is the view from my window ( tent window ). Absolutely stunning!

Just as I started to sleep – we had some visitors. Bells started to ring. This is their home and it was supper time. The sheep surrounded the tent. Fortunately the farmer was forgiving and allowed us to stay.

Goodnight from me and the sheep.

Cycling Day 46.

Sponsored by: Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings (TGS)

Medecins Sans Frontieres

It’s been another scorcher of a day and the sky has been blue, and no clouds to see.

Leaving Albacete city this morning was simple. The cycle lanes are marked clearly on the roads and on the shared pavements, and the cycle traffic lights make cycling safe.

An older lady admired my bike whilst standing next to each other on a shared pavement – so I “fist pumped’ her. She blew me a kiss and I blew one back. We both smiled. How lovely!!

Todays ride took us past several fields of barely or wheat. This had been harvested. The fields appeared even more golden with the sun being especially bright.

We made a couple of stops at opportunist bars – to cool down. Opportunist because we didn’t seek them out but discovered them along the journey. An ice cold coke cola zero is the best – a treat on a hot day!!

The roads were uneventful and long and mostly straight.

I thought I’d share my dancing last night in Albacete. I was elated because I enjoyed my rest day. We only take a rest day every 4 to five days. Here I am celebrating.

Eventually we arrived to a clearing surrounded by some trees. We put the tent up and this will be our home. I’ve made everything nice and comfortable and just the netting for tonight.

I saw this beautiful flower near the tent.

Goodnight and I hope the stray cats I saw earlier are sleeping comfortably.

Cycling Day 45.

Ride to the Rock Sponsored by Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings (TGS)

Raising money and awareness :

Medecins Sans Frontieres.

The day started with a tired Tracey and 1 Big PUSH – a couple of meters cycling at 4 miles per hour followed by a couple meters pushing the bike – on repeat for 1 and 1/2 hours.

This was me with my suffering face.

Then we were liberated with some flat road cycling for an hour or so before some more “UP & DOWNS’ on repeat for a couple of hours – though not to difficult as yesterday.

My knees demanded a rest – especially my left one. It feels swollen. We arranged to have a rest day in Albacete ( we planned this weeks ago ) and I was very much ready for this. I was especially mentally pleased.

From not so happy to an elated, relaxed, hydrated and cooled off Trace.

Here’s a picture of some of the ride into Albacete. This was a flatter road.

I’m writing this in retrospect. After tonight’s rest I will feel good to go again tomorrow. We are still tired and have our aches. Tomorrow evening we will be wild camping but tonight I will enjoy the luxury of a bed with the knowledge of knowing I have clean clothes to wear.