Picos Original Riders

Picos Original Riders
Highlights of 2010

Last of the Picos Riders - to Rome Alone!

Our first two charity rides were a huge success - raising over £20,000 for the South East Cancer Help Centre.

The Centre does a fantastic job of supporting patients and carers at the most difficult times of their lives. They make a real difference and you could help them in their work by contributing to our fundraising. Donations can be made via JustGiving.comhttps://www.justgiving.com/Tom-Vaz/ or directly into the Centre. For more details of the Centre and their work see their website at http://www.sechc.org.uk/

After 3 years of rest it seemed time to dust off the old muscles, bones and sinews and do one more spectacular ride in aid of this fabulous charity.

This time I will travel alone for 25 days, mainly following the ancient pilgrimage route to Rome, the Via Francigene, covering a distance of around 1,400 miles.

The route travels through Newhaven - Dieppe - Paris before I eventually reach the Via Francigene in Eastern France. From then on it is pretty simple apart from having to cross the Alps without an elephant!

Thursday, 6 August 2015

Day 25 Bracciano to Rome

A short, fast ride of 29 miles and I reached Rome in triumph with the blast of trumpets and the roars of the crowd in my ears. Sadly I may have imagined all that - it was probably the sound of car horns and the revving of motorbikes.

One moment I couldn't see Rome and the next I was in the noise and bustle of the traffic near Nero's Tomb.  Dual carriageways and heavy traffic are all part of the scenery to me now so it was only when a motorcycle came close enough to touch my elbow that I worried.

Italians complaining about someone else's bad driving! 😁
See, I'm a good boy sitting at a red light 😆
 Following the River Tiber on a dual carriageway. 
That's NOT St Peter's
Now THAT'S St Peter's Basilica - Rome at last after 25 days and 1284 miles.

This is my final blog entry and I really hope you have enjoyed the show. If anyone wants to take over the mantle of the Picos Riders then please get in touch. I'll recommend a good psychiatrist and something to rub on your bottom during the lonely saddle sore evenings.
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4 comments:

  1. Anonymous6 August 2015 at 23:45

    Fantastic, Tom! What a star! All that way, in that heat, and with a tummy bug too! Hats off to you!
    But it does confirm my belief that you are distinctly masochistic!
    Looking forward to seeing you back at the Centre. Best wishes, Bev

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  2. Anonymous7 August 2015 at 10:29

    Well done Tom! We're so proud of you and your achievements!!

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  3. Anonymous7 August 2015 at 18:03

    What an outstanding achievement Tom - You're made of strong stuff and you will not now be able to kid me otherwise! See you soon and have a safe journey home

    Carol

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  4. Anonymous9 August 2015 at 14:39

    Keep going Tom, great achievement . Henry M. Anerley BC

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