I was born in 1940, and both my parents contributed to the war
effort — my father was a Desert Rat in the Army, and my mother was working on Radar.
effort — my father was a Desert Rat in the Army, and my mother was working on Radar.
I have always loved exploring the countryside and I grew up mostly in Derbyshire within easy reach of the moors. However, I absolutely hated organised sport at school and was so hopeless at hockey and netball that I was frequently ordered off the pitch mid-game and punished by being made to run circuits round the field for the remainder of the period, which I infinitely preferred.
I have two children, a daughter and a son and when they were young we regularly went pony trekking, canoeing and walking in Wales.
I cycled a bit when younger but then gave it up for years and did not resume it until the relatively late age of 50 when I joined a Cycling Club. I still go cycling with my friends — but I am usually the last in the group. I am not a sprinter, I am a long distance plodder. At my age this will be an advantage because I could not hope to set a speed record. I will be riding my old steel touring bike and carrying all my luggage as I travel between the YHA hostels where I hope to stay. I have travelled by bicycle in Europe both on organised holidays and alone and even across America, camping along the way, so it will not be the first long distance cycle journey I have ever made.
My son is also interested in cycling and he has enthusiastically encouraged me in this endeavour.
My other leisure interest include gardening and making bread, especially while listening to the Archers. Best of all I like to spend time with my grandchildren especially making models or cooking.
I used to love reading to them but now the eldest ones read so well that they don’t need me to do it any more.
The bicycle is its own best argument. You just get a bike, try it; start going with the thing and using it as it suits you. It’ll grow and it gets better and better and better. — Richard Ballantine
LEJoG 82 