David soaked up the sights as he raised £1k for Sport Relief
A big-hearted Paisley man has completed a mammoth 1,000km solo cycle across Europe for charity.
David Morrison hopped on his bike in Brussels and didn’t look back until he reached his final stop in Barcelona, raising more than £1,000 for Sport Relief.
The 34-year-old depot manager travelled through eight different countries in the blistering heat, but says it was worth the pain.
He said: “I learned my physical and mental limits during this challenge, but have so far raised just over £1,000 for Sport Relief, which is double my target.”
His first night on the road set the tone for the rest of trip as after covering 30 miles from Brussels he camped in bushes by the side of the road.
He pow e re d t h ro u g h thunderstorms in Belgium in two days before hitting the flat plains of Luxembourg.
“Luxembourg was a really nice country to reach and visit, and the weather was beyond hot. It stayed that way for the rest of the trip,” he explained.
“Reaching the river Rhine in Strasbourg was another big milestone.
“I woke up early and headed south down the German side of the Rhine all the way to Basel, Switzerland.
“I did that in one day, which was an achievement considering the distance and diversions.”
A brief stay with cousins in Zurich gave David a bit of respite before he took a train ride to Genoa, in Italy, and hit the road again.
He added: “After a couple of days off the bike it was back to cycling, which took me through Genoa, Italy and westward down the Italian Riviera. This was my favourite part of the tour.
“It was all coastal with some challenging climbs, enjoyable flats, and by far the best scenery of the trip.
“The weather was still scorching hot and the food was incredible.
“It felt like I was travelling in a postcard for two or three days.”
“After reaching the south of France I visited Monaco and cycled part of the F1 racing circuit.
“However, a wee bit of over exuberance in Monaco was illthought.
“I had to make it to Nice that day and it was only five miles away, but this particular five miles was on the southern tip of the French Alps.
“That five miles was a steep twohour climbing mission, plus the heavy luggage and low stock of water wasn’t helping.
“It was a very challenging time, but the descent into Nice was rewarding for it.”
After pushing through tough roads in the south of France, he reached Barcelona with a huge sense of achievement.
David, from Seedhill, says the trip was a once-in-a lifetime experience that will stay with him forever.
He said: “Looking back now, I would say that afternoons were more stressful than I imagined, navigating and making up miles before campsite offices closed and shops shut.
“However, reaching locations, setting up camp and finding amenities in the evenings were the most rewarding parts of the day.
“I was able to see sights like the Cathedrale Notre Dame in Strasbourg and the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
“The legs still felt great at the end of the trip — no problems there and no punctures.
“I did have some broken bag and rack parts which I fixed by using bungee cords. I also used bungee cords as a belt and a washing line.
“I ended up with spare shoes held together with electrical tape. You learn how to get by and problem solve on the go.
“Given the high mileage, there was no time to really meet people, so going solo and unsupported I found that the biggest challenge was more mental than physical.”
You can still donate to David’s fund at www. justgiving. com/ fundraising/David-Morrison82