After an interview and photos with the local press, we said farewell to Aberdeen. A small crowd of well-wishers had gathered to wave us off. Actually, this heart-warming start was premature as we got slightly lost on the outskirts of the city. The backdrop for the first two days was some pretty challenging hills between Aberdeen and Montrose. In the first two days, we would cover 46 miles.
The star of the first couple of days undoubtedly was a middle-aged local from Stonehaven. He approached our car, whilst we were parked in a disabled bay, resting at the end of the first day. He said “you better get out of that space pal or you’ll get in trouble”. Before I had time to tell him our story, he insisted even more. He was actually very vehement about it.
If only there were more busybodies like him around! In London, chronic Blue Badge abuse and a total lack of public sector policing means that we need the civic well-meaning attitude of private individuals like this man in Stonehaven.
Earlier on that day, our first taste of how news of our ride was filtering through to the public came when, stopped in a lay-by outside Aberdeen, we met a builder called Dave who later went online and made a donation. He had heard about us after a piece on Aberdeen local radio. Dave’s generosity was not isolated. During day 2, a truck driver held up all the traffic behind him to get out of his cab. Whilst we rested by the roadside and the traffic stacked up behind his lorry, he gave us a donation, having heard about the ride on the radio. The ride is capturing people’s attention. Throughout the first two days we have been tooted and clapped along.
Finally, a mention for Bob from Aberdeen Wheelers. He made the punishing climb to Montrose appear bearable. As we cycled with Bob, we (almost) didn’t notice the hills.
At the end of day 2, we arrived at the hotel five minutes before an interview with The Montrose Review – immediately followed by another one with The Dundee Courier.
