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Tomlinson family fundraisers on way home
After 2,500 miles of battling soaring temperatures, feral dogs, terrible terrain and dozens of punctures, the Tomlinson family can expect a heroes' welcome when they arrive home on Monday.
Mike, 49, daughter Rebecca, 22, and Steven, 13, set off on their epic cross-Europe charity cycle ride almost five weeks ago.
After averaging 10 hours a day in the saddle, they say they are exhausted – but thrilled at the thought of getting home.
Mike, speaking yesterday afternoon from France, said: "It's been very long and very tiring so far but I think, eventually your body just gets used to it.
"It will be great to finally get home but we've got another 250 miles to go yet.
"I think once I can finally get off this bike, it will be washed and put away somewhere I don't have to see it for a couple of years at least!"
He said the highlight of the family's trip had been exploring new places – many of which they had never heard of. Mike said his favourite destination had been Passau in Germany, while Steven had enjoyed Vienna the most.
He was least impressed with Belgium: "They have nice chocolates and beer, I'll give them that. But the country as a whole is terrible. Far more impoverished than I thought."
The trio – who have been joined by Mike's brother-in-law John Miller, his niece and nephew, Laurie ,11, and Jack, 14, and family friend Stuart Hinde with his daughters Holly, 13, and Chloe, 11 – will cycle the final 60 miles on Monday, setting off from Misterton, near Gainsborough.
They will be joined on the final leg by supporters including referee Mike Riley and former Leeds United footballer Danny Mills, along with business backers.
They are due to arrive at Victoria Gardens, in front of the Town Hall, at 3.30pm. Scores of people are expected to welcome them home.
Mike Tomlinson's diary
Here is Mike Tomlinson's final, exclusive diary for the YEP:
"Jane set off on three long-distance bike rides which culminated in 2006's Ride Across America from San Francisco to New York; 4,000 miles in nine weeks. Our odyssey of 2,500 miles in five weeks doesn't compare. I can, though, feel the cumulative tiredness of the cycling and there is a great sense of relief as we head into Leeds on Monday.
Even now I can't comprehend what Jane achieved in the summer of 2006 – it is quite simply impossible to imagine the sheer mental strength it took for her to continue for 63 days when her body was screaming to control the pain.
Three days before New York her body had completely broken down and she knew she needed to go to hospital. She would probably have been admitted until the pain was controlled. It had been difficult to obtain any travel insurance and we seriously doubted she was covered. Jane chose instead to ride a 75-mile day through Philadelphia knowing that she'd either get through it or, potentially, be coming home in a box.
How could anything we do ever begin to compare? The answer is it shouldn't. What Jane achieved was unique.
When Jane died it did make me question what course the appeal should take: wind it down, continue or stop completely. I'm not going to lie and say it's easy. There's a van on the trip kindly lent by Cyril, a supporter of the appeal, with a big image of Jane on it and it's hard to look at it constantly throughout the day.
I'm very lucky to be supported by an amazing set of people who work with us at the appeal, some genuinely kind businesses in Leeds and some individuals who can't do enough for us.
On Monday we'll cycle into Leeds, joined by a number of the people I've mentioned and I hope it'll be a little celebration of what Jane achieved.
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Weather for Leeds
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
