Eurotandem 2008: Norway's North Cape To Malta - Over 5,000KM On A Tandem!
28/05/2008
Two UK cyclists are aiming to be the first to ride the Eurovelo route 7: The Sun Route, all the way from Norway's North Cape to Malta, on a tandem.
Neil and Kathryn Gander, from County Durham, are more likely to be seen on mountain bikes but fell in love with the idea of the long distance cycle route which will take them through nine countries in five months.
Although they're doing the trip for the challenge, they've also decided to use it as a means of raising money for SOS Children's Villages.
The journey begins on July 24th when they leave North Shields by ferry for Bergen in Norway. From there it's a five day voyage north by sea to Nordkapp, over 500km inside the Arctic Circle and as far north as it is possible to get by road in Europe. Then it's simply a matter of heading south - through Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and Italy to arrive in Malta some time around the end of 2008.
Neither had ridden a tandem until last summer but they chose the unconventional means of transport as the best way of making sure nobody gets left behind.
The husband and wife team will be keeping a blog at
http://eurotandem2008.spaces.live.com/ , which includes links to their charity page at www.justgiving.com/eurotandem