Lorraine

Hi.

I’m Lorraine – the Canadian connection in the Corner to Corner in aid of Haven House ride. I consider myself the “preeminent two wheeled morale support and cheerleader” for Ralph’s fantastic fundraiser.

How did I get to the kick off for this ride and my self-ordained title? Here is the story.

In 2000 - perhaps as a new millennium project - my brother Ron encouraged me to join him on the Ottawa Bike Club’s Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour (RLCT) which is 177 km (yes we use the very user friendly kilometers in Canada) from Ottawa to Kingston.  A very long ride for me. That is understatement.  But wait.  The next day we had to ride back!  My brother was appalled at how slow I was and he was so sure I wasn’t going to finish that he picked up all my kit at the finish line and waited for a call from me on a roadside somewhere!  The nerve! Well, I finished that year’s RLCT and about 15 more since then. Ron bought me  a used road bike in the effort to improved my average speed and in 2002 I started riding the annual one week long Grand Tour in Quebec where we camp and ride about 100 km a day - fully supported. Add on several charity one day rides for our local Children’s hospital (CHEO), Ride for Sight and an annual “ride every day in August” for children’s cancer research etc … and you can see that I have been bitten by the cycling bug and like Ralph, adding fundraising for good causes makes a ride even sweeter.

I retired from the Canadian federal civil service in 2017 and this has given me more opportunities to hike, paddle and cycle in places around the world. I do EVERYTHING slowly but always make it to my destination! I am counting on that past record for this adventure too.

Cousin Ralph and I are the same age, in our 70th year as they say, and although he grew up in Britain and I grew up in Canada, we have been friends for the decades of our lives.

I have always wanted to join Ralph on his annual London to Brixham family cycle the first week of August.  As borders opened up with covid vaccination, it became a possibility.  I signed on.  Add to that Ralph’s retirement trip, which I believe started out as Land’s End to John o’Groats (LEJOG). His favorite charity for the retirement project was the Haven House Children’s Hospice.  It sounded like a good idea and I always wanted to cycle parts of Britain so I signed on to that too.

Then Ralph looked at the map and decided he may as well cycle home from John o’Groats.  His original cycling buddies weren’t going to do that part.  I thought it might be best if he had a cycling partner so I said I would bike back to London with him too.

Give Ralph enough time and he will think up a better plan.  John o’Groats is so close to the infamous northern Scottish point - Cape Wrath that we might as well go there.  The fact that the road hasn’t been paved in 50 years is a minor inconvenience.  So now we are doing Land’s End, John o’Groats and Cape Wrath. It just didn’t seem right to Ralph to leave out Dover …. and complete the route Corner to Corner in aid of Haven House. Why not?  It is going to be a challenge but a great ride!

Lorraine

PS: Ralph doesn’t know it yet but The Lizard is the southernmost point on the Isle of Great Britain  - I may have to pedal there too!

Ralph

Recently retired from running Britain's best dance library, 6 month’s research has created this "Corner to Corner" round Britain cycle which is a sponsorship opportunity for Haven House Children's Hospice, London. Haven House is one of 54 children's hospices in UK, aiming to support 500 children and their families each year. Or consider supporting your local children’s hospice via Together for Short Lives’ Find a service near you. Canadian cousin Lorraine and I start and finish there with Land's End, John O'Groats, Cape Wrath and Dover in between.

My longest trips to date are annual family 6 day cycles on mountain bicycles from London to Devon, mainly along canal towpaths. I have cycled London to Paris twice, the first organised by Skyline Events in July 2018 and the second, organised by Discover Adventure in September 2019. I cycle with local CycleBandit buddies or on my own, and recently as a member of 40 Plus Cycling Club.

As with the students at the conservatoire where I used to work, I am keen to acknowledge people's greatness, aware that we are all capable of more than the little voice in the head says we are. One of our aims is to create opportunities for people to cycle further than they previously have. Hence all the routes, with suggested break stops and cycle repair shops, on this website, together with related guidance. You are welcome to join us for all or any sections.