WEEK 2 RECAP: From Storms to Kindness; 738km, a Broken Trike and 10% Fundraised!
This week, Steve, Eva, and Danny hit a major milestone of completing a massive 738.48km and reaching 10% of their fundraising goal for OpenSight. Their journey took them across borders, through rainstorms, mechanical breakdowns and some truly heartwarming moments of generosity. Here’s what went down in Week 2 as they cycled from Essex to Germany and beyond:
Day 6: Surprise Distance and Stormy Skies:
Steve, Eva and Danny set off from Peldon to Little Clacton expecting a casual 20km ride… at least that’s what Google said. In reality? It was 35km. Spirits were high at the start, but the rain rolled in fast, dragging down temperatures and moods. Especially Danny’s, who arrived soaked, cold and fed up.
Thankfully, the day ended on a high. John and Elizabeth at Barnfields Retreat greeted them with warmth and kindness. While Steve and Danny completely zonked, Eva used the downtime to edit videos for their supporters.
Day 7: Farewell UK!
Today marked a huge moment: they officially left the UK and set their sights on Europe. Not without a hiccup, though; one of the front wheels had a slow puncture. Danny stepped up and fixed it in no time. A proper hands-on win for the team.
Days 8–9: Hello Holland:
Upon arrival in the Netherlands, Danny cycled a 20km solo mission before reconnecting with the group. Together, they managed 65km in total, riding along the country’s exceptional cycling infrastructure with designated bike routes alongside roads that made the ride a breeze.
They finished the day at their campsite.. with no food as the shops were closed. Tom at the campsite came to the rescue offering them a beers and fresh vegetables to refuel. Another small act of kindness that made a big difference.
Day 10: Stranded and Saved in the Netherlands
Disaster hit: Danny’s trike broke down completely. But what happened next was nothing short of extraordinary.
From the team’s post:
“Guardian angels come in all forms… ours came in form of this family. Walter rescued us from the side of the road, brought us to his house, where we met his wonderful wife Antoinette and the rest of the family. We got fed, given lots of snacks for the road, and currently Walter is driving all three of us and our trikes 180km away from his home in Netherlands to the manufacturer of our trikes in Germany, who will look at Danny’s trike, and hopefully fix it tomorrow morning. Can we have a massive shoutout to Walter and his family. You don’t meet people like this everyday! We are incredibly grateful”.
Supporters were quick to respond:
- “absolutely fabulous, what a lovely family and so glad you were rescued xx”
“fantastic that the kindness of humanity still exists! Walter and Antoinette are glowing examples”
Even Walter himself replied:
“Pleasure was all mine, buddy’s. Huge respect for you all and your life-changing trip through Europe.”
Day 11: Repaired in Germany and Ready to Roll:
Now in Germany, the team arrived at Hase Bikes, the manufacturer behind their trikes. While Danny’s trike was undergoing repairs they were invited to breakfast and had the chance to meet founder Marek Hase and his team.
Camping on-site while they wait, they’re gearing up to continue east to the Czech Republic. Meanwhile, Danny and Steve lightened the mood by test-riding a bizarre, leg-powered trike hybrid. Watch the chaos unfold here: Watch the YouTube Short
Quote of the Week:
“Unexpected twists and turns… keep heading East!”
Support the Journey
Want to help the team keep pedalling?
Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/blindlyfollowingdreams?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
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