Fundraiser for Aylesham boy and Little Mix fan Charlie Golden, 8, hit while playing on scooter
Wishing all the best for Charlie and his parents during his long recovery
As followers will know Dave, a team member for the ride to Krakow, was hospitalised on a training ride and found himself in King’s College Hospital: he’s now recovering well and out of hospital, but will require further surgery before recuperating fully.
At about the same time this young boy was knocked over in our village and was in the same hospital. Our families are well known to each other.
So we are wishing young Charlie all the best during his long recovery and all the best for his parents Paul and Lauren and brother Joe during this difficult time.
Lee Tonk, who has started a JustGiving page, said: “The reason for raising money is to help them with mortgage and bill payments, help them with the train fares or to even put towards a holiday with Charlie and his 11-year-old brother Joe once he’s back on his feet.”
The Bike Rugby Japan team will dedicate their ride on August 31st to the young boy and his family (wherever they will be on that date!) and will be honoured to make a contribution to Charlie’s charity.
The Slide Away bear at the Ukraine border
Charity Update
We cannot express enough our appreciation and many thanks to those that have donated.
Chuffed to recieve a personal thanks from Michal of Kalno, Poland
Bingo, Linford and Dale all looked a bit apprehensive at the start of the touring, and the bikes looked over-packed.
Off we set with Linney leading the way through the busy streets of Krakow. We were soon on our way out of town steadily getting used to the weight and feel of the bikes.
With the weather very hot and sticky we all realised we will need to keep our water bottles topped up. Luckily we managed to find a small shop open on a Sunday, about the 30 mile mark where we stopped for a cold soft drink and filled the water bottles up.
We carried on through forest trails that seem so much better on a touring bike. Next up was a lunch stop at a weird pizza restaurant, though the proprietor was helpful, ordered a massive pizza each, then ended up strapping the left overs on to Linneys bike for tomorrows breakfast.
From here we only had approx 20 miles to go, though inevitably Dale had his first fall on a sandy trail! We managed to re-route and we all got back to our first over-night stop. The place was deserted when we arrived, though Bingo called the owner, he duly arrived within 10 mins. All in all a good days riding.
Keith, Dale and Linford
Keith, Dale and Linford, all set
Keith and Dale
Dale, first day on the road, in a forest in Poland
Keith, first day on the road, in a forest in Poland
We set off around 08:15 after filling up our water bottles and grabbing a banana in a local shop. None of us could face the leftover pizza we had in the apartment fridge. All of us still a little bit fussy, which I think think this will change very quickly.
We are getting used to the bikes and how they handle surprisingly well, even on the dirt and forest tracks. We had breakfast in a MacDonalds: just a coffee and a pancake thing – obviously nothing special.
We then pushed on through quite nice roads and trails, and then stopped for an ice cream and cold drink with about 24 miles to go. Soon we were on the busy A4 road. It wasn’t pleasant but we all kept together for the last 10 miles and made a quick stop for more cold drinks and a plate of chips: originally we tried to get the soup but failed to make the lady understand! We arrived at the hotel around 17:00.
It was the best meal of the Tour so far for Dale last night: Horseradish & egg soup followed by cabbage filled with risotto in a mushroom sauce. Early start for today’s stage, all of us a bit wary of the Polish – Ukraine border crossing.
We made really good progress to the crossing, first road had traffic lights and a barrier, so turned around went up another side road, you could see the border crossing on left.
The a Polish border control guard shouted at Linney “get away this is a border crossing”.
We then went back to the original barrier waited about 5 min until a big lorry came. The barrier opened so on we went, through tto he next barrier, then down the outside lane past 100 or so lorries. We came to the original Polish guard, who then arranged via his boss to allow us to put our bikes in the back of an Ukrainian guys van. Great result managed to get through the border in around an hour, which was a relief all round.
We had ice-cream and cold soft drink to celebrate our first major border crossing, and then a steady 17 miles to the digs.
After an early start at 07:30 as we knew we had some extra miles to put in. Had quick breakfast from supermarket oranges, bananas and a peanut butter thing. Made good progress to the outside of the city Lviv, then the cobbles took over for the entry into the city: it makes Paris – Roubiax look like tarmac. Had a quick snack in the city centre, and then pushed on up the steep cobbled exit road with trams and traffic, great fun! Finally got out of the city, on to rolling roads, stopped for an ice cream and soft drink 18 miles out, then rolled into town past the Ukrainian Infantry memorial, got into town and it was still 30+ degrees. Cooled down with a few beers, then on to the Hotel, not good but heyho. Another good day in the saddle.
Another early start in the morning mainly due to the hotel not providing anything. Breakfast consisted of yesterdays left over fruit and a cake brought last night. The Hotel lady was very pleasant in the morning but none of us could understand what she was saying.
The weather is a bit cooler with thunderstorms predicted. We started off on good roads and made steady progress, stopping of at the usual place: petrol station! Met two guys very interested in the ride: one gave us 50 Ukrainian things, about £1.50 for a coffee great lad. Then we made our way to the city of Ternopil just as the predicted thunderstorm arrived. We shelter in a nice cafe overlooking the lake for lunch and made plans for the rest of the day.
Decided to crack on for the whole 80 mile and see if we could book a place to stay later. It was a difficult ascent out of the city again with trolley buses and traffic all over the place, but we then got into a steady pace and arrived at a nice road ide bar 16 miles from our proposed destination. The great proprietor took a selfie with us, sorted out his wi-fi for us, while Linney ate again, and Bingo and Dale had another soft drink. We booked a place with no difficulties roughly about 16 miles away. After the selfie on we made great progress on roads that needed a lot to me desired, got to a really nice hotel. It was not ours! Ours was 500m up the road, still ok, few beers and relaxed.
Keith at a cinema in Ukraine. I don’t think they slept here: they might of! Actually it is a hotel!
Getting ready under a ‘Toy Story 4’ poster
Haycart in Ukraine
Church in Ukraine
The weather breaks and thunder and lightning makes a change.
The day started with an early breakfast in the trucker’s cafe, with not much to choose from. Linney managed a plate of rice and meat followed by a couple of fried eggs, Bingo just had the fried eggs, I had a few biscuits and coffees. On the road for 7:30 on the best road we have had in Ukraine nice surface and a 2 metre hard shoulder: this road lasted for about 30 miles and we made really good time and so decided to have a early lunch stop in Khmelnyiskyi. However it was not much of a town centre, so we rode through and stopped at a little shop for some snacks, just outside the town. After pushing ahead again the road very soon became awful, with pot-holes and up turned tarmac: really difficult to keep your line on. Later Dale’s other front pannier came adrift, so we had to cable-tie it back into place. The we carried on to another little town.
Linford, thinking a horse and cart might be a better option
Put-it-together-yourself Horse and Cart kit, Ukraine
Hotel in Ukraine
After an early night while the locals has a party, we could still hear the music as we drifted off to sleep. Bingo reckons he heard them close up.
We were up bright an early for the breakfast fried eggs again and made an impressive start on nice flat smooth roads covering the first 32 mile in less than 2 hours. We tried to stop by the river in Vinnaytsia but a grumpy man said no, so we settled for a coffee and Pain au chocolat by the side of the road. It seemed like a nice city but it was a little early,
Looks like Nana Gash’s Jowett Javelin has been in the shed too long.
The Pivdennyi River at Vinnytsia, Ukraine
Another pit-stop
Roadside cows
Granny will look after the bikes
Granny’s place
Overland To India
See how Ben and Jess are getting on as they take a more southern route across Asia to India.
Green River Canoes Ltd runs Inn-to-Inn Guided Canoe Trips in the south of France and the Belgium Ardennes.
These holidays are in the Ardennes, Perigord, Lot, Dordogne, Ardeche and Tarn regions with beautiful easy rivers, fabulous scenery, relaxing accommodation and lovely food and wine.
View all posts by Green River Canoes Ltd
Published
2 thoughts on “Into Ukraine”
Great lads keep it up, you all look good but I will stick to my swimming take care love Auntie Joyce.
Bike Rugby Japan 
Great lads keep it up, you all look good but I will stick to my swimming take care love Auntie Joyce.
LikeLike