An unusual pair of Irish adventure cyclists are about to begin the last leg of their around-the-world bicycle odyssey with a 900km fundraising loop around Ireland that will bring them right back home to Tramore Co. Waterford.
They’ll be hosting eight fundraising events as they cycle around Ireland, raising money for four bicycle organisations who refurbish bicycles and donate them to young people who might not be able to afford them otherwise. The Co. Clare event will take place in the Salmon Bookshop in Ennistymon on Monday October 12th at 6pm.
Ellie (46) and Mark (51) don’t look like adventure cyclists. They don’t wear the lycra uniform, they don’t have expensive bicycles, and they are not athletes. They are ordinary middle-aged people on average inexpensive bicycles who decided to set out on an extraordinary life changing journey.
The couple have cycled over 31,000km on their global circumnavigation, and this last 900km loop around Ireland will bring them right back to where they started 20 months ago, The Prom in Tramore Co. Waterford.
They have crossed 24 countries on three continents, cycling the length of the Danube river, crossing the deserts of Central Asia, through China, crossing the equator in Sumatra, and navigating Trump’s America.
“It’s been an amazing adventure,” Mark Graham said. “We’re still trying to get our heads around the fact that we have cycled all around this incredible planet. As much as we’ve enjoyed the freedom and exhilaration of the last 20 months, we’re also looking forward to this final part of our journey that will bring us back home to our families.”
“Words could never express just how huge this journey has been,” Ellie O’Byrne said. “We’re tired, but on a huge high as we push for the last 900km of our cycle home.”
