From Los Alcázares to Scotland: Two scooterists are finally finishing their epic charity mission
Support the brave duo riding 3,500 kilometres from Murcia to the UK and back, all in aid of two fantastic causes
Paul and Julie are about to embark on an epic journey that's been five years in the making. The pair are riding a classic Lambretta scooter all the way from Los Alcázares in Murcia to Ayr in Scotland, raising money for two fantastic charities along the way.
They're setting off on June 22 and planning to return on July 6, all being well. The route they've mapped out is quite the adventure: from Los Alcázares via Madrid to Bilbao, where they'll catch the ferry to Plymouth. From there, they'll visit Swiss Tony Scooter Spares (hopefully not needing their services!), then on to Bristol for the night.
Next stop is Bolton, where they'll meet up with Wayne Murphy, who's joining them for the final push to Ayr for the Euro Lambretta Jamboree weekend. Then comes the daunting task of turning around and doing the whole thing in reverse.
In total, they're looking at covering around 3,500 kilometres, all on what Paul cheerfully calls "a 50 year old smoker."
Originally, this was supposed to be a four person adventure back in 2020. Four mates on four classic Lambrettas were planning to ride to Cumbria, raising funds for Eden Valley Hospice and Blind Veterans UK. But then Covid hit, and like so many other plans, the ride got shelved.
"Originally there were gonna be four of us, three from the Lake District and one from Weston Supermare and we were supporting a rally in Ambleside," Paul explains.
They had set themselves an ambitious target of €50,000, which Paul was confident they could reach, having previously raised €40,000 with some cycling friends on a ride from Bolton to Lands End and back.
"But Covid put a stop to the whole thing."
Now, five years later, Julie and Paul are determined to finish what they started, even if it's just the two of them this time. And they're making it even more challenging by extending the route.
"We chose Ayr as it's the venue for a huge Euro Lambretta rally and a little bit more testing with the extra distance," Paul says with obvious enthusiasm.The last time around, despite the ride being cancelled, they still managed to raise an incredible €12,000 split between both charities thanks to their sponsors and supporters. This time, they're aiming to add another €8,000 to that total, but those who know Paul know he's secretly gunning for a lot more!
Both Paul and Julie have been living in Spain for decades. Paul's been here for 23 years and Julie for 20. They met in Spain and share a passion for the music scene that goes hand in hand with scooter culture.
"We regularly ride on trips away to take in a band singing Northern Soul, Ska, Mod," Paul tells me.
The charities they've chosen hold special significance for them. With three of the original riders being from Cumbria, Eden Valley Hospice was a natural choice and as it turns out, Julie is from Carlisle too. Blind Veterans was a cause supported by the original Ambleside rally they were planning to attend and Paul says, "given we're finishing the job, we couldn't leave them out."
What makes this journey particularly impressive is that they're doing it completely unsupported. No backup vehicle, no support crew, just the two of them on a 51 year old scooter.
"We're not ride shy," Paul says confidently. "We'll carry some essential bike spares and tools, but the other space we have will be taken up with our clothes for two weeks."
He's well aware of the challenges ahead. "The scooter is 51 years old and was designed as a basic commute vehicle, never to do thousands of kilometres in the way they are used now."
The relatively small fuel tank means they'll need to refuel every 100 kilometres, which will at least give them regular breaks.
They've made some practical preparations for comfort too. The seat has been re-covered with a layer of gel and Paul reveals their secret weapon: "we use cycling shorts too." It's clear they've thought this through, even if the whole adventure sounds slightly mad to the rest of us.
Paul and Julie are looking for support in any way people can offer. They want donations, of course, but they're also asking people to share their story far and wide and even join them in spirit or meet them along the route if possible.
As Paul puts it, they want to "make some noise, raise some funds and prove that even after five years and a global pandemic, you can't stop scooterists with a mission."
You can follow their journey and donate through their Facebook page or their GiveWheel fundraising page.
Whether you're into scooters or not, you've got to admire their determination to finally finish what they started, even if it means doing it the hard way on a half century old Lambretta.
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