The Big 5 team made it to Gibraltar at 7.42 pm on Tuesday, October 26 one month after leaving Tower Bridge in London. Bedfordshire's Richard Harpham, who has travelled the entire distance was joined for several days of this stage on the bike by team member Rob Bates.
Completing a journey of nearly 2,000 miles is not without hardship and a fair amount of adventures. The team have already kayaked the English Channel, cycled over Pyrenees ascending to peaks over 1000m and have cycled Spain’s ‘Widow-maker’ N340 highway (reputedly the most dangerous road in Europe). The team have covered over 95 miles a day on the bikes at various times which also has also taken its toll with fatigue.
Richard adventures on the journey have included getting knocked off in Le Mans by a bus, various spills off-road, getting lost, cycling on motorways and even rescuing two sailors who were experiencing difficulties in their Laser dinghy. He also suffered Anaphylactic Shock after eating some Octopus en route. He was forced to stop cycling and get medical attention at a local hospital. They suggested 3 days rest to which the reply was that he intended to be in the saddle the following day.
Richard said: “It is amazing to stand on the Rock in Gibraltar having achieved so much and come so far. Seeing Africa, another continent is pretty special and brings with it some more challenges and still a final stage to complete this journey. Personally I am looking forward to seeing Casablanca and Marrakesh”. The Big 5 kayak challenge team will complete almost 2500 miles on this expedition and almost 4500 miles over the 2 years and 10 expeditions.
Richard has been doing surveys of rubbish and plastics on various beaches along the way and has counted 252 bits of plastic in a 5 metre square area in the Med, 82 bits of plastic on Rathlin Island off the Irish Coast (exp. 9) and even 22 pieces of plastic at Delta L’Ebre ( a nature reserve). This is part of providing evidence on the scale of pollution and to help educate the important work of the Marine Conservation Society, their chosen charity.
Follow the big 5 kayak challenge adventures @ www.big5kayakchallenge.com on their London to Marrakesh adventure by bicycle and kayak.
The Big 5 team so far
Already during his epic journey Richard has been joined by different team members including Rob Bates, David Gordon, Stewart Graham, Richard Ferguson, Gary Austin, Owen Gabb, Geoff Tilford and Frenchman Florien Guillou. He has also had support team members for the expedition from Colin Day, Martin Desborough, Chris Caddell, Physio, Tim Allardyce and also Rob Bates.
The team haves filmed and photographed their expeditions for their website www.big5kayakchallenge.com . They continue to raise awareness for the River Access Campaign (allowing access to rivers in England and Wales www.riversaccess.org ) and also for the Marine Conservation Society who they are also fundraising for. (www.mcsuk.org)
The Big 5 Kayak Challenge is about a small team taking on 5 distinct and unique expeditions, paddling some of the most challenging water on the planet. We are also supporting some great causes.
The Original Big5 Kayak Challenges
- The Isle of Wight, 85 miles, round it and back – COMPLETED SEPT 2008
- The length of Thames, during arctic conditions – 183 miles in 36 hours! COMPLETED FEB 2009
- The English Channel, dodging ferries, 30 miles open sea – COMPLETED APRIL 2009
- The Scilly Isles from Lands End – 30 miles open sea – COMPLETED MAY 2009
- The Inside Passage - Vancouver to Alaska – 1000 miles, avoiding orcas and bears – COMPLETED JULY 2009
Big 5 Kayak Challenge 2010
- Round Malta and Gozo COMPLETED APRIL 2010
- Canoeing the Yukon, 1200 miles of wilderness COMPLETED JUNE 2010
- John O Groats to the Orkneys COMPLETED AUG 2010
- Scotland to Ireland, via the Corryvrekan Whirlpool, Jura COMPLETED SEPT 2010
- London to Marrakesh, cycling and kayaking 2500 miles IN PROGRESS
