Mysiuk Tour – May 2015

My name is Wayne Mysiuk.  Myself and my 2 sons, Dermot aged 9 and Kian 13 decided to attempt to cycle the Trans Pennine Trail Coast to Coast to raise money for Wakefield Hospice. The event took place between the 23^rd and 27^th May 2015.  Dermot was the youngest ever to complete the TPT even though he suffers from a rare blood disorder (HSP) which causes pain and swelling in his lower limbs, thus making it even more of a challenge!

Our journey began at the end of Southport pier on the 23th May 2015. Our first job however was to acquire our 1st stamp from the tourist information centre, before we eventually set off on day one of our challenge. This would see us reaching our camp 60 miles away in Dunham Massey. Even though we had put in 800 miles of training on the TPT around Leeds, Barnsley, Penistone and Doncaster in preparation, we were apprehensive to say the least!

The sun was out and conditions couldn’t have been better, as we set off down the coast towards Liverpool. We passed the airport and then followed the river Mersey, then on through Widnes, and Warrington. Along the route we came across some wooden steps which we had to climb, thus having to dismount and push but the breath-taking view from the top made the climb more than worthwhile however! Just before arriving at our camp we stopped off at the Rope and Anchor to acquire our second stamp, it was a lovely pub set just off the Trail and the food smelled so nice making our hunger grow even more! On arrival at our first camp (Dunham Massey Scout Camp) we were greeted by the leaders and Cubs of the 5th Tyldesley cub pack, who were our hosts for the evening. We were lucky to have been offered an evening meal and breakfast by the pack, and their hospitality was amazing!!!

Day 2 of our Journey would be our hardest day of the ride, taking us 60 miles over the Pennines to our second nights camp Silverwood Scout camp, on Silkstone Common, near Penistone. We set off and made our way back to the trail, which took us back along the Mersey at points. Kian and Dermot noticed the river narrowed and became smaller as we made our way inland, just showing how educational nature can be. We then passed Stretford and Manchester before reaching Stockport where we acquired our 3rd stamp. We were lucky to have arrived here to see a classic car show, and to hear the Mayor’s speech.

From here we headed to the Pennines, through Tintwistle, Torside Crowden and the reservoirs, it was here our journey changed to some quite extreme cycling, following the TPT past Woodhead Pass and over to Dunford Bridge. Unfortunately due to being well behind on time we were unable to stop for photos, however I did record the whole journey on my helmet cam. By the time we reached the Travelers Inn for our 4th stamp it was very late and dark, around 10.30 p.m., and still had another 40 minutes cycle to our camp for the night. On arrival at the camp we had to cycle about a mile into the woods which spooked Kian and Dermot out a bit, as it was eerie in the dark. We were greeted by the Warden who offered us a hot drink and biscuits, before pitching our tent, and then fell straight to sleep.

Day 3 was a nice steady day taking us 38 miles to our next camp at Threeways Cafe in Doncaster. We set off and immediately had a very long steep hill back up to the trail from our campsite. On route we decided to get our next stamp from Wentworth Castle.

However we soon regretted the decision as it took us up some more very steep hills, adding a few miles onto our journey. We had breakfast here, and it was a lovely place to visit which made up for the extra distance and effort. From here it was a nice steady cycle through Barnsley, and out towards Doncaster. Again the weather was beautiful, allowing us to take in the beautiful scenery and wildlife as we followed the River Dearne and then the river Don, until stopping for lunch at KFC in Sorotborough. After Lunch we bumped into a Mexican gentleman who was touring the TPT.  He had given up work to cycle the world, and had already cycled 3000 miles from Mexico to New York, before landing in Manchester to continue his journey around Yorkshire! In his opinion Yorkshire and the TPT has the most beautiful scenery he has ever seen!!!  The gentleman’s final destination was Japan. We arrived at our evening’s camp fairly early, which was also where we acquired ou

Day 4 would take us on another flat ride 50 mile to Ellerker near South Cave, where we were extremely lucky to have been provided a farmers front lawn to camp on. First we passed through Sykhouse, before stopping for lunch in Snaith. Many thanks to the fire chief in Snaith for allowing us to leave our bikes next to the fire engine while we ate! the journey was very flat as we cycled up through Selby, then down the river Ouse to Barnbey on the Marsh where we stopped for a snack, before carrying on through Howden and then along the river Humber.

By the time we had reached out camp we were very hungry, and I Had broken 4 spokes on my back wheel and was very worried if it would last the journey!

On a plus side however the farmers mum whose lawn we was camping on was very nice, and brought us loads of homemade buns, and flapjacks etc… This was our home for the night, and we even had electricity in the tent!!!

Final day!!! We set off from Ellerker on for our shortest ride of the challenge, a 31 mile cycle taking us through Hull. To say I was worried that my back wheel would make it was an understatement! However all we could do is ride carefully, and hope. Today’s ride took us all along the River Humber, through Hessle, under the Humber Bridge, to the Deep at Hull and then cutting up to our Final destination of Hornsea.

When we arrived at the Deep we had to acquire our penultimate stamp of the journey. This allowed us to take in the sites of Hull, and have a bit of fun at there, before cycling the last short leg of the journey. As we drew closer to Hornsea a feeling of accomplishment came over me, we were nearly there!

We then came off the Trail and saw the seafront directly in front of us, we cycled over propped our bikes up on the wall and bought fish and chips! Oh they tasted so good!!!

Words cannot express how proud I am of my sons, all the dedication, training, falls, ups and downs had all paid off. What an achievement, and one they will remember for the rest of their lives… #myheroes!!!

Many thanks Sir Bradley Wiggins for signing our tops and to Polaris Bikewear for providing our tops and shorts!

At 9 years old Dermot is now the youngest ever to complete the ride! In total we cycled 230 miles including distances to campsites, even though the Trail is only 215 miles long!

The Trans Pennine Trail is a safe network of tracks exploring our beautiful countryside and I would recommend it for all. It doesn’t matter how far you cycle, walk or run on the Trail, there is always something different to look at and see, exploring nature, and enlightening our children to what nature has to offer.

Dermots Blog

Before I began my journey I felt excited and happy because I knew that when I had finished I would become the world’s youngest to complete this amazing challenge. At the start it was a bit nerve-racking and scary especially knowing that I had to go over the Pennines the next day. When we set off I was in for a treat because the first couple of miles it wasn’t muddy or wet, but it was flat and sunny. On the first day I cycled through Liverpool, and seeing the river Mersey was a magnificent experience at the start I thought it was a lake it was so big. A few minutes later we had to push our bikes up a big slope (I thought it was never ending.) That night we stopped at a cub pack they offered us tea and breakfast they were really friendly.

Day 2 of our journey, the second day was the hardest because we had to go over the terrifying Pennines. That day was a long and hard day but also fun. We were lucky when we got over the Pennines because we had a long section of downhill.  After the downhill section it was a smooth long flat section therefore we kept up our speed up. We arrived at the campsite at 12 pm we then had to put our tent and lock bikes up.

On the 3^rd day of our journey my legs were tired and I was going to go to KFC for dinner. After I’d eaten I set back off. It was a steady day because it was only 38 miles so we did not have to go fast. That night we arrived at the café and had tea there.

Day 4 of our journey we set off and we had to go along a canal that had a swarm of midges – we had to close our mouths and put on our glasses. We didn’t have any breakfast, but had an early lunch. That night we slept on a kind ladies lawn and she gave us some of the things she had baked.

On the 5^th day of our journey I woke up knowing that I would arrive in Hornsea. It wasn’t a very hard day but it seemed very long. When I finished I was really happy but relieved and I had fish and chips.

Kians Blog

I was really looking forward to the coastal trip. The highlights of the trip was when we went up the Pennines and I tried to cycle up every hill. I even proved my Dad wrong when he said I couldn’t cycle up it. I really liked the food we had along the way, and when we went down a really steep hill it felt great. The third day was a short one and we cycled through Doncaster and had a KFC.  We saw a nice Mexican man who quit his job because he said he wanted to make something of his life and he had cycled from Mexico to New York, and then came over here and would finish in Japan. On the last night of our journey we stayed on a nice ladies lawn and she brought some home baked food out. It was quite a funny day because we were trying to hurry up and get there because my Dad had broken 4 spokes.