Patrick’s Fundraiser
for The Southport and Area Schools Worker Trust 4th-19th June 2025
You will be able to follow Patrick’s progress and thoughts as he pedals his way across northern Spain below.
Given the events in our town last summer, now is the time more than ever to shine a beacon of light and bring hope to an emerging generation. The SASWT youth workers and volunteers are powering ahead every day of the week, visiting primary and secondary schools, leading assemblies, running workshops, creating Safe Space school yard drop-ins, after-school clubs and much more! You can find out more about the SASWT at https://saswtrust.com/.
In an age of ever increasing need, with escalating mental health and wellbeing concerns, they have the opportunity to expand their hugely in-demand work acrosslocal schools. If you are able to support this sponsored bike ride, you join a movement that makes a difference right now and in years to come.
This is a significantly steep assignment, cycling the Camino Way from Sarlat-la-Canéda in south west France, across the Pyrenees, to Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain – over 14 days in the saddle that’s 728 miles with 12636 meters of ascent (equivalent to 119 Parbold Hills!). The Camino de Santiago, often called the “Way of St. James” or “The Way,” is a network of pilgrimage routes
across Europe leading to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, believed to be the final resting place of the apostle St. James.
With your generosity, we’ll support the SASWT as they partner with schools, youth clubs, churches and other organisations to make a lasting difference in the lives of local young people – unleashing purpose, building resilience, and bringing hope for the future.
Tuesday 3rd June
Together with my good friend, “Electric” Craig, we set off from Southport at 0800hrs on Monday by car to Stansted, where we leave the car for our return flight from Santiago De Compostela. We had similar reflections of feeling excitement tinged with a large dose of apprehension…can we do it, will we make it, we’re a couple of years older etc? Craig has walked the final 100 miles of the Camino some 10 years ago…”let the Camino speak to you” is his advice, and that of others who have regaled is with their experience.
All went well and we caught our train to Portsmouth navigating London without issue. An overnight crossing to Ouistreham was like sailing across a duck pond. We took the opportunity to visit Sword Beach in honour of my Dad (an emotional moment that as always catches me by surprise). His regimental plaque stated “Nec Aspera Terrent” – “Difficulties be Damned”, always a good motto when travelling. We cycled along the River Orne to Caen, stopping en route for breakfast.
At Caen station our train was showing 20 minutes delay, which given we only had 56 minutes to cross Paris was a concern. We got to Paris 30 minutes late and raced across the city. It was a valiant effort but we reached the platform only to find our train to Bordeaux pulling out of the station.
On the upside we were offered a nights accommodation in Paris courtesy of SNCF. The thought of telling our spouses about this looked like too good an opportunity to pass up! However, we would not arrive at our destination (Sarlat en Caneda) until 8pm the following day. So we ploughed on and managed to get to Bordeaux were we stayed impromptu overnight. We will arrive at the start point at 3pm on Wednesday and start day one 6 hours behind schedule, hopefully arriving at our destination about 10pm and we’ll be back on track.
We have four days cycling before we start the Camino proper.
Wednesday 4th June
We had a leisurely start to the day in Bordeaux because the first train to Sarlat was not until 12:40. This allowed for some sight seeing in the city that sits on the river Garonne which we will see again on Thursday.
We arrived in Sarlat in heavy rain, and got on track by 4pm. The rain eventually relented making way for sunshine. We wanted to get to our accommodation by sunset, so to be honest the cycling was functional and arduous…not much enjoyment! En route we spotted an ingenious farmers fence made out of old bicycles. There was one significant climb when we left the Dordogne valley for the Lot valley. Our nights stay was on the banks of the Lot. Tomorrow is a more forgiving day, and hopefully time to admire the scenery.
As always seems to happen, the rules of long distance cycling have come to my mind afresh…1) don’t think about the enormity of the ride, it’s too scary, rather focus on the day in hand; just achieve what you have to today, 2) every mile counts whether it’s a long uphill climb or a fast down hill ride, 3) freewheel the downhills to save your energy for the climbs. Lessons I need to remember for life!
Bordeaux, bike fence, sunset over the River Lot
Thursday 5th June
A call out to Martin Maynard our circiut webmaster, who also looks after this website. If there are delays in the blog appearing it’s all my doing and definitely not Martin’s. He’s always on the case 
To be honest my mind was struggling today. Given our late finish the night before, we set off at 10am. Out accommodation was ideal for our needs.
I found today really tough. We’d planned 59 miles but my energy was depleted by 40 miles. We got to our accommodation in Baudignan about 5pm. My anxiety wasn’t great and I was thinking this is just too much. Electric Craig always seems to have the right word of encouragement at the right time. After some individual contemplation by us both we decided at the’d reduce our daily mileage in lieu of some rest days. Suddenly things seemed better and more achievable. On further reflection, given our late start the previous day, we’d effectively completed two days cycling in a single 24 hour period. This combined with the travelling may explain things.
The days cycling was actually really good, starting on a disused rail track that is not a cycle route. We saw things such as the bird of prey. On Wednesday we cycled across the Dordogne and Lot rivers, today it was the River Garonne, which links into a camel of the same name, and connects the Atlantic sea with the Mediterranean Sea.
Craig had a puncture which he repaired as quickly as an F1 pit team, we were soon back on our way.
Hoping today’s anxiety will subside after a good nights rest 
Click image to enlarge.
Friday 6th June
To mark D-Day I wore my D-Day cycling top! It’s seems to have done the trick as the riding seemed more doable. We set off early doors through the forest that had been our overnight stay. We hoped to join a former rail line cycle track, but it wasn’t navigable on our bikes. We took the road, which wasn’t as forgiving as rail tracks never have steep inclines…this road does and we (sort of) took them by storm. Later we rejoined the old railway line which at that point was well surface. A gradual decline to Marsan. By lunch time we’d reached 35 miles and our next nights stay in Poyanne was well within our reach. A tough climb a few miles out did to deter us. The village was beautiful…the post office come village shop, bar and bistro was perfect. No food choice, as it was Chinese night and the banquet hit the spot!
Feel like we’re into more of a rhythm which we need to be as we approach the Pyrenees.
I was reflecting on how reducing the daily mileage if needs be, in lieu of rest days, eased our minds. If we do about 42 miles per day over 17 days we reach Santiago.
Click image to enlarge.
