Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance

We're cycling 2,000 kms from Barcelona to Manchester in June to try and buy an ambulance in memory of Charlie Mitten for St Ann's hospice in Gtr Manchester.

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

This is the crack. This is what we're trying to do.
https://t.co/W8cYjThO94

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

We’ve stopped at The Blythe pub near Uttoxeter, Staffs. Walked in as strangers. Staff couldn’t have done more for us. Made us a Sunday lunch out of hours. Regulars had a whip round and just gave us £190 towards the ambulance. The generosity of strangers can be staggering.

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

We stopped at this pub near Birmingham. Paid for food. They heard wha we are doing and gave us our money back to put towards ambulance.

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

Day 14. Longest yet. 142kms and 1278 metres of climbing. Hard. Stopped to see Jim White in Oxford and he fed us. Raised £37,500 with gift aid - just £2,500 more needed to buy ambulance.

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

Day 13. 89 kms in France To Cherbourg and 43kms from Portsmouth to Winchester, which is lovely. Most kms in a day. Joined by a new rider Danny. David May has offered to double his donation if we ride naked from Stoke. We’re doing well on money put need a final push.

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

Day 13. Onto Cotentin peninsula south of Cherbourg. So many hills it should be twinned with Tibet. Over 1000 metres of climbing. Hard day. D Day anniversary stuff going on. We’re through £32,000 too - and we’ll need the ambulance ourselves at this rate.

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

Day 11 done. Another 110kms. Heavy rain towards the end. Soaked to the bone. Felt dangerous cycling. Not enjoyable at all. In Brittany. Two more days in France.

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

@BenHibbs @AndyMitten Thanks vere much for the donation Ben. Top lad.

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

Day 9 done. 107kms and 1140 metres of calf burning, arse whacking climbs.

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

Day 8. 70k done so far today. In a town called Pons. Perfect cycling weather. Sam going back to Manchester tonight to get back to work. Signed Liverpool shirt raised £5k to boost our total. Heading north all the time now towards England. All good.

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

End of day 7. Now near Bordeaux. Harder day today but we did see 5 mins of a football game. And the support lads Dave and Murph can relax after washing, driving, cleaning, setting up and getting us food.

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

Reminder that this closes at 7pm Uk time.

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

We’ve received several bids for Andy Robertson’s signed and match issued shirt from Madrid today. The current highest is £2,500. Many thanks. The auction will end on Friday 14th June at 2pm. Bids can go on here or to [email protected] Every penny will go towards the ambulance

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

The current highest bid for the Robertson shirt is £2750. The deadline is 7pm tomorrow (Fri) UK time. We’ve put it back a few hours as we’re cycling in the days. Bid on here or to [email protected]

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

Day 6. Needs must. Making solid progress. In Agen.

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

A little video update from day 5 of our ride. Please note that we allow no product placement from our generous sponsors.

[Wheatley Plastics @WheatleyPlastic]

Keep up the great work guys! First donation made as you head towards the halfway stage. £0.50 for the 1000 kms covered. All for a geat cause @StAnnsHospice @ToAmbulance 🙌👏

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

Day t. Bright start. 43kms to Toulouse in 90 mins with strong end behind us. Another 70kms to go...

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

Day 4. 80k of 115k done. From Med coast inland through Carcassone. Better weather. Everyone sore. Had a very nice offer of a brew from former MCFC captain Paul Power who lives here, but it was a little out of the way and we were worried about falling behind.

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

Double puncture. Rain. 8 degrees in southern France in June. We’ll have better days

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

Into France. It’s really hard. Headwind, climbs and forecast rain all day.

[Barcelona to Manchester for an ambulance @ToAmbulance]

Crossing the Ter river near Girona. 62kms and 600 metres of climbing into day 2.