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My Life
Changing Bike Ride From Canada to Costa Rica
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My Life
Changing Bike Ride From Canada to Costa Rica
By Bernie Friend
A 21-YEAR-OLD saw off rabid dogs and Mexican
bandits to survive a 7,000km charity cycle
ride from Canada to Costa Rica.
Greg Hardes, from Hadleigh, is now back at
home after the gruelling five-month cycle,
which raised money to build new classrooms
in a poor Central American village.
Greg set off from Vancouver in September,
with pal Mark Ellis, 24, from Enfield.
The pair, who had no previous long distance
cycling experience, followed the Pacific
coastline all the way down to Costa Rica.
“It was the most awesome thing I have ever
done,” said Greg, who lives in Westwood
Gardens. “We went past beautiful lakes,
tropical rainforests, mountains and
volcanoes.
“The people we saw on the way were amazing,
too. They showed us so much kindness.”
After leaving their Canadian starting point,
the pair cycled down the length of the
United States before crossing the border
into Mexico.
They then went through Central American
countries Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras
and Nicaragua, before finally crossing the
finishing line in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The highlight of their trip came in
Guatemala, where they visited Yalicar
Primary School, in a village called San
Pedro Carcha, which will receive the £7,000
the duo have raised so far.
“I think the whole village turned out to see
us,” said Greg, who was supporting the
international Plan charity.
“We were transformed from cycling hobos to
the biggest celebrities in town.
“Plan works to ensure children, young people
and adults get the basic learning and life
skills they need to realise their full
potential.
“The funds we raised will help pay for two
new classrooms, the training of two teachers
and a principal, plus a rainwater harvesting
system.
“The school is for the indigenous Mayan
people, who are very poor and have to send
their children out to work, doing things
like repairing potholes in the road,
sometimes from the age of five.
“These kids are lucky to go to school before
the age of 12. But, hopefully, the efforts
of people like us can help them get a basic
education and give them better choices in
life.”
Greg came through the trip pretty much
unscathed, but did have one or two worrying
moments in Mexico.
“There was one time we were cycling down a
street when a dog attacked Mark,” explained
the cyclist, who carried all his gear in
four panniers. “We were cycling along with a
couple of honeymooners we had met, when this
wild mutt sprung out of nowhere, causing
Mark to collide with them.
“He got up and pedalled off before he got
mauled, but lost one of his panniers with a
load of stuff in it.
“But at least he didn’t get bitten, because
there is a lot of rabies out there.
“Another time in Mexico we were having a
food stop in a cafe when we heard our bikes,
which were locked together, being dragged
away.
“I ran out to see these Mexicans trying to
load them on the back of a pick-up truck.
“They were struggling to get the last one on
and both bikes fell off as they tried to get
away.
“One of them started waving a knife at me,
but I was so angry I didn’t think of the
danger. Luckily, they just drove off and we
still had our bikes. It was a lucky escape!”
After finishing the trip, Greg returned to
Nicaragua, built a hut out of driftwood and
lived on the beach for a month, spending his
days surfing.
“I lived the classic beach bum life, it was
great,” he laughed. “I had a job in a cafe
and they wondered why I came to work every
day covered in sand.”
He also says returning home has given him a
whole new perspective on life. “I’ve found
it hard to adapt back home to be honest,”
said Greg, who plans to see more of the
world as a travel photographer.
“I was living on five dollars a day, eating
untold banana sandwiches and sleeping in
tents.
“It was very humbling and makes you realise
how lavish our lives are in comparison to
people in poorer countries.
“But I suppose that’s our culture and it is
human nature to be greedy and want more all
the time.
“I’m just glad I have lived the other side
and know I can survive self-sufficiently.”
To read more about Greg’s trip, or donate to
his charity fund, visit the website,
www.onyerbike08.com.
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