Cross Roads

In June 2011 my wife and I were touring the north of England. The weather was unsettled and so on the spur of the moment we decided that rather than go off on a hike we would visit the town of Richmond having never before been there. Last summer a group of sufferers from Parkinson's undertook a mammoth fund raising cycle ride from Lands End to John o Groats and then across Ireland. They set off early in June. Among them was our friend Mark Vallance whom we have known since Uni in the 60's. We had seen an internet picture of their departure but had no idea of their proposed route or the time they anticipated the whole journey would take. I had noticed from the photo that they were wearing very fetching light blue lycra cycling gear. As we rounded a bend coming into Richmond out of the corner of my eye I noticed a group of cyclists in shiny blue approaching the junction we were at. I pulled up onto the pavement ( on double yellow lines) and jumped out of the car as Mark literally pulled alongside ( and was probably cursing this inconsiderate motorist!) Had we been 10 seconds later or earlier we would not have met. Neither of us could believe it. We had no idea that the cycle route was going through Richmond. We had no idea that we would be going to Richmond at the start of that day. Mark had no idea that we were even on holiday. Needless to say, we and all the Pedal for Parkinson's guys were astounded at this very very chance meeting. Mike J W Hastings UK