Neil [aka Friendly] My Old Mucker. Adventure Buddy. Work Colleague and Best Friend......

This is Our Friendship Adventure Story (updated 5/3/19) Please read this first....

Neil & I first met at work (John Guest) in 2004 when indirectly he was machining some parts for me.... It soon became very apparent we shared the same interests & hobbies.... Cycling (road. m.t.b. touring). Rock Climbing (in & outdoors). Mountain Hiking/Walking/Scrambling. Wild Camping (bivi & tented). YHA Hostels. Sustrans cycle routes & of course Real Ale....

Neil & my sense for adventure in the great outdoors started in 2006 when we took on our first trip away... to Hike The Pennine Way... some 270 miles... along the backbone of Britain.... Since that Trip we've been on over 20 adventures away..... 

Among the Cycling highlights are..... Coast 2 Coast which was across the Lake District, up & over the Pennines & down into Newcastle..... From Reading (home) to the Gower Peninsular in Wales.... Again from Reading to the North of England (Chester).... all on the excellent Sustrans cycle routes...... Also in the French Alpes taking on the mighty Col du Galibier (which is twice as high as Ben Nevis) & the famous Alpe d'Heuz to name a few..... We've probably travelled well over 2,000 miles in the saddle together.....

Our favourite adventures In the Boots together so far.... Walked 90 miles of the South Coastal Path... Hiked around the Lake District...Scrambled in Wales.... Wild Camped around the Brecon Beacons.... Walked the Pennine Way & took on the fantastic edgy Snowdon Horseshoe... These & other adventures we've done over 1,000 miles in our Boots....

Rock Climbing in Wales & the Peak District.... also indoor Climbing for four years at RCC every Thursday for 4hrs..... we still go to RCC when Neil is feeling ok.... as we do with Cycling & Hiking... In fact we've just booked a two day 35 miles Hiking trip away & another in the Lake District... Plus we're planning a cycling trip to the Peak District later this year.....

Neil & I have a strong friendship bond which is based on Trust. Understanding & a Love for all I've mention above... In all the 15 years we've ventured. socialised & worked together we've never fallen out or ever said a bad word to each other.... we just get on so well.... Typically we'll decided on our next adventure... i'll go off & book the trains n hostels & Neil will do the hard bit... sorting out the most adventurous routes & compass work.... When the day is done (sometimes at lunch) we'll have a few pints of Real Ale.... Perfect teamwork....    

My cover picture is of Neil n I having just finished an 80 mile road race in Wales 2017.... we got separated about halfway round... but met up again with 10 miles to go... as we neared the finish we were racing each other through the closed streets of Cardiff.... in a sprint for the line Neil beat me by half a bike.... What a man... He was clearly struggling up the big hills... but still finished so strong..... So why tell you this story over the many others we have.... Well two days later Neil was rushed into hospital with fluid on the lungs & 2 weeks later he was diagnosed with Mesothelioma (nasty type of asbestos cancer).... 

When Neil told me of his condition..... NO!!..... Oh Shit!!!.... What The Hell!!.... F##K No!!... etc etc... .I just had to do something to raise awareness & funds for Mesothelioma UK..... A long bike ride or climb a high mountain would have been too easy..... so right out of my comfort zone.... Run The Reading Half Marathon... But not just Jog it... but Run it in under 2 hrs..... Having not really run since school... training has been bloody tough going.... but nothing compared to what Neil & his family are going through, especially his lovely young daughters......

I was due to run Reading Half Marathon last year.... but i came off my bicycle Jan 2018 in Gran Canaria where I broke 6 bones & then it was cancelled anyway due to heavy snow!!.... So having trained twice for this & now fully recovered... I'm just about ready for the start line on March 17th  2019....

Thank you for reading Our Friendship Adventure Story.... If you could spare a few shillings for my donation tin we'd both be very grateful....

Phil x