This is a clever and inspiring account of Alice’s epic 1000 mile journey cycling around Sussex in 20 days.
Yello Velo
There is a cyclist, her names Alice B,
She rides a yellow bike, for everyone to see,
Through every village, this bike she has rode,
A journey through every, Sussex post code,
The Sussex 1000, this adventure she takes,
Awareness and fundraising, for WOLO she makes,
We met her at Cadence, she told us her route,
We had just found, our new WOLO recruit,
For 20 days, she’ll ride 50 miles,
Tell us her story, with photos and smiles,
Talked about WOLO, wherever she went,
Overnight in a field, she slept in a tent,
To cycle every day, over that distance,
She’ll need a good seat, or she’ll feel some resistance,
Started her journey, from a village called Hammer,
It comes to an end, when she reaches Camber,
She’s done really well, and seen all the sights,
These are a few, of her adventure highlights,
A village called Easebourne, so tranquil and mellow,
Most of the houses, are painted shades of yellow,
Onto Southwater, green fingered communing,
They’re pretty serious, about their hedges and pruning,
Cycled through Balcombe, couldn’t believe her luck,
A guy selling drinks, from a bright yellow Truck,
For Thursday we planned, a Clubhouse update,
But no Wi-fi for Alice, so it would have to wait,
Then a coffee at Fittleworth, with Justin Wright,
Before heading off, to another campsite,
Saturday where am I, she gave us an inkling,
At what3words, shot.dimension.twinkling
A drink to give energy, before cycling convenes,
Made with Liquid Spirit Coffee beans
Something to help, fight the onset of cramp,
A firepit burning, at the lovely Earth Camp,
On Tuesday a photo, of a lovely sunrise,
And to 1 of our friends, we say our goodbyes,
3 WOLO members, last week we lost,
A reminder to live life, no matter the cost,
We celebrate their lives, by planting a tree,
To be remembered forever, naturally,
I just read a post, of an article showing,
In the Shoreham Herald , the interest is growing,
A really good piece, about Alice B,
And the connection with WOLO, was so good to see,
The weathers been kind, the sun has been shining,
In the clear night sky, the stars are aligning,
Onto Northiam, and there’s lots to like,
There was a statue of a fish, riding a bike,
She’s Staying at Slindon, cycled 98k,
Visits the Upwaltham, Cadance Cafe,
Today is Friday, set up WOLO fest,
We want to get it right, and make it the best,
We catch up on Alice, she is doing good,
Camping Thursday night, at Blackberry Wood,
It’s been a long day, keep those eyes peeled,
As you make your way, to one more farmers field,
The weather is nice, and relatively calm,
Setting up camp, at Netherfield Farm,
Early this morning, she made her way,
To be with all of us, here today,
She’s here for a reason, a personal plight,
Her Dad he had cancer, sadly lost his fight,
Like all we have lost, she loved him so much,
Those memories now, our hearts often touch,
But this isn’t a time, to cast a sad shroud,
From wherever he is, he would be so proud,
Sadness and grief, we all share that feeling,
All these emotions, are part of the healing,
Although they are gone, take a moment to remember,
As we play in the sun, on this day in September,
For those that are here, still fighting or cured,
And those family members, for what you’ve endured,
This can be a catalyst, to make a new start,
Whilst keeping them close, deep in our heart,
Whatever happens, we can’t change the past,
This is the the future, and it goes pretty fast,
So choose who you are, what you want to do,
After today make a pledge, for something that’s new,
We’ve been together, for just a few hours,
This moment in time, the present is ours,
Whether brother or sister, daughter or son,
Make each moment count, and try to have fun,
Whether Mummy or Daddy, Husband or Wife,
It’s your WOLO moment, it’s part of your life,
After the raffle, Alice made her way,
Tent to set up, to end this great day,
Sunday morning, she leaves Polegate,
She has an appointment, at Rathfinny Estate,
She stops for a coffee, along the way,
Met the guys at Litlington, Cadence Cafe,
Then on to Rathfinny, for a glass of wine,
Lucky for Alice, the weathers still fine,
She camps overnight, at the lovely Firle camp,
Monday morning forecast, is windy and damp
A tough morning cycle, as she sets off to Ford,
The wind is howling, and the rain has just poured,
Took a photo at Lewes, with her mobile phone lens,
The window at Yule Cottage, of some Barbies and Kens,
At the Falmer Stadium, a Seagulls (Brighton & Hove Albion FC) advert,
With the number 1000, on the back of her shirt,
Along to North Brighton, to see some street art,
2 kissing parakeets, that touches her heart,
Then a stop at Angmering, and high up above,
An amazing full Rainbow, she sends us with love,
It’s day 18, just 3 days to go,
With rain and wind, 2 days in a row,
At Ford open prison, where prisoners roam,
An Ice Cream at Bosham, and lots of sea foam,
She’s cycling to Selsey, before it gets dark,
For a stay at Warner Farm, Holiday Park,
The final stages, along the coast road,
Pass a flat in Shoreham, which is her abode,
To Telscombe Cliffs, as the strong wind blew,
And a meet up with friends, for a barbecue,
She stays overnight, at the lovely Stud Farm,
The evening weather, was a bit more calm,
She sets off again, on this final morning,
The forecast is for, a yellow Gale warning,
I did the school run, put my bike in the Dub,
Then we met up at 9, at the Sailing Club,
Her friend was there, her name Aurelie,
As the Yellow Ferry, set out to sea,
Fler was there too, with Daisy and Buddy,
The rain had held off, so it wasn’t that muddy,
Along to Hope Gap, and that Seven Sisters scene,
Then we cycled through Friston, on our way to East Dean,
We met Justin and Marcos, at the Tiger Inn,
Their part of the journey, would now begin,
2 Cadence bikes, they would be using,
Both were electric, which I found amusing,
They cycled to Eastbourne, just a few miles,
Met Matt at Cadence, for a coffee and smiles,
She continues her journey, to Dungeness,
A few hills today, to test her fitness.
That’s it, it’s over, at Camber she reaches,
On a day where she passed, a number of beaches,
One thousand miles, through Sussex she mastered,
Time for a drink, and maybe get plastered,
An amazing journey, so magical and free,
It was called Yello Velo, and she’s Alice B.
WOLO wouldn’t exist, and I hope you concur,
If it wasn’t for our founders, Justin and Fler,
What they have done, their goal pretty clear,
To create something special, in just over a year,
They’ve made a difference, this is their cause,
So let’s give them a cheer, and a round of applause.
Ode by Darren Evans
It’s not too late to sponsor and help her beat her target, that would absolutely make her day!
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sussex1000
You can learn more about her challenge here:�http://yellovelo.co.uk/
Follow Alice's journey and discover the best places to visit in Sussex: https://www.instagram.com/yello.velo/
If you would like to know more about our charity and how we support families in Sussex please visit www.wolofoundation.org
