Titanic on a bike

My curiosity got the better of me. I abandoned the wagon on double yellow lines to halt the oncoming family on wheels. Each member of the troupe looked as hardy as a wild duck with father Stuart, supported by stokers, Cameron 9 and Hannah 6 perched high on a tridem, a goodie or triplet, whichever pleases you. Mother Kirstie and Matthew 11 closed the rear on a tandem.

So who were these people? They are the Wickes family from Cumbria, currently engaged in a Titanic Tour. They have already been to Liverpool by bike to visit the Titanic exhibition in the maritime museum there.

For the Wickes this cycle trip to Belfast is only a hen’s race. They have cycled 15,000 miles having visited twenty countries all over the world. Father Stuart said ” We cycled from one end of New Zealand to the other. We love cycling. We see places better and we meet interesting people. “

Kirstie, a journalist added “We are doing a Titanic season for our website - Family Adventure. We get some sponsorship. This trip is sponsored by Stena and ‘Go Belfast.'”

Curious to know how the Wickes got involved in this way of life I asked Stuart to sketch in the background: “My dad rode but this is something we created for ourselves.”

Evidently the creators of ‘The Family Adventure Project’ have a lot more miles to cover. They are very welcome here and are truly inspirational. So to all of you I say, literally “on your bike.”