A setback ☹️

Well... Once again, things have not gone to plan.

I was hoping to set a schedule to complete the km before New Year but once again, illness and personal issues have got in the way so have had to make the decision to rethink this until the new year and, once again, I apologize for this but I don't really have much of a choice.

Illness is not serious so dont worry... and it is not related to the cardio episode I had en route that brought the original plan to an abrupt halt.

Guys... I will keep you updated when I can and hope to schedule something soon.

You might also have noticed that I am not as active on social media right now. This was a choice I made due to being so disillusioned with some groups and individuals that I just needed to step away from the dramas to allow me to remain as positive as I can be.

Steven 

I have a quick message for my daughter Aleyah.

With great pride, I have recently heard that you have been selected for a major role in a new West End workshop.. I have also had recent updates from your teachers who had mainly positive comments to make.

I need you to know that you are always in my mind and in my heart and it is heartbreaking that each time I think we might be closer to reuniting, yet another obstacle is put in the way.. 

Nothing surprises me anymore ☹️

Our home will always be your home and I will always be here for you. I love you ALWAYS and forever... Unconditionally!! x

Love Dad xxx

s.monkdalton@gmail.com

0034 622925754

Back in Training

I am happy to say that I am back in training and soon I will give an update on my plans to complete the 2700km I was originally going to do on Tandem Across Borders.

The distance I will cover, I plan to complete before the end of the year and will post Strava updates with the distance remaining after each "recorded" cycle.

I will also invite people local to here to ride with me on the tandem bike. Please let me know if you would like to ride out on the tandem with me any of the days xx 🙏

Hopefully, this will be acceptable to all who have sponsored me and I still hope to meet my fundraising target.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tandemacrossborders-paa

The distance I covered prior to taking ill will not be included in the total I hope to complete.

I hope to start this in the next couple of weeks and will plan routes and circuits that I can complete whilst still being under observation for health reasons.

Thank you all once again for your kind words and support... 

Steve

0034 622 925 754

s.monkdalton@gmail.com

Further Update on Health

 Hi all

I have some good news. Yesterday, I went for my eagerly awaited ergometry test and also had the results of my Holter monitoring and both gave good results.

The Ergo test is basically a cardio stress test to raise the heart rate to the max under monitored conditions

This means that I have been given the go-ahead to start doing some training and getting out on the bike again.

So, I just want to spend a few weeks getting myself into shape again and then I can make further plans to start covering the originally planned distance of 2700km albiet closer to home. But this training will be little by little (poco a poco)

Thanks again for the support and understanding people have given. I will provide further updates over the next few weeks.

The irregulatities found earlier and the possible reason for my collapse were possibly down to not fully recovering from Covid before the cycle but that is only an assumption but I am so relieved that this might have been just an isolated incident rather than something more serious.

For any people that still wish to give support, my JustGiving page remains active

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tandemacrossborders-paa

Steve

Update on plan and health

An update... This Friday I have my Holter monitor and following this, a couple of cardio stress tests. 

Once again, I apologise for the caution we have given on this. As you can understand, I am gutted that it came to a halt so soon as I felt fine.... Until I didn't!!!... But you cannot ignore anything cardio related... 

If this shows to be ok, I will then make plans to cover the 2700km in various rides local to home on a schedule planned with the cardiologist.. and will make sure that someone is cycling with me..

"Most" people have been very understanding which I am relieved about as I hate letting anybody down.. Including myself... I was given another €20 last night even after explaining the situation which I added to the JustGiving page..

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tandemacrossborders-paa

£1721 now of the £2000 target...

It really was not meant to be was it?? Even the last day would have had to have been cancelled (or changed to avoid London) if we had got to that point due to this being on the day that the Queen sadly passed away :/

So... we have to look at some positives...

1) The distance will hopefully still be possible albiet different from original plan

2) We can still reach the target and may actually raise further awareness in that we are still dedicated to completing the distance

3) It has been a wake-up call for me as previously, I could just arrange these things without thinking about it.. Had it been further on in the ride, I may have had no support and left struggling at the side of the road on my own. It could have been worse than it was..

4) I can do a countdown to the end distance on the blog that will keep the awareness campaign going for longer and get more people involved in cycling

I will post another update next week

Day 16 Arras (update on Tandem Across Borders)

Apologies for the few days break from my blog. I was taking a relaxing few days with family and friends that was much needed after everything that has been happening lately

Day 16 of 21 of Tandem Across Borders on 4th September 2022 was due to be my penultimate day in France had it not been for my medical/cardio irregularities. 

I would have been cycling through Ham, then along the River Somme, through Bapaume and end the day in Arras where I was due to meet my neighbour Leo who was to cycle some of my final day in France with me.

At this stage, we would have cycled approx 2148km

Once again I really apologize to everyone for this but, after the cardio concerns and initial tests, I had no option to rethink my plans as my health has to come first.

My daughter needs her dad to be here for her to reunite with. She has already lost a loving grandmother in 2015 so will never have the opportunity to be reunited with her. All she will have are distant memories and photos 😪. 

It was a scare for me to realise that I have to look after me... For my daughter's sake as well as for my family's sake including my fiancee Michelle who has supported me through every event / challenge.. But this worried her too.

I am going to make damn sure Im fit and healthy for them which is why I am being somewhat cautious at the moment.

I don't want to exaggerate the cardio issues. I believe it was just a scare. Nothing more but I have further tests on 23rd of this month that will hopefully give me the all clear to at least cover the distance I was planning to do on this cycle (2700km). 

It just might need to be closer to home and over a longer period of time recorded on Strava/Garmin/Komoot and so I can be monitored. 

I hope this will be acceptable and I will try to keep you updated as much as possible.

I still want to hit my fundraising target for the Parental Alienation Awareness charity who I would like to help to support parents, families and children who are affected by these heinous behaviours.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Tandemacrossborders-paa 

Steven Monk-Dalton
0034 622 925 754
s.monkdalton@gmail.com

Thank you again for your kind words and your understanding xxxxx

Day 12 - Le Creusot

The twelfth day of our cycle would have taken us from Lyon to Le Creusot. This I feel would have been the toughest day on my original plan with a lot of the day being on a climb

As mentioned yesterday, as soon as I get the all clear from my cardiologist, I intend to complete the distance I would have completed on this journey but on more local routes. Sadly, I don't feel I have any option if I am going to fulfill my commitment to completing the distance.

I will continue to keep all update on this blog until 2700km has been completed and we have reached the £2000 target I had originally planned.

At the moment, the total stands just over £1700 so we are so close!! Thank you for the recent sponsors. Your support is appreciated.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tandemacrossborders-paa

Steven Monk-Dalton
0034 622 925 754
s.monkdalton@gmail.com