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Charity cyclists tackles New Zealand terrain
A Little Chalfont man has returned from a triumphal six week journey to New Zealand during which time he cycled more than 1,000 miles from North Island to South Island.
Paul Covell, 69, a retired sales and marketing director, from Birkett Way, Little Chalfont, travelled from Cape Reinga to Bluff, passing some picturesque scenery on the way.
Now, along with friends Richard Salt and Richard Ness, he is planning another life changing experience, a 750 mile trek across the Andes in February 2010 from the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires to the Chilean city of Santiago.
It is going to be a question of pulling out all the stops and building on existing fitness levels for the enthusiastic trio.
In New Zealand, a journey for which Mr Covell planned by peddling many many miles in and around the leafy Chilterns, the Little Chalfont resident said he experience some wonderful scenery and people.
On arrival in Bluff, on South Island, Mr Covell then journeyed on to Stewart Island. Whilst down under Mr Covell also took time out to experience the joys of the five day Milford Trek, also on South Island.
"The scenery is stunning in New Zealand, " he said, "But the most memorable thing for me was the warmth and genuiness of the people."
Married to wife Gea, and father to three grown up children, and grand father to five youngsters, aged from seven to seven months, Mr Covell relished his collation of a travel log, which should give him many hours of happy memories.
And now it is all systems go with Latin America the focus for renewed cycling training. "It should be a memorable thing to see and experience the Andes," he said.
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'a journey for which Mr Covell planned by peddling many many miles in and around the leafy Chilterns..........'
and just what was he PEDDLING in the LEAFY Chilterns?'
picturesque scenery ...many hours of happy memories...triumphal six week journey
Feel-good is an understatement