Wellow couple return home after epic cycle ride (From Daily Echo)

Wellow couple return home after epic cycle ride

10:40am Wednesday 30th June 2010 in

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THEY left South Africa last June with just two bikes, the few belongings they could squeeze into their panniers and padding for their bottoms.

From an attack by flesh-eating tsetse flies to being chased by a raging elephant in Botswana, it was not a normal bike ride.

Now the Hampshire doctor and his wife are home – the same day as the England team- after pedalling 9,300 miles.

Rob and Polly Summerhayes, both 29, met up with dozens of cyclists to ride the last leg of their trip from Fort Nelson to Romsey then on to Carlo’s icecream parlour in their home village Wellow for a party.

Rob, said: “At times it has been absolutely terrifying but the people and places we have seen along the way have been out of this world.”

They want to raise £25,000 to help buy one South African charity a 4x4 car, and support another which helps women and children carry water.

Visit to see how you can help.