Epic journey of Oldham cyclist

READY to go . . . Dominic cycled nearly 20,000 miles on a tandem

AN epic trip on a bicycle made for two has ended successfully for an Oldham man who rode 18,500 miles down the length of the Americas.
Former environmental consultant Dominic Gill (26) has cycled from Prudhoe in Alaska to Ushuaia, at the tip of Argentina, on a tandem to raise money for a children’s charity.

He left his home in Lune Street, Coppice, in June, 2006, rode through 15 countries and gave a lift to some 500 strangers on the back of his bike.

The journey took him two years and two months.

His tandem — nicknamed Achilles — was loaded with Dominic’s camping gear and clothes.

He also found time en route to pursue his other hobby of climbing — he moved to Oldham five years ago so he could explore climbs around Saddleworth. As well as raising money for the Hope and Home charity, he also filmed the journey, hoping it could feature on TV. His epic journey began at the Arctic Circle at Yukon in Alaska, taking in British Columbia in Canada, California, Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

Dominic travelled 10,500 miles solo, and picked up his last passenger in Concepcion, Chile.

As he approached the end of his trip of a lifetime he logged his thoughts in his online journal: “I was left with time to think about two years and two days on the road, about the people I have met and then cycled away from, and the knowledge I have gained which I hope I will retain for the rest of my life.

“I feel full of experiences but not thoroughly fulfilled . . . does one ever?

“I enter what will be roughly the last month of this cold journey keen to finish, but still frightened and unsure of what’s next. I don’t think real life is this easy!”