Dominic’s American epic made for two
Reporter: Janice Barker
Date published: 18 January 2010
A CYCLIST’S chance meeting as he cycled through California is helping a US pensioner to fulfil the ride of his dreams.
Dominic Gill, of Coppice, took two years to complete an epic ride from Alaska to Argentina.
And he met many characters on the way as he offered lifts on the back of his tandem.
But none made as big an impression as Ernie Greenwald, a retired electronics engineer he met in California.
The chance meeting resulted in a local newspaper reporting on Dominic and Ernie, and Dominic’s 18,500 mile expedition along the length of the Americas.
As a result Ernie, now 75 and suffering from lymphocytic leukaemia, was reunited with two children he hadn’t spoken to for 20 years, and found he had three grandchildren.
And he has kept in touch with Dominic via emails ever since.
Now Dominic is planning another epic trip — fulfilling Ernie’s dream of cycling across the United States, starting in July.
He is still trying to gather $20,000 dollars (£12,400) in sponsorship starting with an endorsement from the America leukaemia charity.
Dominic, whose film of his American continental cycle ride has been shown several times on ITV 4, said: “Ernie was one of the random strangers I picked up in California. While we cycled for a day he mentioned that 40 years ago he always wanted to cycle across his own country.
“It got me thinking that perhaps on a tandem it was still achievable.
“Ernie has a chronic condition, so I would have a back-up truck, as Ernie would need to sleep in a bed at night.
“I thought that as I had pulled around 100 kilos on the tandem, and Ernie would be doing some pedalling, it was feasible to cross America.
“I hope to start in July and be finished by autumn because Ernie feels the cold.”
Dominic’s original tandem, nicknamed Achilles, is still going strong and he is using it for a nationwide book tour when the tale of his adventure “Take a Seat” is published in May.
But he plans a new one for his ride with Ernie, with a recumbent seat at the front so Ernie can relax as he pedals and takes in the scenery, and a conventional seat behind for himself.
Dominic (28), a former environmental consultant, is also hoping the Blackberry company, makers of mobile phones with internet and email access, will be a major sponsor.
And he will take broadcast-quality video footage for a new film as well.
Dominic cycles into Holmfirth Picturedrome on his book promotion tour for “Take a Seat” on May 20, the nearest local venue.
