Huntly doctor prepares for Land's End to John O' Groats cycle challenge to raise money for Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance
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A HUNTLY GP faces the challenge of a lifetime later this year.
Barry Watt is to cycle from Land's End to John O' Groats fulfilling a personal ambition and to raise money for Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance.
He will set off from land's End on May 30th and while his wife Aline will be his support crew for the first few days, for most of the trip he will be on his own.
And Barry will not be following the shortest route as he pedals north, but instead has opted to follow Sustrans routes, away from traffic which will take his total mileage to over 1200 miles.
His bike, which he describes as heavier duty than most road bikes and more suited to rough terrain, will be loaded up with four panniers with all his gear, including a tent which he plans to sleep in on some of the nights.
A former president of Huntly Rotary Club, Barry believes he could summon help from the Rotary network if he runs into any problems along the way.
To date, Barry's longest cycle trip has been from Banchory back to Huntly which he found challenging but with the days lengthening and better weather he plans to build his stamina in the coming weeks.
Barry (55) joked: "It's like my mid life crisis, a personal challenge. I did a marathon when I was 40!
"Coming from Land End up the way means I will have the prevailing wind on my back which makes a huge difference and I want to finish nearer home so that I can be met by some of my family.
"I need to cover about 60 miles a day but I also want to enjoy it and see see parts of the country that are off the beaten track.
"I have taken two weeks leave and two weeks covered by a locum so I have four weeks away from work but want to complete the cycle run in three. The closer it gets the more daunted I get at the prospect as I will have no support so need to be organised with food and places to spend the night. My parents are in Fife so I will visit them as I return."
Barry has chosen to raise money fro Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance and added: "I know some of the people who work on the air ambulance and I have seen the value of the service in a rural area like our own."
To support Barry search for his page at www. justgiving.com/fundraising or donations can be handed in at Huntly Health Centre, in an envelope and marked for Dr Barry Watt.
