North Cyprus – Hike for Heroes
In aid of RBL Kyrenia Branch and the registered UK military charity ‘Help for Heroes’.
By Margaret Sheard…..
Two intrepid walkers, Gary Abbott and Graham Inglis, are going to do a “Hike for Heroes” from east to west of North Cyprus, starting pm on the 2nd November at the Karpaz and finishing at Sadrazamkoy on the morning of the 7th November.
There has been a huge amount of organisation to be carried out for this event, which is over a 5 day period, and Gary has given some information of the schedule and has said they would welcome some company on any parts of the route if people would like to walk with them for a while.
At the beginning of October, Brian Thomas the Chairman of Royal British Legion – Kyrenia Branch, presented the lads with RBL walking shirts, and in the meantime Gary and Graham have been doing the planning and mapping, they have carried out a recce of the Karpaz area and sorted some of their accommodation along the route – Balci Plaza on the 2nd and Kaplica Beach Hotel on 3rd and 4th.
There have been a few changes to the original walking itinerary for logistical reasons but the walk is still to be over a 5 day period. The itinerary given by Gary is generally as follows:-
Day 1 start walking after midday, Karpaz tip to main road 18.6 miles, then 5 mile drive to Balci Plaza.
Day 2 drive back 5 miles, walk 23 miles, approx 1 mile past big rock, then 7 mile drive to Kaplica Beach Hotel..
Day 3 drive back 7 miles, walk 23 miles to Palm Bay View Development, Bacheli/Esentepe border, 16 mile drive back to Kaplica Beach Hotel.
Day 4 drive homeward 16 miles, walk 21 miles to St Hilarion mountain road/track intersection.
Day 5 St Hilarion to Guzeyali Ocean Breeze, 18 miles. In the evening if we are not too tired we would like to get to the Poppy Ball and I would like to sleep in my own bed.
Sat Day 6 must finish before midday, Guzeyali to Sadrazamkoy 13 miles – start walking at 07:30, should finish by 11:30.
Saturday afternoon we will be down at Sardunya Beach Bar. We are still trying to finalise some entertainment, anybody can join us.
The total distance is 115.6 miles or thereabouts, total walking time within a 5 day period.
Pat Burns of Ironman Art is making a large glass remembrance sculpture/etching which he is donating to Gary and Graham and this will be auctioned at the Poppy Ball if it is ready in time.
If you would like to sponsor Gary and Graham on their “Hike for Heroes” their donation details are as follows:-
Gary:- https://www.justgiving.com/Gary-Abbott/
Graham:- https://www.justgiving.com/Yvonne-Graham-Inglis/
To contact Gary, his details are as follows:-
Mob 0090 533 885 64 04
Email Taff44@gmail.com
Skype gary.abbott
