About us
Hello – thanks for visiting our blog – Many of you will be aware but for those who don’t my wife Sharon and I were cycling in a remote area of the south west of Bolivia when she was hit by a 4×4 and killed. This happened on the 26th of April 2014 and my was turned upside down not to mention her family and everyone who was so close to Sharon. After being in the Uk for 10 months I was finding it hard to settle especially after being on the road for two years was hard. Although I have the most amazing family both Sharon’s and mine along with incredible friends I needed to return. Partly to come to terms with my loss but to finish something that we started. The charity we were raising money for became even more important with so many losing the ones closest to them in an instant and with the love and kindness we have both been shown around the world it seems the least I can do to pay back their kindness. I am currently in Ecuador and am slowly heading north to finish our third continent and then to north America.
I have left the section below as Sharon wrote it and I would like to leave it.
Thank you all your comments which make a massive difference and for your support to Sheltor Box and thanks for reading xxx
We are Tim and Sharon Bridgman from Devon in the south-west of England and are both keen cyclists (obviously!) We are currently attempting to cycle around the world. We set off on the 4th June 2012 from Nordkapp in Northern Norway and cycled to Cape Agulhus in South Africa clocking up 15,939 miles / 25,502 kilometres along the way. We cycled through 23 countries in Europe and Africa.
We are now in South America and are heading to Northern Alaska – hence the name of our trip ‘ North to North cycle tour’.
This is us…
Before this trip, we had done a small amount of cycle touring – our first tour was in 2005 when with two good friends Andrew and Julian Bowyer, we cycled from Land’s End to John O’ Groats raising money for the Samaritans. It was a great challenge and lots of fun with lots of tea and cake eaten – we’ve managed to keep that theme going ever since…
The end of our first cycle tour in 2005
With a bit of fitness in the bag we then joined a local cycle club (Okehampton CC) where we met lots of inspiring people. We both enjoyed club rides out on the moorland in our local area and of-course stopping for tea and cake. We competed in some time trails on 10 mile and 25 mile courses so we could experience what it’s like to race against others and the feeling of hyperventilating for the duration (and the tea and cake at the end).
We then decided to spend three weeks cycling from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam in 2010 to test the water before we started planning for this trip. Despite Sharon catching the flu then having mild bronchitis and both having lots of pre tour nerves, mechanical problems and a significant amount of rainfall, we had a great time and both wanted to do more.
Once we set a date there was no turning back! We are cycling unsupported and have researched our route and kit with the help of other cycle tourists who are more experienced than us. We have chosen to raise money and awareness for Shelterbox during our trip -please see our Sheltoxbox page for more details about what they do. You can donate here – Just Giving
If you would like to contact me but would prefer not to send a comment please email us at sharon.bridgman@yahoo.co.uk
We hope you’ll follow us and keep in touch as we travel.
north2northcycletour 
What an adventure. I will follow your journey with great interest.
Wow. I am so impressed with your adventurousness. Can’t wait to follow your adventures. Nicky and Mike xx
Guys! Its going to be great! Can’t wait to meet up with you on your travels along the way. Good luck and Bon Voyage!! (Just a few days to go!….)
Hi guys hope the “hand” is better today Sharon. Well Tim, I’m afraid I have no good news about the hat :-((. I went over to exactly where you told me but I think without a preciseark on a decent scale map it was a bit like the needle in…..yes well. I spent an hour or so over on that island and you are right it is pretty stunning. The little holiday place called Summeroy withits white sand beeches was lovely, and the sun was shining there unlike the rest of my day. I am up near Alto now and will go to the Kapp tomorrow. The owner of this camp site told me that they don’t celebrate till the 23rd with fires etc, so I’m going to get up there, do what I want to do, weather permitting, then head off to Finland. Great to meet you and much respect for you both. Have a great time with the Lofoten guys. Mark.
hi mark thanks so much for looking your a star! , pleased that the weather has been kind to you and hope it continues, it was really great to meet you,you made our time here more enjoyable and now we have put the world to rights it will be a much better place .sharons hand is slowly getting better but I think we’re on the other side of it now.
Hope you have a great rest of your trip and look forward to our paths crossing in the future. keep in touch 🙂
all our best tim and shaz
Hello, we met in Poland on the 9th of September near Piotrków Trybunalski. There was a large group of bikers and the two of us stopped to talk to you. Tim’s got our sticker on his frame, I hope you remember. If not, it’s ok 🙂
Now I’ve read your blog and I will do it for the next months wishing you all the best. It’s a great adventure, and in my opinion you are simply incredible. Have a safe journey and I hope to read more of your memories soon.
Good luck.
Hi Michal – it was great to meet you, it’s always great to meet people who enjoy cycle touring like we do! Thanks for stopping to speak to us- we found a great spot in the woods where you suggested. We are proudly displaying your stickers : ) All the best,Tim and Sharon
The Rev. Béla Orosz here, sending today’s Bible quotation to you at your recent campsite just outside Oradea from Philippians 2,13 (KJV):
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Accidental choice? O no, dear Tim & Shannon!
Please keep me mailed.
Hi Pastor Bela, thanks for your comment and email. It was great to meet you! We feel pretty chuffed we were mentioned in your sermon yesterday. All the best, Sharon and Tim
Miss you both loads – I need your bank details to pay for your nights stay! Hope to Skype soon xx
Ciao!! It’s Giancarlo, the italian guy you met in the hostel in Brasov. It was not only a pleasure to meet you both and to share some laughs, but also an inspiring encounter for me. I’ll be following you here. All the best for your amazing journey: keep cycling and keep inspiring. I hope at the end of it you won’t be too tired and you’ll visit Cinque terre here in Italy!
Giancarlo
Hey! Thanks for your comment. It was great to meet you – we felt we could have chatted to you all night! We look forward to a visit to Cinque terre when we finish our trip! Keep up the walking trips. All the best, keep in touch, Sharon and Tim
Hi there – we just nominated you for the Liebster Blog Award. Watch out my latest post on this and answer the questions! I hope all is well and you are making good progress through Turkey.
Best,
Johan and Baerbel
Hey,
I just nominated you for the Liebster Blog Award. Have a look at my last post and answer the five questions.
Well done.
Alex
Thanks so much Alex. We’ll get on and answer those questions! All the best Sharon and Tim
Hi there, we just nominated you for 3 more awards, have a look at our last posts!
Congratulations and we hope all is well.
Baerbel and Johan
Hi Sharon and Tim. I work with Katie and she gave me the link to your blog. I am in awe! Looking forward to following your stories from around the globe. Good luck!
Dear Tim & Sharon – Far too great a thanks than what is required – we only extended traditional Sudanese hospitality!
Also, although we would gladly accept to be owners of DAL and the school, JJ is merely a simple salesman, employed by the Company.
Our continued wishes for a fabulous trip & many more safe & happy kilometres,
Big hugs,
JJ & Tracy
Hey,it’s Alexandra from the Pioneer beach hotel in Cyprus.Ur parents xame on wednesday and told us a little about you,about the adventures in Ethiopia 🙂 We miss you a lot!all the best from Cyprus!
hHi Alexandra so great to hear from you. we think of you always. how was your wedding? can you say hi to everyone 🙂 and you all have nice guests staying. we are being kicked out of the internet cafe so i have made it a short one all our love tim and shaz xx
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Just met Sharon and Tim at The Historic Pig and Whistle Inn… Deeply envious of their wonderful adventure.
Hi Sharon and Tim, have only recently been told of the adventure your having, and what a brilliant adventure it is.
It will make a great book. 🙂
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Wayne
Hello Sharon and Tim!
We met you in Botswana on the 6th of august, do you remember?
When we were back home we sold our house and left all our belongings in stock, included my diary and photo’s of Africa! Last week we finally moved to our new house and yesterday i found my diary and photo’s. I see you experienced a wonderfull time with your bikes, i envie you!
Hope you’re doing well, it was great meeting you both!
Best wishes for 2014 and hope you are doing well!!
I have some photo’s of you but i don’t know how to put them on this site. I will find out 🙂
bye!
Jan and Marijke from Amsterdam
Hi both! I’ve just been talking to a member of your family who works at Swansea Uni (didn’t take a name) and she was telling me about your challenge.
We are flying out to Buenos Aires in April to start our 3 piece cycle, hike and canoe challenge (more info here: http://www.cryathlon.com) and I see you are currently in Argentina. I imagine you will have moved on by the time we get out there, but it would be great to hear from you and possibly some advice regarding quality of roads, availability on previsions etc.
Our cycle will take us from Buenos Aires to Santiago, not on the scale of your trip mind ha!
Hope all is going well, be great to hear from you.
Steve
Hi Sharon & Tim. Remember meeting the A & C Wine Tour group in a car park on Sun. 23rd Feb on the Chilean side of the Andes? We were having a short stop on our journey into Argentina tasting a few wines when you cycled up and told us what you were doing. Hope you enjoyed the bottle of wine Cindy gave you! What a journey you are on. We wish you every success and shall follow your journey with interest.
Best wishes
David and Pat
So sorry to hear about Sharon’s accident – i’m sure your spirit will live on – Stay strong Tim.
So sorry to hear about Sharon. My thoughts are with you.
Dios te de consuelo y fuerzas para seguir Tim !
so sorry to hear the news our thoughts and prayers are with you xxx Jan and kev Guthrie
So sad Tim… be strong… all cyclists around the worl, all of us are with you in these moments. We will always remember Sharon, and I will be working from Bicicultura Santa Cruz asking motorized vehicles drivers to take care every cyclist they see in the road.
Un abrazo y mis oraciones por Sharon.
Gina
Oh Tim, we just red this shocking news, terribly sad! Our thougts are with you Tim. We will never forget Sharon.
Jan and Marijke in Amsterdam
Dear Tim, shocking news, Please accept my sincere condolences on your terrible loss. I worked with Sharon in WES, we met briefly then. When you bring her home, may I come and say good bye, please. vera.arnold@hotmail.co.uk
Dear Tim,
All your friends from Khartoum were shocked and saddened to hear of Sharon’s accident. Our hearts go out to you.
Alyson, Ayman & many others
Dear Tim,
I am so, so sorry to hear about Sharon. My heart goes out to you.
Alastair Humphreys
I am deeply sorry for Sharon. So sad. My sincerest condolences… never stop cycling!
Sincere condolences – am amazed and in awe that you have gone back to finish what you both started – in memory of Sharon and for the charity. Deepest respect and all good wishes for the rest of the journey.
Terri
Hello Tim. We met just before you cycled into Belize. I bought my two pitons. So sometimes just a few positive minutes can make a difference. You still have beautiful trip ahead. And I hope for you that you still like cycling als much als I do when you are my age.
Aloha Tim. my sincere condolences. I just read your story on cnn online. When I got to ‘Knees aching, heartbroken, dreams of growing old together gone, Tim returned in March 2015 to the desolate Altiplano road where Sharon was killed and saw a modest memorial with a small cross strangers had built.
“I wanted to say something meaningful, but my voice wouldn’t work and only a few choked words came out,” Tim wrote in his blog that day. “What could I say? I had lost the most precious thing I had ever had. ” ‘ I broke down. Sharon passed on 15 days after I buried Joan, my college sweetheart, soul mate, wife and mother of my now 7 years old daughter. She passed on 21 March 2014, 36 days before Sharon. She had sickle cell blood disorder. Dreams broken, heart shattered, I had hoped she would come with me on my round the world drive if or when I ever got to start one…Now all I have are broken dreams. These days I feel I owe it to my daughter to be there for her… Parting from her to work seems like I am gone for the whole month from the way she leaps into my arms whenever I get back from work. Well what can I say other than that Sharon is now your unseen navigator and co rider and when you feel the wind rushing up to your face as you ride, or the unseen stars above you when you stop for the night, she is with you. Ride on brother and Godspeed
You are incredible, very moving story
Hi Tim
Firstly, congratulations on completing your epic journey after the sad loss of your wife Sharon. I followed your journey via your website and I find it hard it is nearly 4 years since you lost Sharon, tragically.
Sharon would be so proud of you that you completed the journey and I know she will smiling down on you.
I followed you website as I was hoping to undertake a similar trip and I eventually left Scotland in early May of last year and am currently in Sicily. I am heading around Sicily then up through the mainland and onto Athens.
I aim to then fly to Ushuaia in August of this year and cycle up through South America.
I was wondering if you would be kind to help me the my route ? Your website details your route up to Bolivia. After that it’s only noted Country by Country.
Would you be able to provide more detailed information on your route through South America, I would really appreciate your input.
I have some questions that I would also like to ask you re items like what you did re money for your trip ie week to week, did you take USD when you entered South America and how was it going thro both Colombia and El Salvador?
It’s general questions like that
Look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks
Steve Boyd
Hi Steve
Sorry I haven’t got back to before. I’ve been having issues with my phone and now have one that works.
Of course I’ll be happy to give you advise.
Before I write a list of things could you send me an email to my current email address and I’ll be happy to give you any advice you need.
Kind regards Tim Bridgman
My email is
trbridgman@yahoo.com
dear Tim, I dreamt about Sharon the other night and wanted to be brought back closer to her by re-reading your blog up to Bolivia…Is it possible to do that?
And of course, I hope you are well, wherever you are. Maybe you are back in Devon and cycling with Okehampton CC.