I know I've already linked to Citycycling, but this story is one which I really like. Actually, both stories.
The first is of James Duthie, known as Dummy Jim, from Cairnbulg in Aberdeenshire, who was a deaf mute. In the early 50s he set out on his bike to ride to Morocco. He had some mechanical issues halfway through France that saw him double back to Paris, and then just decided he'd ride to the Arctic Circle instead. Truly astonishing.
His diaries of the trip got published in 1955 (which in itself is amazing, for a deaf mute in the 50s to be educated was something else). Artist and filmmaker Matt Hulse was given a copy of the diaries by his mother and fell in love with the story, settign about making a film of the journey. Filming has now finished and the final editing is going on - looking to release it in early 2012, 10 years after Matt first started on the task.
Next time I'm up north seeing family I think I'm going to have to make a wee pilgrimage to Cairnbulg (well, there's an RSPB reserve with Sea Eagles and Ospreys (at the right time of year) nearby).
Anyway, the story is here.
posts
