HE HAS been held-up at gunpoint in Guatemala, trapped in the middle of riots in Colombia and avoided bears in Alaska, but Billy Lavelle (37), has completed his epic 28,000 kilometre cycle from Alaska to Argentina.
Almost precisely two years after setting off from Prudhoe Bay, the most northern point accessible by road in North America, Billy, from Blackrock, has safely arrived in the Argentinian city of Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world.
His cycle, which raised e12,000 to support Trócaire’s work in Latin America, has seen him pass through 15 countries.
Reflecting on his amazing journey, Billy said:
“There were some very challenging moments. The worst was getting held-up at gunpoint by three masked men on an isolated dirt track in Guatemala. They stole most of my valuables.
“I arrived into Colombia during a nationwide strike and had to attempt to get through road blocks. The first road block that I encountered was the most intimidating. There were hundreds of masked men with sticks blocking the road. They had taken two policemen hostage and run the rest of the police out of the town.
Nobody was allowed to pass for seven hours until the UN brokered the release of the two policemen.
“In Alaska I had to cycle by a large bear, who stood up on his hind legs for a better view. Thankfully a car happened to be passing and the driver kindly waited until I was safely past the curious animal before continuing on their journey.
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The cycle took Billy through varied landscapes and conditions.
He recalled:
“I got stuck in a vast salt flat while crossing a very isolated and baron stretch in south west Bolivia. I was progressing about 10 metres a minute into a gale, pushing my heavily loaded bike through the salt and muck, cursing and laughing at how comically difficult it was.
“During my first 10 days on the Dalton Highway in Alaska I was eaten alive by swarms of large mosquitos. I was so desperate to get away from the mosquitos by the tenth day that I cycled through the night. I fell asleep cycling and had a small crash!
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On finishing his two-year cycle, Billy said:
“I have mixed emotions about finally reaching the finish line. Part of me does not want the trip to end, but with the weather getting colder and more severe by the week I was happy to finally reach Ushuaia.
“I am completely skint at this late stage but my family gave me some money and I plan on using that to treat myself to a good Argentinian steak. I have been dreaming about Argentinian steak ever since Alaska! The things I miss most are family and friends and, of course, Fair City. The Latin American soaps just aren’t the same.
“I stayed in the frame of mind of just taking each day one at a time to keep me sane. I have been helped out by literally hundreds of people from all walks of life. I have a renewed sense of the good in people as regardless of what country or background we are from, the vast majority of us are good people who are willing to help.
“So if I don’t help strangers, especially touring cyclists, when I return then it would be seriously bad karma.
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You can find out more about Billy’s cycle on his Facebook page.