Long stay in Tipperary for round-the-world cyclist

HE MADE his way safely on bike and in sailing boats across the US, Antigua, the Azores and Britain but it took the Irish roads to bring him down.

Charles Ilsley Brigham left his home in Madison, Wisconsin, on September 16th last year, vowing to travel around the world in the most sustainable way possible.

He arrived at Rosslare harbour in August, planning to spend about two weeks here before continuing to Scotland. But a steep hill in Tipperary changed all that.

"Out in the middle of nowhere in Tipperary I was coming down a hill around a bend too quickly and lost control and fractured my foot and my bicycle at the same time."

He spent four nights in the Mid-west Regional Hospital in Limerick and was released on crutches with nowhere to stay.

He called a B&B in the city and the owner then allowed him to stay for a week for free. A man who came across his accident and kept his bicycle then invited him to his farm in Templederry. "The charity of the Irish people is just astounding," he said.

Nursing his fractured foot and repaired bicycle, he made his way to Galway by bus. He remained there until his foot healed before coming to Dublin this week.

"I'm kind of glad I broke my foot in Ireland. Maybe St Christopher the patron saint of travelling decided I was meant to spend extra time in Ireland."

Mr Brigham has now sailed 5,500 miles and cycled more than 6,500 miles. He usually spends no more than €4 a day, living on rice, oats, peanut butter, bread and vegetables. He received bills totalling about €13,000 for his unscheduled stop in hospital but believes his travel insurance will cover this.

He said he was not a major environmental campaigner at home. "I guess it's more like Gandhi said: 'Be the change that you wish to see in the world'." He said the trip was also a rejection of western society's addiction to speed and convenience. He expects to get home in autumn 2012. "But who knows? It will take as long as it takes."

• Mr Brigham's journal can be read on www.crazyguyonabike.com.