'I'm just grateful to be alive' says Harry of Harrogate Walking Tours after finishing epic Pyramids journey
Popular Harry of Harrogate Walking Tours is back home after being hospitalised during an epic charity cycle to the Pyramids
The charismatic tour guide was the victim of a serious accident with a van while cycling in Turkey towards the final leg of his mammoth journey to Egypt by bicycle which had begun in Harrogate in early July.
Harry Satloka, who remains keen that as much money as possible goes to Artizan, which transforms the lives of differently-able people through high-quality crafts training, told the Harrogate Advertiser it has been “one of the best experiences of his life”.
Despite the traumatic events, he had finally made it to the Pyramids, and, briefly, was on a borrowed bike in spite of his remaining injuries.
"It was an epic adventure and I enjoyed one of the best experiences of my life,” he said.
"I am disappointed that just five days from the finish line I lost Rudolph, my bike, and had to sit on buses.
"I did make it to the Pyramids and even managed to borrow a friend's bike in Cairo to cycle the last 100 meters.
"Unfortunately, I am still unable to cycle or walk much further than that.”
The popular Harry arrived back in Harrogate on Saturday evening.
Although, he says, it gave him no pleasure to complete the charity journey, he was just “grateful to be alive”.
Harry said: "It was truly gut wrench to watch the Egyptian roads and countryside whizz by from my passenger seat after months imagining how good it would feel to cycle up as I caught that first glimpse of the Pyramids.
“But, in the big scheme of things, I am just grateful to be alive and that people have been so generous in the donations Artizan.
"I am taking the next week to rest up at home and meeting friends.”
There is no word yet on when the brave Harry will resume his fantastic Harrogate Walking Tours.
But he does intend to hold a public event at Cold Bath Club House Friday, December 20, to relate stories of his travels and serve samples of some of the delicious delicacies and refreshing beverages he discovered along the way on his action-packed journey.