Cyclist reaches Jerusalem after epic 4,800 km ride for ACN

Andrew Foote finally reaches Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem © Andrew Foote

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

A Catholic pilgrim who cycled nearly 3,000 miles across Europe and the Middle East has finally arrived in Jerusalem, describing his arrival in the Holy City as "overwhelming".

Andrew Foote, 32, set off from Westminster Cathedral on 15th August and reached Jerusalem on Wednesday 11th November after travelling through Europe, Turkey and Jordan on a journey that tested him physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) less than a day after arriving, Andrew said his final ride into Jerusalem was one of the hardest parts of the pilgrimage.

He said: "It was very strange. I was hungry, dehydrated and cycling uphill in the sun through the mountains. Even though it was only about 21 miles, it felt like 75.

"Just knowing where I was and that I was at the end of the journey, it was all very overwhelming."

Far from feeling immediate joy, Andrew said he struggled with mixed emotions.

"It was a mixture of deep satisfaction and feeling like it was my birthday and Christmas all at once. But on the flip side, I felt quite depressed, lonely, confused, angry and incredibly agitated. I'd just finished a 3,000-mile ride. It was like an assault on the senses. I couldn't make sense of anything."

After arriving, Andrew slept for 13 hours but still felt exhausted.

"I felt I had to go back to the basics. Get dressed, put your shoes on, go and have a coffee. It felt a bit like being shell-shocked. That's how I felt mentally."

The following morning, however, he experienced a profound sense of peace while standing on the roof of the Franciscan guesthouse where he is staying.

Looking out across Jerusalem's skyline, he could see the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock, the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane.

"Everything slowed down and I felt this incredible sense of peace come over me," he said.

"It's still surreal. I can't believe I left on 15th August and I'm here now."

Contrary to what he expected, crossing into Israel presented no problems.

He said: "Customs were delightful, I had a good rapport with them - I think they were taken aback seeing a European cyclist on a bike with yellow panniers.

"The most annoying thing was having to take the front and back wheels off my bike and put it through a metal scanner and then reassembling it. Aside from that it was a doddle."

Although he has reached Jerusalem, Andrew plans to continue his pilgrimage by visiting Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee and other sites associated with Christ's life, and hopes to spend Christmas and New Year in the Holy Land.

He said: "Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Bethlehem would be amazing. We'll see what happens."

Andrew is raising money for ACN's #RedWednesday campaign - marking its 10th anniversary this year. Every donation will be matched, doubling its impact and bringing hope to suffering Christians around the world.

To donate visit: https://acnuk.donorsupport.co/p2p/pages/cycle4hopetojerusalem