Anne Mustoe
Some readers of these tales will know that I've often sung the praises of the books of Anne Mustoe and her adventures.
She rode a bicycle around the world after retiring in her late fifties, hardly having pushed a pedal before. This was followed by an inspiring book of her journey. Then, in her sixties, she did it again in the opposite direction followed by an even more impressive book.
Not satisfied, she cycled bits of the world in much more detail, followed by books on those explorations in South America, India and Europe.
Well, life has strange twists and turns and I was pointed the other day to an obituary in The Times.
Anne Mustoe
She set off on another one-year bicycle journey in May 2009, and sadly became ill and died in Aleppo, Syria, on 10th November 2009, aged 76.
By some twist of fate, this little band of three were staying in Aleppo, exploring its impressive souk, on that very same day...........
Strange.