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12
Oct 2024
Where’s Harry? The Harrogate tour guide approaches the final leg of his adventure
Harry Satloka is a familiar face and something of a local celebrity around Harrogate.
He is the friendly leader of the Harrogate Free Walking Tours, but he has been missing lately since heading on his own international tour.
Harry set off on an adventure to Cairo, the Egyptian capital, and has now almost completed his pilgrimage to the pyramids.
After six years of hosting the tours, Harry wanted an adventure of his own and decided to combine his sabbatical with fundraising.
He is cycling almost 5,000 miles to raise money and awareness for the Harrogate charity Artizan International.
The charity supports differently abled people in the UK and Latin America. It runs the Artizan café and creative space in Harrogate
So far, he has raised over £1,400 for Artizan International.
He left Harrogate on July 1 with a bike, named Rudolph and was initially expected back just before Christmas.
He is now expected back in approximately two weeks’ time.
The Stray Ferret caught up with him on the last leg of his journey to see how he's getting on.
Harry Satloka with his bike, Rudolph, loaded up outside Harrogate's Artizan
Where’s Harry now?
The Stray Ferret first caught up with Harry to see how his epic journey was going one month into his challenge. At the time he had just left Germany and was headed for the Alps.
After two months into his trip, we caught up with the Harrogate celebrity again when he had covered nine countries and was sitting by an Italian river.
Harry has since left Europe. He has cycled through 16 countries and only has one country left: Egypt.
When the Stray Ferret spoke with him yesterday (October 10), he had taken a pause on the way to his next Turkish checkpoint close to the Iraq border and was enjoying clear skies and 29-degree heat.
He said:
Crossing a continent was a tremendously good feeling.
We hit Istanbul about 10 days ago and then it became really tough terrain it has been challenging but I’m loving it and it is going well.
I have learnt loads because when I am slowly cycling, I can see the gradual change in architecture, people, music and culture and it is just incredible.
Harry has a total of £20 a day to spend on food and accommodation, meaning he can often be found wild camping.
He previously told the Stray Ferret that his budgeting is helped by him being “a shrewd Yorkshireman at heart”.
He said:
Camping has actually got easier now than when I was in Europe. Eastern Europe was quite strict about camping but in Turkey wild camping is practically encouraged. It is an amazing place.
Harry wild camping
He added that his camping stove broke while he was in Romania, and he has since had to cook on an open fire.
He said that this has made him “quite good at lighting fires and it almost makes me feel like a real outdoorsman”.
At home Harry is vegan but is vegetarian on the trip. He said this involves eating a lot of pasta, rice and fruit and vegetables. He added that “after ten hours cycling anything hot and filling is perfect and tastes like a Michelin star meal”.
He is now due home in around two weeks due to a change of plan.
He originally set out to cycle through Iraq and into Egypt, but this is no longer possible due to security risks. He will now fly from Turkey to Alexandria tomorrow and cycle down to Cairo.
He said:
I will be back a lot earlier than expected. Flying feels a little bit like cheating, but I worked it out and I have done the same number of miles already.
I am desperate to see my wonderful partner, Rebecca, and it is my birthday as soon as I get back and I plan to have a gin and tonic at Cold Bath Brewing Company.
Harry Satloka and his bike, Rudolph, on the final leg of his trip prior to the collision
He reflected on what the trip has taught him. He said that the trip has made him more organised, and his bicycle maintenance has improved.
He added:
I was always optimistic about my faith in humanity, and this has solidified this belief. I haven’t met one unkind person. It has been inspiring I’ve had to rely on strangers a lot
The trip has been a blur in the best possible way. The bits I thought wouldn’t be interesting turned out to be the best. I also did a free walking tour in Bucharest. That was a bit of a busman’s holiday but very interesting.
I am very sad that the trip is almost over, it has been remarkable. I have got used to simple living and won’t take luxuries for granted when I’m back. It will be nice to sit on a sofa and not a rock when I get back
He said that he is “thrilled” to have raised £1,500 for Artizan but still has a private figure in mind that he hopes to hit before he reaches home.
The Stray Ferret asked Harry if he plans to return to his free walking tours when he returns to Harrogate. He said, “I still haven’t decided I think I’ll just have a week off to relax first.”
To donate to his cause and keep up with the last leg of his trip click here.
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