The Cycling Farmer

I wandered through Chinatown this afternoon and came across this rather fit chap on his rickshaw, telling the crowd about his very long, incredible journey. As I only speak English and a word or two of French, I 'googled' the very fit (no, not in that way!) Mr. Guanming on my return, this is what I found...(p.s. sorry about the bar over his face, it's the best I could 'snap'!)

"LONDON - London's Chinatown is hosting an unusual Olympic fan: A farmer who says he has cycled on a rickshaw all the way from China for the games.

Chen Guanming, 57, says he undertook the two-year trip to support the athletes and "spread the Olympic spirit." He's also seeking a last-minute ticket to attend Friday's opening ceremony.

He said Thursday his extraordinary journey began in April 2010 in his village in eastern China's Jiangsu province. Over the next two years, he said he covered 16 countries including Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan, Turkey and Italy. He arrived in Britain by a ferry from France on July 6, he said.

His rickshaw, loaded with his possessions, is plastered with pictures of him posing in front of international landmarks like the Eiffel Tower in Paris".