At Grace, we not only pack and transport people’s belongings, we also help reunite them with their prize possessions. But this is one story that didn’t stem from our usual channels and is one that we want to share with you – this is the story of Charlie and his bike, Colin.
On the 6th July 2018, Charlie Condell, a Bristol local, decided to embark on a world cycling trip across 20 countries over 30,000km. His journey started from the Clifton suspension bridge in Bristol and was only 102 days from a record-breaking ride when his bike, cycling kit and passport were stolen from a backpacking hostel in Townsville. However, the local authorities, the local media and the Townsville Rotary Club raised funds to help Charlie complete his journey. “It was quite crushing at the time. Bike crime and any crime is absolutely crushing, but when it is something like a possession that has sentimental [sic] meaning it really does knock you in an certain [sic] way. I was very fortunate to be provided with a new bike and the equipment needed to continue my journey, with the help from numerous cycling companies. The local bike shops in Townsville were fantastic, they offered everything they had.”
However, just like every good story, there is a happy ending. Approximately, 2 years after being separated, Charlie found Colin listed on a Townsville buy, swap, and sell Facebook page. “I truly can’t believe that all of this has happened. I’d given up on finding my bike a very long time ago, so to simply find it on a social media site was certainly a shock” he said.
The news of Charlie finding his bike quickly spread around North Queensland and soon a Grace team member, who is himself a cycling enthusiast, contacted Charlie to help him transport it back to the UK. “We’re so happy to help Charlie reunite with his bike, Colin. We collected the bike in Townsville and organised shipping it to the UK. From there, we passed it on to Doree Bonner International who helped complete the last leg of the journey. We’d love to see Charlie and Colin again soon and look forward to hearing about his amazing cycling adventures” said Stephen Bonollo, Grace General Manager International Australia and NZ.
To learn more about Grace visit this page. Our diverse service offering includes:
- Local, Interstate and International Removals
- Business Relocations and Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment Services
- Employee Mobility Services
- Fine Art Storage and Transportation
- Information Management Solutions such as Archive and Destruction Services, and Digital Solutions.
