BOY'S ESCAPADE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 242, 12 October 1937, Page 6

BOY'S ESCAPADE

140-MILE RIDE WELLINGTON TO WANGAEHU Recognised through a broadcast description, George Clifford Eeles, ; aged 13 years, of Karori, Wellington, who was missing from his home since 2.30 o’clock on Saturday afternoon was stopped at the dairy factory at Wangaehu on Sunday afternoon and brought to his grandfather’s residence at Wanganui. During the previous 24 hours he had cycled from Wellington to somewhere near Foxton, slept out overnight and continued his journey on Sunday. For a lad of his age he put up a remarkably fast time for the distance from Wellington to Te Horo. Until he was found on Sunday his parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. J. M. Eeles, knew nothing of his whereabouts. Earlier in the week the lad had asked his father how far it was to Wanganui and on being told remarked that it was not far to cycle. His father, however, commented that it was not as easy as it seemed.

Unknown to his parents he set out on his bicycle on Saturday afternoon, evidently to see for himself what the journey would be like, as well as being encouraged by the knowledge that his grandfather lived in Wanganui. It is understood that he arrived at Paraparaumu at 4 o’clock and reached Te Horo at 7 o’clock, thus covering the 50 miles in under four and a-half hours. Where the lad spent Sunday night is not known, but it is believed that he went to the beach at Foxton and covered himself with sand. It was when he called to borrow a bicycle pump at the Wangaehu factory that he was recognised by one of the employees who also knew his grandfather at Wanganui and brought him here by car. At his grandfather’s residence, the boy, who showed little sign of fatigue after his long solo ride, received a much-relish-ed meal, a bath and was put to bed, quickly sinking into a deep sleep. Fearful that the boy might have met with an accident, Mr. Eeles set out by car on Sunday, following the main north highway and inquiring en route for any particulars that might give some indication of his son’s whereabouts. At Te Horo he received his first clue from some other boys. Unable to overtake the boy,

who had made surprisingly fast time, Mr. Eeles returned to Wellington, and there heard, much to his relief, that all was well.

Young Eeles covered approximately 140 miles and was little the worse for his adventurous journey.