Brownwood Firefighters received a unique visit from a fellow firefighter from England on Saturday, September 27th.
Cyclist Tim Lezard of Brighton, England is traveling the world by bicycle and stopped by Brownwood Fire Department’s Station 1 to see where he could “pitch a tent.” Lezard was welcomed by BFD firefighters, given a chance to shower and rest a bit while also visiting with the guys. Lezard was also invited to the Brownwood Fire Department vs. Brownwood Police Department’s fundraising softball game later that night.He explained hospitality he has encountered on his Facebook page “Turn the Pedals,” which is dedicated to the journey, “I got to Brownwood to be told the only bike shop closed at 12 and it was Saturday, so Monday would be the next chance. I decided to look for the local fire station and once again Texan hospitality flowed. They fed me, washed my cloths gave me a bed, took me to the annual softball game between the fire service and the police and then contacted the bike shop owner who was a retired firefighter and asked him to open up the shop on Sunday morning. Nothing seems too much here in Texas. Oh and made me breakfast then drove me out of town and saved me about 25 miles of riding.”
55-year-old Tim Lezard has worked about 20 years as a firefighter in the United Kingdom with the Fire Service, which is similar to our Forestry Service, but has taken a 2 year sabbatical and is currently “cycling the world.” His job back in the UK is waiting when he returns.
“The firefighters in Brownwood were great, really friendly,” said Lezard. “I think throughout the world any fire station is a great place, we all have this connection, it’s a brotherhood.”
55-year-old Tim Lezard has worked about 20 years as a firefighter in the United Kingdom with the Fire Service, which is similar to our Forestry Service, but has taken a 2 year sabbatical and is currently “cycling the world.” His job back in the UK is waiting when he returns.
Lezard left the UK in May of 2013, cycling through Europe, Turkey, Iran, India, and then onto Australia. He traveled from Australia to Fairbanks, Alaska and traveled up to the Arctic Circle, through Canada and then into the US, through Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and now into Texas. He traveled through the panhandle before his arrival in Brownwood Saturday.
“Coming through Texas I experienced oil fields, flat land and then enjoyed the landscape of hills and trees as I got closer to Brownwood,” said Lezard. He stated that he has enjoyed seeing the various landscapes on his journey through the U.S.
Lezard travels about 70 miles a day and planned to be in Waco by the early part of this week, then planned to move on to New Orleans, Louisiana. After that he will travel to Savannah, Georgia and onto Washington, D.C. where he hopes to be by Thanksgiving. A holiday meal with friends from the UK, who are also traveling, awaits him. Lezard stated that he is making the trip on his own savings, making funds stretch by living cheaply while traveling, camping rather than hotels and that the majority of his expense is food along the way.
Pictured above is Lezard on Saturday with his new found friends at Brownwood Fire Station 1. Photo contributed.
