Four-midable!

Nina Smith, David Short, Stefan Pope and Hattie Thomas get ready to put in the miles training as they get ready to take a trip from Mossley to Istanbul

Friends off to Istanbul — on one bike

FOUR friends are heading on a unique trip by quadricycle to a destination far, far away.

Plumber Nina Smith, (27) and her boy friend Stefan Pope (27), along with their friend Hattie Thomas (24) and partner David Short (25) are planning to use pedal power to get them from Mossley — where two of them live, to Istanbul.

The aim of the 2,600-mile bike ride is to promote eco-travel and should take them three months to complete.

In mid-March they will set off from Mossley down to Dover and the route will take them through Germany, Croatia and Bosnia, until eventually they reach Turkey.

Nina from Dobcross, said: “We’re having the bike custom-made in America for £2,800.

“It will look like something from a holiday camp!

“It is eyecatching — yellow and red — so hopefully we will stop and chat to people as we go.

“It’ll be a great route taking us over the Alps and through great scenery.

“We want people to know they can get places without using planes, trains and cars.”

The friends, who all have artistic backgrounds, are hoping to make a film, with help from Slovenian, Martin Strel nicknamed “Big River Man”, who has had crazy adventures including swimming the Amazon.

In the meantime, they are all cycling around where they live trying to raise vital sponsorship to fund the trip.

Nina added: “Eco-travel is relevant at the moment with electric cars coming out.

“Travelling on a budget and by more humble means means we open ourselves up to the hospitality of the people we meet — interactions will be integral to the success of our project.

“We’re not athletes but we aim to show that anyone can complete a physical goal as well as promoting economic travel.”

People who donate will receive a range of goodies including postcards, T-shirts, artwork and other bits from the trip.

Businesses or residents who are interested in donating to the trip can do so at: www.ulule.com/m2i