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| British cyclists on round-the-world trip killed in Thailand | British cyclists on round-the-world trip killed in Thailand |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| A British couple's round-the-world cycling odyssey ended in tragedy when both of them were killed in a road accident in Thailand. | A British couple's round-the-world cycling odyssey ended in tragedy when both of them were killed in a road accident in Thailand. |
| Peter Root and Mary Thompson, who had been chronicling their journey in a blog, died on Wednesday when they were hit by a truck in a province east of Bangkok. | Peter Root and Mary Thompson, who had been chronicling their journey in a blog, died on Wednesday when they were hit by a truck in a province east of Bangkok. |
| The couple, both 34 and from Guernsey in the Channel Islands, had been cycling through Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and China since July 2011. | The couple, both 34 and from Guernsey in the Channel Islands, had been cycling through Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and China since July 2011. |
| They met in art school and spent six years saving money and planning their journey, Peter's father Jerry Root said. | They met in art school and spent six years saving money and planning their journey, Peter's father Jerry Root said. |
| "They were both inspirational," Root said. "They didn't just talk about it, they did it. I couldn't be prouder of them." | "They were both inspirational," Root said. "They didn't just talk about it, they did it. I couldn't be prouder of them." |
| He said they were both experienced cyclists who knew the rigours and risks of extended bicycle travel. | He said they were both experienced cyclists who knew the rigours and risks of extended bicycle travel. |
| "They were camping wild, as they called it," he said. "What helps me is to think of how happy they were with each other. They were leading the life they wanted to. It was the happiest, the most fruitful of lives." | "They were camping wild, as they called it," he said. "What helps me is to think of how happy they were with each other. They were leading the life they wanted to. It was the happiest, the most fruitful of lives." |
| The couple had been posting photos and details of their trip on the website Two on Four Wheels. They also had many followers on Twitter and Facebook who were tracing their journey and vicariously enjoying their adventure, which included a trip through remote parts of Central Asia. | The couple had been posting photos and details of their trip on the website Two on Four Wheels. They also had many followers on Twitter and Facebook who were tracing their journey and vicariously enjoying their adventure, which included a trip through remote parts of Central Asia. |
| A video they posted from that part of the journey shows them camping in the desert, riding through hills, stopping to swim in rivers and lakes, and braving heavy snowstorms. They also cycle through tense situations as armed conflict breaks out during their journey through Tajikistan. | A video they posted from that part of the journey shows them camping in the desert, riding through hills, stopping to swim in rivers and lakes, and braving heavy snowstorms. They also cycle through tense situations as armed conflict breaks out during their journey through Tajikistan. |
| "They never talked about the trip as having a destination or a deadline or a time scale," said Ben Thompson, Mary's brother. "They didn't have firm plans, they had rough ideas. They just loved people. They were always dragging people to the campfire to share a story and a beer and some food." | "They never talked about the trip as having a destination or a deadline or a time scale," said Ben Thompson, Mary's brother. "They didn't have firm plans, they had rough ideas. They just loved people. They were always dragging people to the campfire to share a story and a beer and some food." |
| After south-east Asia, the couple were planning to make their way to New Zealand for a brief respite, he said. | After south-east Asia, the couple were planning to make their way to New Zealand for a brief respite, he said. |
| Thai police said that investigators found their bodies, their bicycles and their belongings scattered along a roadside, along with a pickup truck that crashed between some trees. | Thai police said that investigators found their bodies, their bicycles and their belongings scattered along a roadside, along with a pickup truck that crashed between some trees. |
| The truck driver, 25-year-old Worapong Sangkhawat, was seriously injured in the crash and faces charges of causing death by dangerous driving. | The truck driver, 25-year-old Worapong Sangkhawat, was seriously injured in the crash and faces charges of causing death by dangerous driving. |
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