This Exeter University student cycled over 150 miles to attend her graduation this week

An Exeter University student has cycled more than 150 miles in order to attend her graduation today, Thursday 25th July.

Veronica White decided embarked on the journey across coast, moors, hills to attend her MRes graduation in the most environmentally-friendly way possible.

Cycling the distance alongside her boyfriend and fellow PhD student, Brett McKim, the pair set off on Sunday and arrived in Exeter yesterday.

via Facebook

With her graduation dress stored in her panniers, Veronica travelled from Exeter to Penryn to Dartmoor through Bodmin Moor and ending in the Roseland Peninsula.

As part of her PhD degree where she investigated the future of farming, Veronica believed it would be suitable to travel in the sustainable fashion by picking up her MRes degree on bike.

Cycling from the University of Exeter to Truro for the graduation ceremony in the city’s cathedral, Veronica and Brett decided to take their journey at a steady pace as they stop for breaks, pubs and farm shops. Leaving Exeter on Sunday 21st July, they allowed four days for the journey, hoping to arrive in Falmouth on Wednesday 24th July, one day before her graduation in Truro Cathedral.

Based in the University of Exeter’s Cornwall campus for her Master’s course, Veronica is now studying on the Exeter campus for her PhD.

via Facebook

And wanting to interview members of farming communities for her research next year, Veronica claimed this was “a great way to see this wonderful landscape and plan for [her] research next year”.

Although the journey has been tough with Devon’s hills and coasts, Veronica and Brett left plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and explore beautiful sites Devon and Cornwall had to offer.

Growing up in North Carolina and the Netherlands, she explained how she had plenty of training to be able to cycle on the hills between Exeter and Cornwall. Veronica also explained how the journey boosted her confidence, adding: “this is a good way to start training and build up my confidence cycling on country lanes and never-ending hills – being on a bike really makes you feel the landscape.”

Despite cycling down to Cornwall, the couple will be travelling home by train. Veronica believes this is a “lovely way to travel down to celebrate a special achievement”. She is certainly right about that! Well done Veronica and Brett.

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Featured image via Facebook