He only ‘BLINKin’ did it! Rock to Morocco 2025 🚴♂️😎
We love a great adventure at Blink - especially when it’s led by someone as inspiring as Bridge of Allan’s Johnny Dreczkowski MBE!
Johnny completed his epic Rock to Morocco 2025 cycle challenge on 5th June - he pedalled all the way from Stirling Castle to Marrakech in Morocco in just 34 days, solo and unaided, to raise funds for the Eilidh Brown Respite Home. His mission was to support a cause close to his heart and inspire others through determination, compassion and sheer grit - he certainly achieved it!
Blink donated Oakley sunglasses with Nikon Seemax lenses to make sure Johnny was equipped with the best possible eyewear for his adventure. We also sponsored him with a cash donation and we were proud to have our Blink logo on Johnny’s cycling jersey, alongside many other local businesses who backed him on this monumental mission.
Before setting off, Johnny stopped by the practice to show off his kit and pose for a couple of photos. His energy and excitement was contagious - we had a feeling he was about to do something amazing, and he did not disappoint!
A Visit to Blink - and the chance to catch-up with Johnny
When Johnny rolled back into Bridge of Allan, we were lucky enough to welcome him into Blink for a good catch-up which gave us the chance to ask him some questions about his adventure - and how his Oakley sunglasses with Nikon Seemax lenses held up on the road! Here’s what he had to say…
Q1. What was the toughest moment on your journey – and how did you push through?
“On a 4000km journey, solo and unaided, through 7 countries, in 34 days, there were very many ‘tough’ moments as you would imagine.
On Day 19, I cycle the 96 miles or so from the town of Calatayud in Northern Spain to Mandayona. I had been feeling the effects of fatigue, having cycled through the Pyrenees at Le Col Du Pourtalet at over 1900 metres two days previous, then a tough day fighting headwinds the following day from Zaragoza. When I left Calatayud in the early morning, I was already tired, and was immediately confronted with a climb that took me over 2 hrs to climb up to a height of 1360 metres to a plateau above the Mesa Valley, where I was to cycle for the next couple of days. At 1000 metres altitude there is only 87% of the oxygen you are used to at sea level which exacerbated my fatigue and made the last 30 miles or so in the heat to Mandayona difficult, through brutal terrain, 2000 metres of climbing in total and much of that through stiff headwinds.
Experience has taught me in these moments to be calm and patient. As difficult as these moments are, they are ‘moments’ and will pass, so stay as relaxed as you can and see them out, knowing you’ll be off the bike and beginning your recovery in 3 hours or so. I tend to psychologically lean on the sheer amount of work and preparation I had done in the year, indeed years, prior to these moments, and have never failed to get to where I was going or intended to be at the end of the day. Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline can flood your system when your heavily fatigued, and it would be easy to be overwhelmed, but by psychologically reframing the task ahead and putting these feelings to the side, staying focussed on the road in front of you, your positioning, your breathing, feeling the wind and embracing it positively as just another part of the challenge you were looking for, is the best way to work the problem.”
Q2. What was the highlight of the trip? Any unforgettable views or encounters?
“There were a few moments and epic views on my journey, and I’d find it difficult to single any one out to be honest.
Naturally, to conquer the Pyrenees at Le Col Du Pourtalet was epic with the 360 degree panoramic view of the snow covered tops all around you. It was amazing as a cyclist too, to arrive at the Arc De Triomphe in Paris, and The Eiffel Tower where my wife Ally and I got engaged to be married. It was also quite a moment to arrive in Africa knowing I’d cycled there from Stirling Castle, where I’d left a month previous, and I found the magnitude of that difficult to comprehend to be honest, being in a place that felt very different to anything I was used to.
Those views and moments aside, the rivers, wildlife, rocky outcrops, cliffs and valleys of the Camino Santiago trail in Northern Spain, will take some beating to top in this lifetime, and I’ll revisit that area again for sure.”
Q3. What does the support from local businesses mean to you?
“The support of small businesses such as Blink Opticians in Bridge of Allan is so important to the Eilidh Brown Respite Home, and it’s only through that continued support that we can secure and sustain the home for the future. Blink came on board nice and early once again this year, having sponsored on The Rock To Rome and The Five Nations For Eilidh in the previous years. Although I self fund all my challenges, without people supporting the charity, then I’d just be another old guy on a bike. The Blink team bring energy and positivity, and that spurs me on, makes me feel we are all in this together, right behind our local charity, and the rest of the community are inspired by that I am sure.”
Q4. Why did you choose Oakley sunglasses with Nikon Seemax lenses for your challenge, and how did they perform during the ride?
“I’ve been using the Oakley sports frames with the Nikon SeeMax lenses for two and half years now, and they are the standard. Unparalleled clarity in vision, no matter where I look through the lenses, even in diminishing light and at any range. The Nikon varifocals are such that your eyes don’t see the transition lines on the lens, they are seamless. The Oakleys not only look amazing but as a cyclist, often in high wind and bumpy terrain at high speed, the frames don’t move, no repositioning on bridge of nose required, I can look down in an aerodynamic position the whole way without fidgeting, or relinquishing control of the bike and handlebars to adjust them, ensuring my safety. They are absolutely rock solid. I can scan 30 metres ahead on the road for puncture risks, and take early action to avoid them, then scan back to the navigation and performance data on my IPhone and Garmin instantly, without missing a beat. They are my go to and I quite honestly can’t do without them. I would highly recommend these to anybody who loves the outdoors, hill walkers, climbers, cyclists - mountain and road, and runners, they’re amazing.”
We’re incredibly proud to have supported Johnny on this unforgettable adventure - and we’ll be cheering him on for whatever comes next!
The Eilidh Brown Respite Home
Built in memory of Eilidh Brown who died from Germ Cell Cancer a few days short of her 16th birthday, the respite home provides a holiday home for children going through cancer treatment and their families to have a special, restful stay away together, to make memories away from hospital. It requires around £50k a year to keep the home running and Johnny's efforts go a long way toward ensuring it continues to offer comfort and care.
If you'd like to show your support, donations are still open via Johnny’s JustGiving page. Every penny goes towards this incredible cause: https://www.justgiving.com/page/therocktomorocco
👉 Want to try the same eyewear Johnny swears by? Pop into Blink and speak to our team!
Well done Johnny - you’ve shown us what’s possible with heart, determination, and a great pair of specs. And a huge congratulations on being awarded your MBE - very well deserved! 👏👏👏
The team at Blink
