Original thread: https://old.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/9mgrdz/tony_parsons_set_out_on_a_170_km_bike_ride_across/
Update from January 2021: https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/ko0pui/two_men_arrested_in_conjunction_with_missing/
'Two men, both aged 29-years-old, have been arrested and charged in connection with the death of Anthony Parsons from Tillicoultry.
'Mr Parsons was reported missing to police in 2017. His body was discovered in a remote area of ground close to a farm near the A82 at Bridge of Orchy on Tuesday, 12 January, 2021.
'Detective Inspector John McFall of the Major Investigations Team and who led the inquiry team said: “I would like to offer my thanks to the local community for all their help and assistance throughout this investigation and to those who came forward with significant information."
'The two men are due to appear at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Thursday, 2 December, 2021.'
https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/news/2021/december/two-men-charged-in-connection-with-death-of-anthony-parsons-from-tillicoultry/
UPDATE: the Independent are reporting the names of the two charged, and the charges:
> Alexander McKellar and Robert McKellar, both aged 29-years-old, were arrested and charged in connection with Mr Parson’s death, Police Scotland announced on Thursday. At Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Thursday afternoon, Alexander McKellar was formally charged with conspiracy to murder, murder, causing serious injury to another person by driving, and attempting to defeat the ends of justice. > > Robert McKellar was also charged with conspiracy to murder, murder, and attempting to defeat the ends of justice. > > Neither of the men entered pleas at court and will be kept in custody by police.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tony-parsons-death-bike-ride-b1968390.html (archive link: https://web.archive.org/web/20211202150657/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tony-parsons-death-bike-ride-b1968390.html)
There has been update on the case of missing cyclist Tony Parsons. Human remains have been found near the place he was last seen.
https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/news/2021/january/human-remains-found-during-searches-near-bridge-of-orchy/
I knew Tony personally and while I am saddened by the news of remains being found, I’m glad the family are one step closer to answers in his disappearance.
A couple of weeks ago two men were arrested and then released pending further inquiries, which fuelled speculation that police would start to look for a bike or a body. A search of land not far from Bridge of Orchy began and it would seem suspicions were right and human remains were found.
There was lots of speculation over Tony’s disappearance, he was on a charity bike ride but it wasn’t an organised ride. He had started his own donations page for the charity and raised money on his own. There were rumours that he had possibly harmed himself or had been injured accidentally while he was on his own(it was night time the last time him and his bike were seen). However, another theory was that someone had accidentally hit him as he cycled and it is looking like this may be the truth of the matter.
Hopefully answers to all questions will come in good time.
https://www.strathspey-herald.co.uk/news/have-you-seen-tony-in-the-highlands-213827/
Tony Parsons, 64, from Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, Scotland vanished three years ago whilst on a charity bike ride but no trace of him or his bike has ever been found.
The former Navy Officer was last seen outside a hotel (The Bridge of Orchy Hotel located between Crianlarich and Glencoe) at 23:30 on the 29th of September 2017. He then continued south along the A82 in the direction of Tyndrum but then the trail runs cold.
Extensive searches were carried out in the area, involving local mountain rescue teams, volunteers, Police Scotland dogs and the force's air support unit but nothing was found.
Mr Parsons caught the train to the Highland town on the day he was last seen with the intention of cycling the 104-mile journey home to Tillicoultry. But he never arrived and was reported missing on 2 October 2017. Mr Parsons is 5ft 9in, of stocky build, with short greying hair, a moustache and glasses. He has a tattoo of an anchor on his upper right arm and a tattoo of an eagle on his left. He was last seen wearing a red waterproof jacket, a blue long-sleeved cycling top, a high-vis vest, fingerless gloves, beige combat trousers and walking boots. Police said he was also wearing a silver/grey cycling helmet and carrying a silver and blue rucksack.
EDIT 2021-01-02: update thread.
Link to the main blog post about this mystery
On 29th September 2017 Tony Parsons, a 63 year old former petty officer in the British Navy, set out to cycle 170 km from Fort William in the Scottish Highlands to his home in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire (near to Stirling and Edinburgh). He apparently had little experience, and took inappropriate equipment, including what appears to be a mountain bike on a route consisting mostly of well surfaced roads. Going 170 km in the hilly terrain of Scotland would normally take a fit cyclist at least 10 hours, but with breaks more like 12-14.
Here is a map of the route he presumably intended to take.
What is particularly curious is that Tony did not arrive in Fort William to start his trip until 16:10, and the sun was due to set at around 19:00.
Tony was spotted on CCTV at around 18:00 passing a gas station about 26 km from Fort William. His average speed had therefore been around 14 km/h; Google suggests an average of about 17 km/h for the route, so his speed seems reasonable up until this point given his condition. This was just before he started the ascent up to Glencoe, famous for its rugged hills and winding roads, and for featuring in James Bond. This part of the route would have been pretty challenging.
It looks like he made it through Glencoe though, because he was later sighted by a witness at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel, at about 23:30. This is over 5 hours after his last sighting at 18:00, but only 39 km further, indicating that his speed had slowed considerably. By this time, it would have almost been pitch black, except for moonlight. It is likely that the hills in Glencoe were very challenging for Parsons; he may even have walked his bike up some hills.
Bridge of Orchy is a small village of a few houses and a hotel. It is noteworthy as one of the stops on the West Highland Way, a famous long distance walking route through the Highlands. It has a train statio
... keep reading on reddit ➡Both of the these two are similar to Jed in the way they talk in the no-bullshit sense, anti spiritual, hopeless seeking kinda of way, check them out if you’re interested
“What’s wonderful is that wherever you go, whatever you do, when you walk out of here right now, wherever you go, whatever happens later on apparently today, that which you long for never leaves you, that which you long for is constantly singing the song of love to you, it’s constantly singing all the time, it never left you”
Tony Parsons
Hope kat and wiggins can kill any hope right away
Male protagonists with mid life crisis es. Thanks for any suggestions.
Recently to my dismay I've found more and more a resonance with Tony Parsons radical strict Non-dual message. I've been seeking a while and it feels like really all I can do is stop the effort. The effort itself is keeping the ego alive. When my seeking eases up I feel more free and more connected to what is. Maybe this is my path for now.
Male protagonists with mid life crisis es. Thanks for any suggestions.
