Prologue

Just before midnight on Saturday, 27 February and everything is ready.


On the advice of several cyclists more experienced than myself, I decided to forgo the above idea of carrying all my clothing courier style on my back. Instead, my kit fills out two panniers to be mounted either side of my rear wheel. These and many other items and services were provided by Cycle Store in Addlestone, Surrey and I thank James for his assistance and Tim for his generous adjustments to the final sum paid.

I should also like to thank all of my sponsors for their support hereto. Together we have raised just under £2000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and I hope that as my journey develops and concludes more will come in to reach the target of £5000.

At this point I feel it is proper for me to inform those sponsors that I have received a grant from a trust supervised by my school old boys’ club which was conditional on the monies granted being used to support me in this charitable exercise. With Cycle Store’s help I have managed to include almost all of my initial kit costs within this figure. Please be assured that the statement made on the giving page and in other requests that all monies donated go straight to the charity remains true in respect of all other donations.

I thank my family Haydn, Beth, Kirsty and Huw for supporting me this week and for committing to sending me off from St Pauls at an indecent hour tomorrow morning. I thank Holly for her love, patience and attention. I thank all those who came to say goodbye on Thursday and all those who have sent me supportive messages this week. I can’t wait to see you all on my return.

Any substantial sleep tonight seems unlikely, but I’m off to do my best.