Story
<p>Hello All,</p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">THE CHARITY:</span></strong></span></p>
<p>I have chosen Hope and Homes for Children: <a href="http://www.hopeandhomes.org/">http://www.hopeandhomes.org/</a></p>
<p>Hope and Homes for Children gives hope to the poorest children in the world; those who are orphaned, abandoned or vulnerable – by enabling them to grow up within the love of a family and the security of a home, so that they can fulfil their potential outside of the institutions. They do this in central and eastern Europe as well as Africa.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline; color: #008000;"><strong>THE CHALLENGE:</strong></span></p>
<p>This has been several years in the planning but I am finally going Bike Touring (a long bike ride). After finding some time to do it (2 and a half weeks) I have decided on a route.</p>
<p>I will be cycling <span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>930 miles </strong><span style="color: #000000;">up <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">Norway </span></strong></span></span>in <span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>14 days</strong></span> with 2 days rest, having to average <span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>66.5 miles a day</strong></span>. I will not be staying in any hostels and will be <span style="color: #000080;"><strong>camping</strong></span> with my trusty hammock, tarp and bivi bag in woods along the way.....<strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">alone </span></strong>(polar bears, hope not).</p>
<p>The route will follow no motorways and will involve 12 ferries to cross the many Fjords and island straights but it essentially follows these large cities: <span style="color: #000080;"><strong>Bodo - Trondheim - Tromso<span style="color: #000000;">. </span></strong><span style="color: #000000;">Due to long tunnels (up to 20 km long) some are not open to cyclists the route has been made to avoid the majority of these tunnels which has not made it easy.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Google Map of route</strong></span>:</span></p>
<p><strong>Tronheim - Bodo</strong>: <a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=205961549155420440016.0004aa2e9dd0cdd073abe&msa=0">http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=205961549155420440016.0004aa2e9dd0cdd073abe&msa=0</a></p>
<p><strong>Bodo - Tromso</strong>: <a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=205961549155420440016.0004aa3dbdead1b12337b&msa=0">http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=205961549155420440016.0004aa3dbdead1b12337b&msa=0</a></p>
<p>Forums have said that a lot of the time you will 30 miles from the nearest town and the end point, <strong><span style="color: #000080;">Tromso</span></strong>, has 24 hrs of daylight from late May-late July and is covered in snow for 3 months of the year.</p>
<p>It is going to be a challenge as the main weather at this time of year is very heavy rain (all forum topics speak of it). </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline; color: #008000;"><strong>Why?</strong></span></p>
<p>After a hard couple of years for the family, with the worst of it being over, this expedition will mark the start of new lease of life and a fresh break form all the bereavements and loss within the family; we miss them all dearly and so this ride is for them, the past, the future and the Hope and Homes children and their futures.</p>
<p>I would also like to thank those who helped me through the difficult times and I will be thinking of you all during the trip x</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #808000;">Just Giving.</span></span></strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; background-color: #ffffff;">Donating is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Hope and Homes for Children will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.</span></p>