We've just finished cycling the entire length of Vietnam, from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, in pyjamas. That's a wopping great 1750km, by ourselves, totally unassisted!
We should also mention that our bikes had no gears, plastic baskets on the front and cost a mere 25 pounds each!
We're raising money for an orphanage in Cambodia called Working For Children, near Siem Reap, an hour from the world famous temple ruins of Angkor.
We recently volunteered there for a couple of weeks as English teachers and they really need all the help they can get. There are 35 boys and girls, who're so poor some of them don't even have shoes.
We started our mission on June 15th and it took us exactly four weeks and three days to complete it, which was a week earlier than expected. We might have been slightly out of shape before, but rest assured we're both as fit as fiddles now!
The bike ride was the toughest challenge either of us have ever taken on in our lives. Throughout the whole ordeal it was the thought of the inspiring kids from the orphanage that kept us going and determined to succeed no matter what!
We were completely at the mercy of the weather, which was so hot at times that we almost collapsed from heat exhaustion.
The longest distance we managed to cover in one day was 115km and the shortest 17km, when we both felt sick and had to stop cycling at 7am. It might not sound like very far to some people, but when you consider how cheap, heavy and gearless our bikes are it makes sense.
The hills also had a huge effect on how difficult the journey was. When it was flat and cloudy we knew we're in for a great day, but if it was hot and hilly (and trust us, it was REALLY hilly at times!) that slowed us down dramatically and completely wore us out too.
The traffic was the most serious problem. There were occasions when it was a case of getting out of the way before a truck or bus squashed us. The noise from the horns was so constantly loud we'll probably end up deaf for the rest of our lives!
Of course there were many wonderful and memorable aspects of the trip. The scenery was sometimes absolutely stunning, especially the coastal views and we also met some remarkably kind and funny people along the way. There was the family on the roadside who gave us free dragon fruit, the lady who made Helen pee in her garden when she needed the loo, the guys who fixed Tom's first four punctures in two minutes flat, scuba diving with felow Guernseyman Simon White, Tom's pyjama bottoms gradually falling apart, being forced to drink shots of rice whiskey at 7am by a hospitable family who invited us into their home for breakfast, the skittish fellow who cut Tom's hair in a roadside barber shop and then shoved a massager into his crotch, the drunks who kidnapped us and forced us to sking karaoke with them in a dark room with no windows, the other drunk who swapped Tom's bike helmet for his hard hat without even asking and...dog, lots and lots of disgusting BBQ dog meat in roadside restaurants.
We also got a huge kick out of the shocked reactions of some of the Vietnamese as we cycled past, as well as all the kids who waved, laughed, shouted 'hello' and often chased after us.
Everyone told us to cover up more from the sun, as they prize white skin so highly here, and we had tights, gloves and face masks pushed upon us by many concerned people. Helen was regularly slapped on the arms and legs for rolling up her sleeves!
We'll be giving our bikes away to an orphanage in Hanoi too in the next couple of days and will let you know how that went.
If you're thinking of making a donation, we promise you that your money, large or small, really makes a huge difference to the orphans...
45 pounds sends a child to primary school for one year (including stationary, exam fees and uniforms)
120 pounds sends them to secondary school or vocational training so they can learn a skill and get a job.
100 pounds pays for the 'living needs' of five kids (inc. shoes, clothes, towels and toiletries)
When you consider how much most of us spend on alcohol or clothes in a month, this isn't a lot to ask for!
The money we're raising will at first go to The Cambodian Children's Society, who will administer it to the Working For Children orphanage afterwards. It will be used to buy food, new clothes, books, school supplies, school uniforms and bikes for the children.
Please show your support for us, by donating whatever you can afford and contributing towards creating a better life for these great kids who really deserve it.
And keep checking this Crazy Cyclists page, as we're constantly uploading it with new photos and information as it happens. If you know someone who might be interested in supporting our cause, then give them this link so they can make a donation. We'd also be interested in hearing about any fundraising ideas anyone back home has too!
Get in touch with us via: tbe1981@gmail.com x
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