The inconceivable happened - Jim and I BOTH cycled 180 km around the Ring of Kerry on Saturday. We were carried along by friends and fellow travellers - and stopped for 2 hours to watch the Lions beat Australia at rugby. After that, anything was possible ( including Andy Murray's victory at Wimbledon the following day to make a hat-trick of sporting acheivement ).

This was a triumph of inexperience ! After 150 km, we hit a 10 km uphill stretch and faced the inner sweinhundt ( as I once met before in Bhutan ). The cup of tea at the top was memorable ; the views into the National Park were breathtaking ; the freewheel down to Killarney a merciful relief.

Many thanks to all our supporters, helping to motivate us and helping Survival International protect the rights of Indigenous people around the world.

Hylton

Earlier this year, in a moment of insanity, I accepted an invitation to do a charity bike ride around the Kerry Peninsula in Ireland. I have three pressing problems – I did 20 miles the other day and it nearly killed me; the event covers 109 miles; and I have 2 weeks to go !

 

It is inconceivable that I will be able to complete the course. It is just imaginable that I might get half way and as I'm doing it with my 16 year old son Jim, we might cover 109 miles between us.

 

Staring failure in the face, I intended to keep quiet about it – but having a nominated charity is part of the registration procedure, and I have decided to nominate Survival International to receive anything that anyone might be kind enough to contribute.

 

I have worked for 25 years to support the rights of indigenous people in the Amazon. 

 

I was appalled by the genocidal effects of the first contact that these peoples had with the white man's world in the 1960's and 70's, and by the 1990's I realised that protecting the rights of indigenous people was the best way of saving significant tracts of rainforest – helping to secure a viable future for us all.

 

Therefore, although this is fundamentally about human rights, as the Dalai Lama might put it, in supporting Survival International we are also being "wisely selfish".

 

Thank you for anything that you contribute.