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We're really cycling from Venice to Bari for fun.  It's hot, the food's good and the drink's good.  So why not?  It's 506 miles over 7 days.  Arriving Friday 17th June and leaving Friday 24th June.  Along the Adriatic the whole way.  Billy's just got back from India complete with tummy bug but he started training yesterday after I fitted his cleats to his cycling shoes and off we went.  He's fit and young so no worries.

I'll be cycling on my Ves Mandaric bike, recently resprayed, complete with Shimano and we'll both have small paniers on the back with pared down kit.  We don't need much although a good friend of mine warned me that it might rain.  Not really preparing for that.

For those of you who are interested I wear Assos, Castelli, Defeet, Sidi, Specialized - all good kit that lasts forever.  Probably the most important piece is the bib shorts as if they get old then the chamois turns to sandpaper which is not great fun and is one way of stopping a long distance ride in it's tracks.

Hope you are all keeping well and thanks for donating to the Halo Trust.  Keep in touch!

As my dad says, it should be fun, but more importantly its for a really good cause, that both of us feel very strongly about. As detailed below, even a small donation to the HALO Trust makes a massive difference, so thank you so much. 

I've just got home from 3 and a bit months travelling South East Asia, and I've brought a couple of complimentary illnesses back too. I think that was expected though, having spent the last month of my travels in India, the home of the infamous Delhi Belly.. They don't seem to be too much of an issue at the moment, but I'm hoping they sort themselves out in time for our departure on the 17th. 

I'll be on a Roberts bike, with the same sort of kit as listed above - Castelli, Assos, Sidi, and Giro. I did the C2C (Workington to Sunderland) on my bike a few years ago, and that went well, so hopefully it'll be even better in Italy, having been serviced a few weeks ago. The Italian weather should be, if we're lucky, boiling hot, but that also means a couple of kilos of factor 50 will be joining us on the journey too. 

it should be really fun, and I'm really looking forward to it. I hope you're all well, and thank you for reading/donating!

From Halo Trust:

‘As cities in Ukraine come under devastating siege, millions of people are fleeing their homes or are trapped in cellars and bomb shelters. UNHCR estimates 12 million people need humanitarian assistance. Hospitals and schools are being hit. There are reports of landmines on humanitarian corridors and a lethal tide of unexploded devices now litters the streets.

The HALO Trust is the world’s largest humanitarian landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance charity. HALO is on the ground working to keep families safe in Ukraine during this time of crisis by:

•    Teaching children in bomb shelters how to stay safe from deadly explosives
•    Distributing vital medical supplies
•    Providing emergency shelter to families forced to flee the fighting
•    Tracking where explosives fall and preparing to clear the rockets and bombs when conditions allow

In order to continue its life-saving work, HALO needs your support. Your donation will help save lives.

Some figures for you:
•    £30 could fund a trauma kit to treat civilians
•    £300 could purchase body armour to protect one of our deminers
•    £900 could buy one mine detector ready to clear the explosives

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.