Dear Friends

Final preparations for our transalpine cycling challenge took place in a Munich beer garden on the evening of 31st of August over a traditional local dinner and a few jugs of beer. With some words of encouragement from local mountaineers and seasonal adventurers we met there, we felt well prepared for the daunting challenge we were undertaking the next day. So on the early morning of the 1st of September our transalpine cycling challenge began.

It was a self-organised cycling challenge on a mountain bike. All the map planning, GPs tracking and logistics were part of the fun. Being lost on a forest trail in the middle of a thunderstorm and stuck with a puncture at the same time, looking for the right turning with a torch at night and ending on a hiking path instead, made me feel like “ I will never make it to Lake Garda in a week”. As it was my first experience with the mountains on a mountain bike I was totally awestruck by the surroundings of breathtaking landscapes, pure nature and rural life. Our route followed a historic trail through the Inn Valley of Southern Bavaria and Tirol, and climbing over the Reschenpass between Austria and Italy was an escape from another coming storm. Once in Italy on the southern side of the Tirol, exploring medieval towns was part of the daily route. We had another climb of just over 2000 m and an overnight stay in a mountain hut. From there onwards being in the valley was a long but leisurely cycle. Far away from all traffic we followed bike trails through orchards and vineyards with plenty of sunshine all the way to Lake Garda. We made it in a week, 420 km and approximately 9000 hm. Big thank you to Stefan for being with me, taking all the photos, ordering the storm and the sun at the right time and making sure that we stayed on the right trail. It was an amazing experience and one to remember. In total I raised £2811.16 for Cancer Research UK. Thank you very much to all my friends who donated and supported a very worthwhile cause.