UPDATE: We did it - 270 miles in five days from Tower RNLI station on the Thames to Wells-next-the-Sea, stopping at the Southwold and Lowestoft stations on the way. We had a tour round the Shannon lifeboat in Lowestoft - thanks John Fox - and had a great welcome from the Wells crew when we arrived on 23 May. They literally pushed the boat(s) out for us. Thanks to them, to our hosts en route and to everyone who has donated so far. If you haven't yet it's not too late! All the money will go to the Lifeboat Fund.

Why did we do it? Three reasons: the RNLI is a great cause; Jon is a Trustee of the Lifeboat Fund, the Civil Service charity that supports the RNLI; and we were looking for a cycling challenge. We decided we would put these three things together and do a fundraising ride. Why Westminster? Because it's where we work, in the Foreign Office. It is also home to the busiest RNLI lifeboat station in the country, surprisingly, on the Thames. Why Wells-next-the-Sea? Because the Lifeboat Fund's 150th Anniversary Appeal is raising over one million pounds towards a new Shannon-class Lifeboat for the crew at Wells.