I only have ONE week left to go until I leave for Vietnam and I only have about £70 left to raise for the Terrence Higgins Trust. Firstly, thank you to everyone for helping me in the last 9 months, in a few weeks time, you will not be bombarded with requests for donations or invites to events from me anymore..Until next time I cycle off again some where!

For those who don’t know (where have you been??) I am cycling from Ho Chi Min City in Vietnam to Angkor Wat in Cambodia and it is approximately 300 miles over 7 days. I am doing the ride with another bunch of people who I haven’t met yet. Everyone is cycling for their own charity of choice, but I chose THT for a number of reasons. THT focuses on bringing about positive change for people effected by HIV and AIDS related illnesses and STI’s. THT also offers services to those directly effected and people can use the drop in centres for medical purposes, emotional support or just a chance to meet other people who may be experiencing similar things. THT is a UK charity and has been going for 25 years. The majority of people who work there are all volunteers, and THT is not on the priority list of the NHS! So a lot of the money they receive is from donations and fundraising events.

I am happy to say that the money I raise (after Charity Challenge take a chunk) is going to THT in Bristol. Everyone there does good things so i am pretty chuffed with that..

Of course, I have preparing myself physically and emotionally for this challenge. On Friday 21st September, me and my friend got a train to Reading and cycled on the Kennet and Avon canal path which seemed easy enough. We then camped in a hay field and set off for the last 70 miles back to Bristol. But there will hills we did not know about, the map had lied! We got lost in Pewsy which added on about 2 hours to our journey and a few extra miles, so we arrived back in Bristol at 8pm. A total of 11 hours cycling. Pretty knackering! 

In August, I cycled to Cornwall with my brother. We got the train to Taunton early Saturday morning and cycled up the hills of Exmoor and Bodmin and through the beautiful countryside of Devon. We camped in corn fields and washed in the river, gorging ourselves on pasties and fish and chips; the best fuel for our ride. Our third day took us through the rainy hills of Bodmin, where we passed lots of sheep and not many people. By the time we arrived in Bodmin, my bum was in pain and we were soaked to the skin. Oh,  and we had cycyled 80 miles that day, so I slept in a bed and breakfast. Utter joy! My brother Jim got the night train back to London, so I had the last 50 miles to contend with myself. I wanted to cycle right into Falmouth, but my bike had other plans..I came flying off my bike just past Newquay whilst cycling down a country road, and landed a metre away from the ensuing car. Luckily, some lovely Cornish locals were there to help me, but I had to be driven the last 20 miles to Falmouth.

I have cycled over a lot of insane hills this summer, especially those around Exmoor, and also when I cycled to Cheddar. Those who know the area know that Dundry is a killer! I almost toppled over backwards on my bike. I have heard that my ride from Vietnam to Cambodia is pretty flat, but you’ve got to love the hills!

So far, I have had a party, a film and food night, made lots of food for my hungry work colleagues, spent the day in a shopping mall on an ancient exercise bike and a yoga session. Oh, and of course I will be having a leaving party yay! This is on Tuesday 6th November from 8pm to midnight at the Oppo Bar, Park Street, Bristol. Suggested donation is £2, but donate what you can! I understand I have exhausted all donatable avenues now and you are probably getting a little tired now! Woo!

Thanks to all kind and lovely people. I love y'all. Bike on. x