This summer, I’m cycling from Edinburgh to Istanbul— a journey of around 5,000 km — on a personal sabbatical that has grown into something far more meaningful.

I’m doing this ride in memory of my friend Dan Land, who died last year. At Dan’s funeral, his family chose to support CALM – the Campaign Against Living Miserably. I’m riding in support of the same charity.

Dan was a caring and generous person, and often far kinder to others than he was to himself. I first met Dan at Maidstone Grammar School, but our friendship really deepened in the years after in the early years of adulthood. Spending so much time together at such an exciting time in life, Dan was the life and soul of a party, with his thirst for fun, outgoing nature and openness.

🚴‍♂️ The Ride

I’ll be funding the trip myself—every penny raised here goes to CALM!

The journey begins on 15th June, when I’ll leave from Edinburgh and head to Newcastle, before taking a ferry to the continent, where:

- I'll ride from Amsterdam, to Rotterdam

- Through the Netherlands and Germany along the Rhine

- Over the Alps via Liechtenstein and Bolzano. If I reach the donations target I will cycle over the infamous STELVIO PASS at 2700 m kit and all!

- From Bolzano, heading North to Linz, then east along the Danube to Vienna

- After Vienna, I'll head down to the Adriatic coast, through Slovenia, Croatia, and Albania

- From Albania I'll turn East, into Greece and Bulgaria

- On the last stretch I'll head into Turkey, arriving in Istanbul by mid-September

It’s a physically and mentally demanding ride — but that’s part of the point.

https://earth.google.com/earth/d/1Go74QOYM-HVqcWGKYpZy4YQJqPf8iHcZ?usp=sharing

🧠 What CALM Does

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) is a leading UK charity taking a stand against the stigma and silence that can surround mental health. They provide:

- A free, confidential helpline and webchat

- Support for anyone feeling overwhelmed, lost, or struggling to cope

- Campaigns that challenge outdated attitudes and promote honest conversations

- Vital services for people who have experienced sudden or unexpected loss

CALM believes that everyone should feel able to ask for help when they need it—and that no one should face difficult moments alone. Your donation will help them reach more people, provide more life-saving support, and keep their vital services running.

💬 Follow Along

I’ll be sharing photos and progress on Instagram (@nick_out_the_doors), with rides posted on Strava and linked to this page.

If you knew Dan, if you care about mental health, or if you just want to back someone trying to make a difference—please consider donating.