I’ve started to put some of the photos on the website.

The Alps II album covers all the time I spent walking over the Alps from Bergamo in Italy to Thusis in Switerland. I was lucky enough to be supported by Michele, John and Rob, all at different times. So please go and have a look.

I’ll add some more soon, might even manage a few clips.

After 12 weeks of walking and biking I arrived back in Odcombe. The support was fantastic. From meeting Michele and my Mum and Dad in Dorchester on Friday night, to the ’support cyclists’ and the reception committee at Odcombe church on the Saturday afternoon, the support you have all given me has helped me so much in the final few miles.

So, now i’m back in Odcombe I can finally get some more of the pictures on the website and try to write a more interesting account of my journey.

This is also the time I’m sure you have all been waiting for, it’s time to actually dip your hands in your pockets and donate to the charities we are supporting. ALL the money you donate will go to the charities. To find out more please go to the Charities link on the main nav bar.

Those of you that saw me over the weekend will realise that I was a bit spaced. I don’t know how I was going to feel getting home. Beyond getting excited at being with Michele, my family and friends, I really don’t know what I was gonig to feel. Well, I can tell you now, I feel like I’m on holiday !! that’s right, I keep waking thinking that I’m going to get back on Gertsey at the end of the week, so I aught to make the most of my time here.

Reality is slowly infiltrating my world. I need to find somewhere for us to live, I need to find some sort of way of making money and I have to sort all those other things that I should have been thinking about while away. Oh well, i think the first thing I’m going to do is chill, relax, take it easy and let my body recover a bit.

Anyway, Andy’s here and I’m off to the pub.

We’re in Rotterdam, preparing for the final part of the Journey. Gertsey and I have been making fine progress up the Rhine. We’ve been lucky to have had many ‘visitors’ along the way and have met a fab collection of old friends, new friends, passing friends and complete nutters. More on this later.

I normally start my ‘what happens next’ type statements with ‘well, the current plan is …’ knowing full well that my plans haven’t always been the most reliable. However, this plan is hopefully a little more accurate.

[Sorry, got to cut in on myself, anyone reading this that met me on the journey, has now scrolled down to the bottom of the page to see if they were one of the nutters !!!]

On Saturday 15th July we’ll be cycling from Dorchester to Odcombe Church, and you are all invited to cycle along with Gertsey and I.

We shall be following Route 26 of the National Cycle Network. leaving at noon from Dorchester West train station and arriving in Odcombe some time in the afternoon, or maybe early evening, there are some great pubs on the route.

To get to Dorchester, you can either cycle down in the morning, with those training for the Ironman in Sherborne, or you can catch the train from Yeovil Penn Mill at the following times

You might want to check out the ‘Cycles’ advice given by First Great Western

The route goes through the following villages.

• Bradford Peverell
• Grimestone
• Frampton
• Wynford Eagle
• Maiden Newton
• Cattistock
• Rampisham
• Halstock
• East Coker
• West Coker
• Odcombe Church
• The Masons Arms

It would be great to have some company on the last section of the journey. We will not be going fast, Gertsey is an old girl and I think the route is quite hilly; (Rampisham hill ?!) I think there will be an alternative start point for children and anyone else who just fancies the ride into Odcombe. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it, but Odcombe is the centre of the known universe ………..

Anyway the invitation is without exception, open to everybody, friends and strangers alike, so don’t stay away, come and give me some support. Even the nutters can come along.

If you have any questions or queries contact Michele or I through the Contact us page, I don’t know the next time I’ll be getting web access, but i’m sure Michele will be able to pass on any questions.

I’ll talk about the people I met in another post.

PS. Forgot to mention on the 15th May we are in an article in the Daily Mail Weekend Magazine !!