"May the mountains be levelled for you ...."

Is one of my favourite messages over the last few days ....  almost halfway to my fundraising target already and i can't tell you how special it is to receive messages of support ....   they come in all shapes and volumes from the loud yells of 'Go for it'... to the strong and determined 'You know your strength comes from the hills, they're not your enemy' ... I just know already that each and every one will be echoing around in my mind as i battle the miles....

Mid last week i got immersed in helping a friend sort out his invitation list for an upcoming art exhibition which i have to admit has been a welcome distraction from my growing nervousness! Whilst most of the country was finding respite from the rain during this (not so) glorious Bank Holiday weekend I spent my time chained to the computer building a database for a few thousand addresses or out on my bike battling wind and rain!

So - if you're in London around the 17th/18th September then go along to Charlie's exhibition at Gallery 27, Cork Street.  He's a brilliant artist and there'll be a massive range of work on show...

You see... it's been easy to hide my mind from my upcoming ride!!

If i'm honest whilst i am nervous about the hills (.... oh damn those hills!) .. and the weather's not looking good for the first week or so at least ... i am also getting excited! I am such a fan of this glorious country of ours - and i'm really excited about the beautiful routes that i'm going to follow... the crazy place names that will cheer my heart and just the Britishness of it all ...

I wonder what my fellow cyclists will be like... there's going to be 10 of us ... i hope they're nice!

And ...  already plans are falling into place for friends coming along to cycle a few miles - or meet up in a pub en route ....

I've always known that my first big milestone is going to be making it through the hills of Devon & Cornwall ... so it's great to know that for the first day out of Devon my mate Charlie will be joining me (no not the artist ... another lovely Charlie.... !) to cycle from Cheddar to Chepstow ... where his wife and another mate of mine from London will be greeting us!!! I predict i may be ready to have a mini little celebration ....

My Bike goes to Lands End ahead of me .... i drop it off at 9am tomorrow...

Then it's just bags to be packed and off I go!

xxxx