For those of you who’ve been following the story of my trip you’ll know there have been a number of ups and downs… and I haven’t even left yet!

Originally I signed up for a supported world cycle trip – it was cancelled. I found a new cycle partner – John – and some bad news looked like it would mean the trip was hold once again. However, despite this early rollercoaster all is now moving ahead at quite a pace.

In the past two weeks my mother’s latest hospital appointment and a buyer coming forward for my house in Bristol have all meant I have felt confident that we could at last book flights and make the trip we have been planning since January, when WCC was cancelled, a reality! So, it’s happening and on July 7^th John and I will fly out to Seattle for the start of our adventure.

Ironically, given all that has transpired since January and a need to now be home at Christmas I now wonder whether I would have had to pull out of the main cycle challenge. Instead, I have already made a new friend, am going to countries of our choosing and am thoroughly enjoying the planning element as opposed to just turning up.

Last weekend, while I was at my ma’s following her appointment, John travelled up to meet the folks. They were both keen to meet him before we head off- I may be 37 but I’m still their little girl! Of course, it’s hard to get a picture of someone in a few hours but having spent much more time chatting and discussing plans I feel more and more at ease about the trip and my cycle buddy. They will just have to trust me on this one though I hope having met the person I will be spending much of the next year or so with they are a little more at ease too.

We followed lunch with the reverse trip – heading to Stokenchurch to meet John’s pals and ma and join the Sunday cycle the following day.

I had already become on-line friends with some of his pals but it was great to put faces to names and I’m looking forward to introducing them, and John, to my Edinburgh pals during Edinburgh marathon weekend.

There is of course still much to but the countdown really is on… 10 weeks to go! Best get on….!!!

I’m very aware that for some of you quite frankly this post will hold no interest at all. It’s one for the bike geeks…. something I am fast turning into!

As a number of you have been asking about the spec for my bike I have decided to list the components of my new machine. So, it’s not pink, it doesn’t have tassles or spoke decorations. As yet, it has no name but it will. No doubt they’ll be a post looking for suggestions once it arrives at the end of April.

Specifications for your Traveller KS-TR 28

• Signature www.bikemind.co.uk – very exciting about having my web address on my new machine.

• Frame Traveller KS-TR 28: Frame colour Mystic Black, Frame size 50cm – I had wanted a steel frame but this was not compatible with suspension forks which were more of a priority! The forks are Suntour NCX-E RL Lite

• Group set Rohloff/Gates belt drive – this is the plush high spec engineering. Have never had hub gears before and definately like the sound of less maintenance!

• Brakes Shimano V-brake

• Tyres Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 50mm – the toughest you can get to go with rims and spokes KM21 Xstrong / Sapim

• Saddle Brooks B-17 S Standard ladies leather – I hope the most comfortable I can get! Seat post KOGA Shock absorbing – I think I’ll need this in Tibet!

• Handlebar KOGA Multigrip and stem KOGA adjustable, grips KOGA leather

• Pedals Shimano Combi PD-T780 – just in case i need to cycle in my only other pair of shoes – flip flops!!

• Rear carrier Tubus Logo with spring clamp and on the front low-rider Tubus Ergo including kickstand. This will be the first time I have used additional front panniers when touring and I DON’T plan to to take lots of extra weight as a consequence though there are a number of luxury items I can’t decide between at the moment! Nail polish is def in though!

Other accessories include saddle bag KOGA Classic, kickstand Pletscher Comp, ring lock AXA Defender RL, pump Topeak Road Morph, bottle & bottle holder Topeak Modula Cage XL, mudguards SKS Chromoplastics, bell Widek Decibel II Kompas

• Weight 18.2 kg

A big thank you to the guys at Edinburgh Bike-coop for their patience regarding my order. I was due to finalise my order just before I received bad news and the order was on hold as a consequence. Can’t wait to collect my new baby now.