We all remember how blue the sky above Manhattan was on September 11th 2001. Who can forget the scenes we witnessed live on our TV screens around the world on that beautiful autumn day? It was a rare moment among only a few that we can recall so clearly, remembering exactly where we were and... Continue Reading →
Located approximately 90 minutes southwest of Muscat, and surrounded by date palm plantations, the historic market town of Nizwa has become one of Oman’s top tourist hotspots. I arranged for Ahmed, my Omani friend and guide, to take me on a day trip to the country’s former capital, once famous for its Islamic conservatism. These... Continue Reading →
On a warm, muggy night in Aden, midway through dinner, we lost power and found ourselves in complete darkness. My host, Yazid, told me it was a regular event and went to the kitchen by the light of his phone and returned with some candles. I suddenly heard what sounded like fireworks outside in the... Continue Reading →
After my plans to cycle from Lands End to John O'Groats were abruptly halted by a vicious dog, I felt the need to fill the aching achievement void of the last few months. Still unable to cycle long distances due to my injury, and with time running out before starting Uni in October, I looked... Continue Reading →
"Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience. The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." Leo Tolstoy Today is 13th June 2019. Today was meant to be my glorious final day in the saddle. The day when... Continue Reading →
After weeks of training, preparation, organisation and fundraising, I was ready. I had one last training ride to do on the day before setting off down to Lands End to start my 1000 mile ride for Yemen. The planning had been exhausting and I was looking forward to finally getting on the road to complete... Continue Reading →
Having decided to take on what is known in cycling circles as LEJOG or the 'granddaddy of British cycling challenges', the first thing was to set the date. I didn't want it to be too hot or too cold, so somewhere between April and July. And I wanted to get to Scotland before midge season,... Continue Reading →
After leaving Qatar, I decided to combine my passion for cycling with my love of Yemen and the Yemeni people and take on a big cycling challenge to raise money for the Save the Children Yemen Crisis Appeal. I am cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats - one end of the UK to the... Continue Reading →
Marrakech Souq is the biggest Berber market place in Morocco, and has changed little over several hundred years, since its creation in the 11th Century. The souqs of the old medina (city) are surrounded by a 19km wall which has 12 impressive entrance gates to ease the flow of traders passing through this important North... Continue Reading →
I must be the only Brit who had never been to Marrakech.... at least that what it seemed, so packed was the BA flight with folks who were returning to a city that felt to them like a second home. For me, it was my first experience travelling to North Africa and even then, it... Continue Reading →
