Al
I’ve been following the adventures of a guy I’ve never met. Alastair Humphreys is the friend of my friend Rob, and since 2001 he’s been cycling round the world. On his own*. And he’s nearly home.
Every month or so he sends out a beautifully written email detailing the latest leg of his journey – the people he’s met, the sights he’s seen, the thoughts he’s had, the political shenanigans he’s passed through etc etc etc.
Today I got what could be the last email. His welcome home party is on November 19th here in London. But I thought I’d include the photo and his list of “-ests”.
Longest day: 240km, Peru
Shortest day: 4km, a Chinese snowdrift
Highest point: 4900m, Peru and Argentina
Lowest point: -392m, the Dead Sea, Jordan
Longest time away from land: 24 days on the South Atlantic
Furthest point from the ocean: Urumqi, China
Hottest temperature: 45C, Sudan andTurkmenistan
Coldest temperature: -40C, Russia
Fastest speed: 80kph,Germany
Steepest road: 35%, Lesotho
Longest Uphill: 2 days, Peru and Argentina Longest
Downhill: 80km, Peru
Heaviest bike: gear for -20C, 8 days food, 18l water, Argentina
Heaviest me: a supersize 85kg, USA
Lightest me: 3 months later: a post-Siberian winter 70kg
Most food carried: 10 days, Alaska and Russia
Most punctures in a day: 15, Bolivia
Most vomits in a day’s ride: numerous, Turkey
Longest break from the bike: 2.5 months, Cape Town
Longest ride without a break: 1 month, 4200km, China
Longest time without a shower: 1 month, China
Longest time without a conversation (with another person!): 8 days, Argentina and Chile (except for a truck driver who said “Would you like a lift?” I replied, “No thanks” and he drove off)
Furthest north: 70 degrees, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska
Furthest south: 56 degrees, Ushuaia, Argentina
Furthest east: 179, 59, 59: Pacific Ocean
Furthest west: 179, 59, 59: Pacific Ocean
Incidentaly, through all this Al has been raising money for Hope And Homes For Children. For more photos, more stories, or to donate some cash to the charity… go to roundtheworldbybike.com.
* Apart from a couple of months in Siberia/Japan with Rob – who’s now decided not to come home and is cycling to Australia. Nutters.
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