Thanks, thanks, thanks Charley!

Currently on a sofa with an Alsatian puppy, stonking view of the mountains, glass of something local, laptop and an email from Billy. Whoopee! At a friend's gorgeous hill top house near Bagni di Lucca in Tuscany and chuffed to bits .... and some!!!!

Long been a fan of Charley Boorman (Long Way Round ....amongst masses of other cool stuff) and today Charley's tweeted and FB'd about the challenge and fundraising efforts!

How cool is that! Fabulously fantastic!

Haven't got my bike in Italy - the terrain here however would be tiptop for my newly acquired novice skills (some bits rather more than others obviously?!). Do however have TBM, enduro DVDs and so some visualisation for the next few days. I've spotted lots of new bruises, likely sustained at the weekend - who's counting - when you're having fun!

Thanks Charley, thanks Billy.............stellar guys.......