Full circle!

So!

It feels as though I've come to the end of one journey (and the last blog post) and am about to embark upon another. Not that I know (yet..) what the next one is.......

I met up with the delightful Si Pavey ( who taught me sooo much) earlier this week at the Bike Show at the NEC in Birmingham, which was great. Brought back all the memories of the highs and the lows (some quite low) of my training and journey of some nine months of this year from absolute utter novice to novice with experience and raising just under £10,000 for GOSH and KidsCo (THANKS EVERYONE) in between which after all, was what the challenge was all about.

Since, I've been back from the trip, I've read all of Charley Boorman's books, Si Pavey's and frankly as many books and DVDs about the Dakar, off-roading, enduros, rallys et al, as I can lay my hands on. For sure if I'd read them before - well .......there'd be rather a different tale to tell and I can say with some certainly it wouldn't have involved motorbikes, mud, rocks and the uber moments of waivering confidence, fitness; physical and mental, exhaustion, new skills and everything else that went with it. Teehee.

I admire and am in awe of those who ride off-road, it's not for the feint-hearted!

Loads of luck to the guys of DakarTeam GB for whom the start, at the time of writing, is 37 days away.

As many of you following the blog will know the inspiration to learn to ride an off-road motorbike and take on this challenge was after watching the Long Way Round some years back. Well, the dream to meet Charley Boorman came true when I met him at The CharleyBoormanLive Tour a few weeks back (I think there's one or two shows to go - it's excellent). Charley is as inspiring in person as he was on the telly. Charm itself, down-to-earth, funny, erudite and he very kindly tolerated my somewhat ditzy starstruck moment when he signed a book for me, minutes before he was due on stage. Thanks for the inspiration and thanks Billy for making it happen.

What's next? I've signed up for some more training courses and have yet to decide; Atlas Mountains, Africa .....Europe.....

What I do know is that whatever it is it's on a bike. I impulsively made a bid for a road bike on eBay and missed it, then test drove one and didn't like it - ooop - there's a learning there. For the time being I'm loving the GasGas and improving every time I ride - despite a rather ridiculous mud incident yesterday!

If Santa is reading, I am lusting after a KTM350 Freeride - I'm reliably informed by Martin Wittering at Torque Racing (who kept my bike in superb order) that if he takes it to bits Santa's helpers will easily fit it down the chimney......

Rubber side down.

Kate x

Two to watch.........

We were delighted to meet Barry Smith when we were on our adventure in the Pyrenees to raise money for GOSH and KidsCo,. As the founder of Symprove, a company with a brilliant product and also sponsor of Johnny Walker, who by all accounts is the one to watch in Enduro – we had some fascinating conversations on all fronts!

Johnny Walker is the 19 year old Cumbrian Trials star who was signed up by KTM Off-Road Racing for 2011, after only one season of competing in Enduro! He may be on the heels of the “Knighter”! Barry’s company has sponsored him and he’s signed a shirt for us along with his team-mates to auction for GOSH, how cool is that!

To say we bit off more than we could chew, would be an understatement of extremes, this is what Barry thought;

“I’ve done around 15 trips but this was my first to the Pyrenees – and the most difficult. We did this trip in the most ideal conditions imaginable and personally, I wouldn’t like to face it in the wet, although I believe some tracks are missed out when the weather is bad. However, if you stepped up to the challenge, it was rewarded by the most fascinating views and vistas for miles, so if you had the courage to get to the top of the hills it was worth it.

I think that Kate came in without real knowledge of what her and Robin were about to face and they made a valiant effort as beginners in trying to tackle one of the hardest off-road routes that adventure sport offers - so really commendable first time out as it’s taken me 4 or 5 years to get up to that standard. Biting off more than they could chew but for a very good cause, Kate and Robin were well accepted in the group, and particularly for the great cause they’re pursuing. I wish them well with their further riding adventures and fundraising in the future.”

Since we’ve returned, my mate who suffers from IBS has taken Symprove and reported ‘it’s brilliant!’

Few little facts for you:- It’s a multi strain science-based probiotic, contains 4 strains of live activated probiotic bacteria which are active from the moment people drink Symprove and not dairy or dried products. The bacteria are naturally occurring and pasteurised on an extract of germinated barley, that’s 10 billion live, activated probiotic bacteria per 50ml serving. People who drink it are generally IBS or IBD sufferers and it would certainly seem to be the probiotic of the future! One to watch! http://www.symprove.com/blog/

And if the press I’m following is anything to go by, Johnny Walker the boy of the future - an awesomely talented rider - even someone as seriously novice as me can spot that a mile off.

Thanks Barry, Thanks Johnny

Magnificent motorsport memorabilia........

When one journey comes to an end another begins. This amazing journey from one cold February morning earlier this year thinking 'I'm going to learn how to ride an off-road bike and ride it somewhere interesting ', to now has been quite incredible.

To date we've raised almost £8,000 and the final furlong, as it were, is auctioning the quite fabulous and unique piece of motorsport memorabilia and history. The shirt bit.ly/nKiLRu been signed by; Valentino Rossi, nine Grand Prix World Championships and multiple MotoGP World Championship title holder, Jorge Lorenzo, 2006 & 2007 250cc World Champion, 2010 Moto GP World Champion, James Toseland, 2004 & 2007 World Superbike Champion - he retired last month due to a wrist injury,

Cal Crutchlow, British Supersport champion and British Superbike race winner, and the 2009 Supersport World Champion, Danny Webb, 125cc World Championship multiple title holder, Leon Haslam, British Superbikes, World superbikes, Ian Hutchinson, TT racer, Jonathan Rea, World Superbike racer, Keith Amor, TT legend, David Johnson, British Superbikes , James Whitham,TT Superbike champion, British Superbike Champion Supercup and the ACU TT British Superbike Champion, John McGuinness, TT legend, Neil Hodgson, British Superbike and World Superbike Champion & Ian Lougher, 9 victories in the North West 200, 10 wins at the Isle of Man TT Races and 42 wins at the Southern 100 Races and all the signatures were gathered by Steve Parrish. What an awesome collection.

Some say a journey is best measured by the new friends and people one meets.

Many have been asking what the next challenge will be, there were a number of answers to that a fortnight ago!

A seasoned off-roader who competes regularly and is awesome on a bike, called me last week. He's done the trip. He said 'Congratulations and well done! What were you thinking (I don't think I was), that was a truly epic challenge for such a beginner. Good on you for coming back in one piece'. I'm still surprising myself now thinking back to some of the terrain I covered on a dirtbike! Wouldn't have missed it for the world and the guys were all fantastic and very supportive and encouraging but crikey I didn't know what I didn't know ......... But I do now......!

Thank you, Merci and Grazie to so many people;

Donna Gray for getting me on the bike, in the right kit and starting off my very tentative learning experience, Martin Wittering, mechanic extraordinaire along with buckets of constant moral support and encouragement, Gary Faillettaz for his consistent unfailing encouragement, tuition and so, so very much patience and picking my bike up more times than should be allowed, team-mate fantastico, Steve Parrish for the fabulous signed shirt, books and WSB passes, Michelle Hunter for hosting the auction at the wonderful Queen Adelaide, John Kettley - without whom for sure this journey would never have really begun! Jim Gale for the brilliant graphics and plastics, Tamsin Jones for training, moral support and hugely boosting my confidence, Liz Rhodes at BBC Radio Cambridgeshire for constant encouragement, Nigel Wheatley and Michele Maddocks of Enduroland, Ed Blum, film director, Charley Boorman for tweeting, FB 'ing ( in fact getting me on FB), signing a book for the auction, Ross Noble for an auction prize and for making me laugh and keeping me human in Wales, Billy Ward for making these aforementioned things happen and for suggesting more training, not to mention making me smile on numerous occasions when I really needed to, Tim McEwan, auctioneer of the mostest, Ian Glover of Bloodhound SSC, Nigel Harrison, Jayne Perks, Jeremy Goring of the Goring Hotel, Sue & Andy Banham of Taylard House, Chris Evans (thanks as well as singlehandedly almost completely putting me off bikes forever!) and Cyril Despres, Graham Banks of GB Racing for so much, Sally Saunders of Esse (support and keeping me vaguely feminine), Jacquie and Matt of The Wendy House, Janine Wood of SLP, Tessa Roberts of Ocean One, Christian Malissard of Eagle Perf, Angela Dawson of Dawson VA Services, Dave Newman of SupremeBeing, Irene Routh-Jones for moral support, lovely friend Rachael for getting me packed and lovely texts when I was in the Pyrenees, dear friends Paul and Ailsa for airport runs, Caroline Faillettaz for huge support, my parents for looking after the girls, my fabulous friend Wendy for so much moral support and my gorgeous sister Elly who was particularly brilliant when I was finding it harder than hard, Mr T for so much and so much more and my beautiful girls. And of course to so many generous family and friends who gave donations, kind words and huge support, thank you, thank you, thank you, merci, merci, merci, grazie, grazie, grazie.

As for the next challenge..........Andalucia and Africa in my sights and perhaps a rally. Watch this space.......

I'm still alive.....

If I knew then what I know now.....

A bit like childbirth, you never quite know what you're in for, despite what people say, until it happens. Think Gary and Mr T thought the same - not the childbirth bit.....obviously!

Nothing could have prepared me for the scale of the challenge to ride off-road in the Pyrenees. Hindsight is of course always 20/20!

Fourteen fabulous guys in the group, each of whom had variously ridden; enduro, trials, motocross, road-bikes for decades and had many, many hours in the saddle. Some had raced, some had championship points or champion status and continue to do so.

To add a little extra excitement Si Melber, James Barnicoat (Barni) & Justin King (JK) of TBM, "THE" Dirt Bike magazine were also on the trip testing out enduro bikes. I felt very honoured. They also kept me sane and laughing on many an occasion with tales of badgers, going the wrong way round tests, bikes going over the finish line without riders! Teehee....fabulous!

So, for some-one with such little experience, to say I was a little daunted or perhaps concerned would be an understatement of the highest degree.

We stayed in a hotel at St. Palais in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques region of France, the forthcoming days were to be across almost 500km. The courtyard of the hotel was a veritable delight for the dirtbike enthusiast. The favoured machine, by far, was the 300, 2 stroke and KTM, the preferred manufacturer. There was also a Husaberg, Husky, TM and a couple of Hondas, including that of yours truly.

First activity (after breakfast) on day one, was a briefing, signing of various disclaimers and familiarization with a road-book. The road-book is basically a long list of very specific navigation instructions, which means that small groups of two or three can go off together with-out a guide. One of the unique characteristics of Chris' trips is the road-book, otherwise the group would only ever be as fast as the slowest rider and with me amongst the troupe that wouldn't be a good thing!!!. Day one was to take us over c 120km of varied terrain.

Before the off, an 'opener' goes out ahead of the first riders to ensure that no new hazards have appeared and that the route is passable. He also puts out tape for some of the tracks, so that they are visible.

There was an amazing amount of 'stuff' going on in the parc ferme prior to the off. Don't get me wrong, there are several important things to check, replace and maintain on one's bike, however observing the general goings on, one appeared to be having a re-build, minutes before the off!

Everyone then got armoured up and we were ready. First stop fuel and away we went.

The first track was just that, with a few loose stones, so far, so good. Some time later followed a gravelly ascent, quite steep. That was my first spill, a slow one, they generally are! Picked the bike up, it's lighter than the GasGas - not to mention the adrenalin that was flying around.

Then a few rocky ascents, one was very rocky, very steep and wet. Cripes!

Dropped the bike, well, fell off- can't remember how but I do recall possibly grabbing an unnecessary handful of throttle. Picked it up, not properly as I'd managed to wedge it on a rock. I did it though and all was well.

On I went and it was just getting tougher and tougher and tougher.........through a small wood, very pretty, logs, slippery......

Some time later:-

We approached a steep descent through some brambles and ferns which I remembered from the briefing. Sounds harmless enough! There were also sizeable tree roots, big rocks and a very steep descent next to the very narrow path. Albeit camouflaged by brambles. It crossed my mind that the chalk pit that I had 'mastered' near where we live was a mere hole in the grass by comparison!

Deep breath, focus, I can do this and gentle controlling of the bike.

All good until I hit a rock (looked at it - oop) and then got the bike firmly wedged in the brambles and ferns and also got my foot caught.

It was all at slow speed and made me giggle rather at quite how stuck I was. Giggling over, I freed my boot and then contemplated how on earth I was going to get back on the narrow track. At is happens, Mr T was just ahead and he came to the rescue and we manhandled the bike up and out.

The terrain then got muddier, rockier and more slippery. "If I can survive this, I can survive anything" I was thinking. I had Gloria Gaynor's 'I will survive' going through my mind at this point!

Further down the track I spotted a definite bike and rider sized indent in the undergrowth which later that evening I discovered had been Gary.

On day one the weather was a warm 28degrees, a lovely pleasant temperature however in full off-road regalia, one gets very hot indeed not to mention the glowing (actually full on sweating !!). Thank goodness for the camel backs and isotonics! Ruts, rocks, nice grassy tracks, breath back - pheww! Mr T commented later in the day that they were rather more boulders than rocks. Some were firm, some were of the unsteady moveable variety. One thing I knew for sure, if I hadn't spent time with Tamsin Jones at Black Desert Racing, I wouldn't have got even nearly as far as I did. I was powering over the rocks, specially on the ascents, just as she'd taught me. Thanks Tamsin!

This is by far one of the most extraordinarily challenging things that I have ever done.

What was incredibly inspiring and helpful was the phenomenal support and encouragement that I received from this amazing group of guys (lovely people and awesome, awesome riders). And of course Gary and Mr T without whom none of this would have happened (I may not even have left my room!). Thanks so much to each and everyone of you; Ian, John, Pat, Peter, Barry, Andy, Tim, Alex, Si, JK, Barni, John and Frederique & Seb (rather lovely looking, couldn't help noticing, local policeman in the drug squad).

The new bike, the Honda CRF250X, prepped by Martin Wittering of TorqueRacing was utterly superb, I trusted it completely and it did a brilliant job. Thanks Martin! Despite the rider error spills, I was secretly quite pleased that the bike now looked truly like a dirt bike that had seen some real action. The Pyrenees-Atlantiques is absolutely stunning and very hard; physically, mentally and geophysically!

It was unquestionably a baptism of fire, as JK commented, later that day. One particularly tricky descent, with boulders, shale and a large flat rock at the top, I approached too fast round a bend and had a massive wipe-out. The bruises will tell the tale for some time yet, on one knee the bruises appeared under the armour. Must have gone down with such a wallop that the knee armour did the bruising I suspect!

It was a long, long descent; rocky (okay boulders) and deeply rutted. Get it together girl! I went down at my own pace, walked the bike a bit and coasted other bits. The relief when I finally got to the bottom was something else.

I've always had the greatest respect and admiration for off-road riders, this has gone up exponentially! The terrain is harsh, dangerous and taken at speed. The combination of expertise, confidence and technical skill and a certain je ne sais quoi is awe-inspiring and utterly compelling.

To have achieved with-out serious injury some of the most difficult terrain I have ever encountered on a bike, I'm still surprising myself that I actually achieved what I did. As some-one said one evening 'it's a bit like one of us taking a few horse-riding lessons and going to Burghley'!

'Discretion is the better part of valour' and at the end of day one, I retired (many emotions ensued but that's another post). The terrain was getting harsher, steeper, wetter, faster, more dangerous and some of my awesome companions were finding it a tad challenging which spoke volumes.

I have gone way, way out of my comfort zone, faced the fear (there was quite a lot of that) and come out the other side. To date we have raised just shy of £7000 for GOSH and KidsCo and frankly what some of those kids go through on a daily basis and what I did just don't compare. Donations are still coming in (THANK YOU!), cheques had arrived in the post on getting home. An incredibly humbling experience.

Will I get on a bike again, do girls like shoes? Absolutely, I will.....however next time some-one says 'you're ready', I might just do a little further research.....

Over- exaggerating with the title "I'm still alive..."? This Pyrenees trip has been running for years and this is the first one not to have had a hospitalization. So, no broken ribs and a punctured lung, no leg broken in three places and the list goes on..... if full limb count is a definition of success, I'm doing okay!

Next time:-

Guest blogs from Gary and Mr T, more from Barry of Symprove (hugely exciting product) - sponsoring Johnnie Walker - watch this space - very, very exciting.

A jigsaw of the most extraordinary proportions!

John Hall

arrived today just after lunch to load the bikes. Well! Wow! So many bikes into such a small space - it really was very, very impressive.

This last week, the over-riding feeling has generally been one of excitement - however as the last jerry can went in, I suddenly felt really rather nervous! Get those butterflies in formation, girl!

All that is left now is to enjoy, soak it all up and relax into it - that sounds more like a bath that an off-road adventure?!

I know that I have the skills, albeit more honed in some areas than others, so now it's up to me to use them and call upon those new found abilities and resources that are there.

Thanks so very much to all our friends and family for their continued fabulous support, encouragement and love, through the ebbing and flowing of emotions during the high days and the less so! It is so enormously appreciated and the monies raised thus far for GOSH and KidsCo is just wonderful - last look c £6700.

A bientot, Xx

Butterflies in formation.......

2 days to go to the Pyrenees trip for GOSH and KidsCo. Bike ready, toolkit ready - okay Mr T, Gary and Martin have prepared most of that - I got the cable ties and jerry cans(which daughter no. 1 has decorated) - mousses fitted. Have spare gear levers, camel back, metal putty - in with the SPF 20 lip balm (yes, I do have lip gloss too - for the evening obviously!).

Started packing my kitbag this evening - armour, helmet, boots etc - hmm - helmet and body lotion or - boots & jeans or - kit & no armour -arghhh. Determination aside and having travelled light on many, many, many occasion I still couldn't pack my kit into one bag. I've obviously never been away with some serious kit. My kitbag has been away for a little light windsurfing and sailing (which to be fair wasn't generally light) however kit for sailing and kit for riding off-road is clearly different means a bigger bag required! Mid-afternoon Sunday before schools go back - all my mates are out - eek! However, lovely mate Rachael then came to the rescue! So, have her diving bag - boots, helmet & kit & lots of muesli bars, isotonic stuff and various bike 'things' and voila! Yippee!

Donna Gray and Martin Wittering visited this morning, it if wasn't for them I wouldn't be even nearly where I am now. Huge thanks to them - they've been brilliant. They're off to Turkey this week on a rally.

Have more 'butterflies' than the London Butterfly House however as a gorgeous friend said to me a few years ago (she's a former Royal Ballet ballerina), butterflies are great, you just need to get them in formation. So that's what I'm working on. Thanks Shiv.

We're at £6200 for GOSH and KidsCo, so if you'd still like to sponsor or perhaps you'd like to put in a bid for the BBC signed shirt, it will be auctioned on our return. Jorge Lorenzo has signed it - what a top race today , Valentino Rossi and 16 other top top bikers have also signed it ..... I've slept in it - no I haven't really - joke?!?

Today's pic is a lovely off-road track in France - the power of positive thinking!!!

The expression goes.......

......that if one waits until one is ready for something, the readiness never comes. So, with that in mind, bring it on! I'm ready enough. 12 days to go, the bike's ready, mousses fitted, roadbook 'thingy' fitted, went on a wee shopping spree this afternoon for jerry cans, metal putty (cold chemical weld I'm told - not that I have any idea what to do with it!!) and enough zip ties to go around the world twice.

The bikes are being trucked to France in the next day or two, so when a window of opportunity appeared today for a practice I took it! It was also at the precise moment that the heavens opened on Cambridesghire - real Welsh rain it was!

My little Honda is on top form, Martin at TorqueRacing has worked his magic, the forks are 'lovely' (technical term), a lowering link on the back and a couple of bar risers. Perfick! Martin's the man.

The CRF 250 isn't as torquey as the 400, still need to work on my throttle control on set off, wheel span just the once - oop!

Had a fabulous outing, one of those 'big smile in the helmet' jobs. It was very slippery and I just love big puddles, they're as irresistible as dark chocolate! Played 'chicken' with a few young pheasants or maybe it was 'pheasant'! Had a major wobbly skid and just averted a spill - tee hee! I was absolutely soaked to the skin when I returned - not one item was dry. Jet -washed the bike, it was very satisfyingly grubby!

Very excitingly, we've raised a current total of £6207 for GOSH and KidsCo, the target is near! Thanks very, very much to everyone who has so generously donated, it means such a lot and personally has been such an incentive when the going's got tough (and that's been quite a lot of times!!) and to our wonderful sponsors; GBRacing, TorqueRacing, The Wendy House, Esse, Ocean One, SLP, ZeroNine, SupremeBeing, Eagle Performance, Dawson VAServices and my No. 1 trainer Donna Gray.

I'm wearing a rather lovely shirt tonight (bear with?!) which has been signed by Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, James Toseland amongst other notable legends of MotoGP, TT, WSB & BSB - hoping some expertise will rub off!! Kindly donated by Steve Parrish and it's going up for auction soon - watch this space.....

Doing it in the dark!

Well what an experience this evening was! Martin warned me about going out on my own off-road, however with 15 days to go and an opportunity in my sights, I went for it. Had phone & lip gloss, no metal putty, no gear levers and other stuff, however figured even if I did, I wouldn't know what to do with them!

I used to ride my boy (16'2 throughbred) in the evenings and the funny thing I noticed immediately, is that a horse will tell you what's going on, maybe deer, farm work, a person; long before you're even aware of whatever it might be. On the bike, I felt oddly alone and more responsible. The sunset was absolutely stunning, pinks, purples, reds and blues - lost the back end slightly at one point, possibly due to cloud gazing!

Was on the KTM 400 - loving it, have I switched allegiance even if I can't touch the ground when it's upright! The Honda is still stiff (?) and has gone for some magic intervention from Martin at TorqueRacing.

In the flat light, I couldn't see the lumps, bumps and ruts and therefore truly relied on my training and belief in my ability.

It was fantastic, at one point I was aware that I was looking just ahead of where I was at rather than properly ahead and I remembered breakfast some time back with Ross Noble and he said " always make sure you look where you're going, that's where you'll end up and the bike will take you". At that particular moment I was traversing some yukky hard ruts and thought, okay let's plan ( as per Si Pavey's advice) and look where I'm headed, gave it a bit of throttle too, just because and voila! Huge grin in helmet, then a deer appeared, several bunnies, a hare and some spooky partridges.

Still not sure of my iron steed in the Pyrenees however slowly but surely, I might just be getting there......

A stiff fork of a Sunday morning......?!

I think the expression could be one step forward, two steps back.

Whilst being all for plans coming together at the last minute, even by my standards, this is cutting it a bit fine!

My (new to me) Honda CRF 250X arrived on Friday - spotless, 4 stroke, push start loveliness in scarlet (matching nails opportunity?!) What with work, life, general stuff I didn't get to ride it properly until this morning.

Team outing; Gary, Mr T and myself (very excited), just as we were setting off, I was thinking, well it's not sublimely different, in fact my riding seems to be just as pants as it's ever been. 'Keep at it, girl' I thought. Novice, as I am after a small amount of road work and onto the byway, I couldn't help pondering why my hands were aching so much and hard as I tried, couldn't seem to stand up properly, or effectively anyway (I need some bar risers too). Of course, it could be that it's sulking - do bikes sulk? I dropped it before I'd even ridden it!

In a straight line all was well, however slow speeds and corners I was finding a tad challenging. Funny moment then ensued, I was in front at this point and was going round the edge of a grassy corner knowing that on other side there were some ruts. Chap appeared coming the other way on a KTM I think, with a bit of a lick on and the slightly horrified look combined with a possible "are you changing course or am I" look in his eyes was priceless! Huhh, I held my line. He was with about 15 or so others, bikes of all shapes and sizes - only a handful said hello or acknowledged ( in fact 4) and there I am telling anyone who will listen that bikers are mostly fabulous and really friendly (the exceptions to that rule were out in Hertfordshire this morning!).

So, back to the Honda. We stopped at a little clearing on the top of a hill with stonking views, there's a couple of banks which I now have the know-how to jump - yeehah! I can't remember if it was Gary or Mr T that asked if my forks were a bit stiff, I learnt over the front of the bike and pushed. "Try harder than that","I am trying" I replied - nothing! They had a go, nothing. To say I had stiff forks would be the understatement of the year, no wonder I'd been struggling.

I hopped onto the KTM - Mr T's 400- cripes - what a difference! I'll ride this thanks and I did. Mr T rode the Honda from then on and back home, didn't enjoy the fight by all accounts. I rode the KTM, my new best friend (BFF!). The good news however, is that now I know I'm progressing, hitherto, I felt so intimidated by the KTM, too heavy, too high. I had oodles of fun on it this morning. I even got a bit of air - a proper jump on it (both wheels)!

Last leg of the trip, situation normal, I was bringing up the rear as it were. Stopped at a main road where the Icknield Way crosses it, there was a stream of road-bikers, they all said hello, nodded etc, there were one or two rather aesthetically pleasing leather/ kevlar clad backsides too?! Devil's in the detail!

The boys were considering whether the bike was indeed even run in, it's not yet done 200km. Oh well, if I leave today I'll reach Biarritz in time and the Honda should be run in too!

Hopefully, Martin of TorqueRacing will work his magic otherwise I might yet be riding the Pyrenees on the GasGas!

16 days to go, more wonderful donations in last week for GOSH and KidsCo and I think I can almost, nearly call myself a bit of a biker, albeit one with dodgy forks!!

Who ate my sandwiches?

Out with Donna today for a day's fun in the sand. Brilliant! Lots of aha moments. Yet another learning curve..... - yeehaa and only dropped it the once!

Had a bit of tantrum this morning, tears (thanks waterproof Dior for not turning me into an Alice Cooper lookalike!), swore (a bit?!) and nearly stomped off! However, was in a wood with lots of twisty turny (technical term?) track and lots of gnarled roots so where exactly I would have stomped off to, I'm not entirely certain - but at the time it seemed like a possible plan! The reason for this tantrum was that I'd stalled the GasGas once or twice ( or .......) and in kick starting it again discovered that there was pure nothing under my left foot which is a bit pants for stability!

Tantrum over, my first exercise was to get into that powerband over and over and over again. We were at a fabulous track with ascents, descents, sand, woods, trees, woods, more sand, mud, twisty bits, turny bits and quite a dollop of sharp turns.

The GasGas and I were probably more together today than we've ever been - it's all coming together, getting in that power band doesn't actually last that long until you need to change up again. What's interesting is that I can feel it now too, as well as hearing it - what I mean is that I know when I need to power on, change up, down or plain rev the 'whatnots' off it! Not sure that's a bikey expression but hey ho. You'll spot in one of the photos just a tiny bit of 'air'! Yippee!

Had a few angry moments today, cross with myself, which when channelled effectively is power itself however as neuroscience will confirm, when anxiety kicks in, it's almost impossible to perform at peak, be it on a bike, a stage, as a leader.....

Donna got a bit cross for an entirely different reason today. During our lunch stop we were chatting about something or other and Donna went back to her bag to get her second sandwich and it had mysteriously disappeared! During the accusations & fall out that that ensured, a rather portly labrador appeared looking slightly guilty with a gently wagging tail. A canine opportunist. Tee hee!

Carpe diem....

Seize the day!

Taken a slightly different route with the blog today. Inspired by the words on this poster......

Pondering going out of a comfort zone, thinking about the aged expression 'you'll never know what you can do, if you always do what you've always done' .....all around whether I need a new bike with less than a month to go.....I've made a decision.

The GasGas still intimidates me slightly, however, in my work as an executive coach, I know that a few well chosen words have the power to inspire, enable and ignite that extra little spark that is often the turning point between succeeding or not. Equally, a few poorly chosen words can serve to undermine, discourage or completely extinguish that little spark in some-one that makes the difference.

It's ultimately about how we feel and using our drive and ambition to strive to greatness, mindful of those few well chosen words to help us on our way.

I've been so privileged along this journey to have been given a few well chosen words by a number of wonderful people and I thank you all so much for those (the less well-chosen, I'm choosing to park!). Simon Pavey & Chris Evans have said that they believe I can undertake this off-road challenge on the GasGas - and Simon Pavey has observed me on a bike, first hand, so know's exactly where I'm at - it wasn't a particularly good sight a month or so back either! Thanks to his tuition it's prettier now!

So 'seizing the day (by the cojones - as lovely mate added earlier today(!)) - I'm using the courage and guts definition.?!. ... that's where I'm at and tomorrow I'm going offroad for the day on the GasGas to an enduro track with Donna and a photographer will be there too.....?!:

Are you seizing your day?

Shall I wear it to bed?!

Cyril Despres's signed riding shirt has arrived! It's very cool! You may recall it got delayed on route from Andorra to Cambridgeshire prior to the auction.

I'm wondering if I should wear it from now until September - some of Cyril's expertise and karma might transfer from the shirt? Perhaps I'll wear it to bed...... whatever works.....?!

Went out last night (not in Cyril's shirt, if the winning bidder is reading - a bit - okay very muddy round here).

I'm definitely getting the hang of the GasGas, another aha moment last night, when giving it some welly, if I'm all over the front of it, standing or sitting, it doesn't feel like it's going to unceremoniously dump me in whatever might be nearby. Hoorah!

Still umming and erring over whether to get a 4 stroke 250.....the push start and smooth power delivery is very appealing! Watch this space.......off to find some mud.. !

24 hours counting.......and I've found it!

Just got a copy of Scenes of a Sexual Nature - with Ewan MacGregor (Charley's mate), Hugh Bonneville et al signed by Ed Blum the Film Director for the auction. His next movie is just on the horizon and if it gets the green light and the cast I've heard about, there may be an Oscar on the horizon! Thanks Ed.

So, 24 hours to go, Cyril's shirt is still somewhere between Andorra and Cambridgeshire - nothing is insurmountable ?! The BloodHound SSC print looks fabulous, got it framed yesterday.

Very excited, if a tad nervous ....situational normal for me then!

I have found the powerband on the GasGas and I'm very excited about that! I had a great chat yesterday with Chris Evans (who looks after Cyril Despres, the Dakar and writes a very funny column in TBM) and I was just relaying my concerns about the GasGas and maybe getting something a little less - err lively - err with electric start....! Seems getting a 4 stroke 250 of some sort - could be considered an easier option? ' Are you likely to carry on riding off-road after this trip, said Chris, 'is the Pope Catholic?' I replied. I'm completely smitten!

In that case, he said, keep with it and you'll learn a lot from it.

So, last night I went out for a few hours in search of the elusive powerband, I found it, I understand, I really understand - breakthrough - and you do have to get on it to keep it down - hurrah! There's hope for the girl yet! So, off to mess about in some sand next week with Donna. Oo - shall I re-word that, off for some dirk-bike training in some sandy terrain with Donna Gray former British Champ next week and if I mess up completely, I'll ponder the soft/ easier option!

And in case I hadn't mentioned it?! :)

See you tomorrow night at The Queen Adelaide in Croydon, Cambs, SG8 0DN - looking forward to it.....

Oh deer!

The shirts arrived today for the challenge - they're fabulous. Thanks so much Lee and Lisa at BRP imports. Beginning to look more and more like I know what I'm doing - I'm still working on the knowing and doing what I'm meant to be knowing and doing!

Took the Gasser for a spin this evening, new clutch - fab - and as Donna suggested 'you need to get it in the power band, Kate and feel it' - so that was my mission for this evening. Had a great time, loved riding it. Am I going a bit soft? I think I may have missed it whilst it was having said clutch fixed.

On my travels this evening a little Muntjac deer ran across the road, Gwyn at BMW OffRoad school would have been proud, I stopped - rather sharpish - and didn't lock anything up! Yippee. Being taken out by a deer of a Tuesday evening isn't necessarily my idea of bliss....come to that, probably not the Muntjac's idea of bliss either! I slowed up a bit then as deer rarely travel alone!

And if there were any further testament needed that I'm improving, I got 'the nod' a couple of times this evening from other bikers - a chap on a 'blade and another on a Ducati. Progress indeed, I'm obviously taking a dominant position on the road and 'look like' I know what I'm doing, as opposed to 'eejit with new bike and no clue' of a few months back. Whoopee!

Pressure cooker excitement building for the auction, 4 days to go.........

Thrust(SSC) and delight!

Charley Boorman twittered and FB's about the challenge at the weekend which was so fantastic. Especially considering that Charley is currently on the Extreme Frontiers trip through Canada and had a big convoy today; http://www.bigearth.com/extreme-frontiers/ Thanks Charley!

Pulled out of my drive this morning and car sounded like the proverbial bottom had fallen out of it, rather like I was dragging a metal bucket along underneath - oh cripes. Reversed it back in and thought I'll deal with that later.

A few moments later listened to a rather poignant pause for thought on Chris Evans, Radio 2 show - the analogy was life and golf (now I don't know anything about golf, I was once chastised for cantering on a horse across a course - in the rough - I didn't realise at the time - story for another day!). The "thought" was about taking the rough with the smooth and that change i.e developing one's golf technique was difficult however in order to develop and grow in life, change is absolutely essential.

I wholeheartedly believe that to be true, change is hard, humans don't generally like it however change can make the most incredible differences to one's life. Learning to ride a dirt bike, has been a mammoth change for me and continues to be - what a journey though and I've met and continue to meet some of the most passionate and inspiring people ever.

Shortly after the metal buckety noise, I received an email from Ian Glover of Bloodhound SSC - the team behind the challenge to break the land speed record at 1000mph. Wow! Really wow! http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/ - overcoming the impossible using science, technology, engineering and mathematics. I'm all for that - how awesome!

Richard Noble OBE , previous land speed record holder at 663 mph and programme manager for the 1000mph attempt AND Andy Green, the driver have signed a limited edition print for the auction in aid of GOSH and KidsCo this Saturday. Thanks Ian Glover, Richard Noble, Andy Green and the guys at Bloodhound SSC.

Do email me if you'd like to bid and can't be there.

5 days to go to the auction and counting ..... have a photographer for the evening too, lovely Elly Hanna who will capture all the excitement for us.

Practice was on the KTM this evening as the GasGas is with-out a clutch! Didn't break any land speed records however may have topped my own speed record - and all within the law and limits! I'm getting there......

The bit of rough (so to speak) for the day turned out to be a stone in between the splash guard and the disc brake - so a smooth, very exciting and humbling day altogether!

Getting my rocks off.......and tea at The Goring for GOSH and KidsCo

My toes don't ache! Everything else does though.........quite a lot!

I've just returned from an amazing time training with Tamsin Jones, one of only two British women to complete the Dakar. Tamsin runs www.blackdeserttraining.com in Wales with Craig Bounds and she generously offered to give me some tuition.

Could this possibly have been my best day yet! My steed for the day was a Yamaha (sorry not a complete biker yet - can't remember the model - it was blue ?!). A 250cc(?) 4 stroke; lovely smooth power delivery, forgiving and goodness it helped me achieve all sorts of terrain and going that a month ago I would have baulked at and frankly wandered off to find the nearest bus stop!

First we rode out of the valley to the Welsh mountains. If one thing would make me relax into the riding, it was the scenery, it is breathtaking.

We started off with some basic bike control and techniques, lots of slow work and standing up on the bike properly. Tamsin is incredibly encouraging. We talked about dealing with nerves, breathing correctly, relaxing on the bike and getting those shoulders down! Talked about belief in the bike too, the bike can do it. Like anything in life, if you're relaxed or at least free to move without tension, you perform so much better.

Then the excitement started!

We started off with ruts, sitting through them, standing through them - then ensued the first off - one of those flicky off jobs!

Next exercise was steep ascents. We stopped on a gravelly path and Tamsin told me that just a little further was a right hand turn and a steep ascent. It was cunningly disguised with some fluffy green and innocent luscious looking ferns!! Tams re-iterated trusting the bike, let it do its job and power on up the slope looking ahead and above. Well, bloomin nora, this particular ascent was not only very steep but covered in rocks, the smallest being about the size of a football! Cripes! I did it though! Wow! Then at the top had to brake rather sharpish where Tams was waiting and a steep descent in a load of squishy mud appeared, arghhh.....but managed that too.

I think I rode from one side of Wales to the other along ruts - okay, it was probably a mile or so, at the time however it felt like at least the width of a country! The ruts were of the narrow variety and with incredibly sticky, squelchy, squerchy mud - Shrek would have loved it!

Next a wood, it was raining by now, lots of slippery pine needles and tree roots. I came around one quite tight tree-lined bend feeling 'well chuffed' and then spotted three rather slippy and awkward looking tree roots. Arghh - so remembered the techniques - no sudden braking, maintain the throttle, pull in the clutch slightly and look where you're going - planning! I did it and in my sheer excitement and exuberance I think I must have looked down so that's where I ended up next. oop! We then did lots of trails, woods, water, slippery rocks, big rocks. Discovered that my boots leak - lost count of the number of water starts I did.

Funnily enough, there's lots of sheep on the mountains and it would appear that they either ignore the bikes completely or come straight at you skipping and seemingly larking about. They're bonkers, I thought, and then thought - hmm - pots and kettles?!

Tams kept the pressure on and the pace up all day, we had a lovely lunch stop and once or twice stopped to take some pics - in truth I just needed a breather. She is very positive and enthusiastic and didn't tell me too much about some of the stuff I was going to tackle which was great, no time to faff about or worry - just on and at it! Just after lunch we did some steep descents and played around with control on steep loose surfaces and braking. Then did a momentum exercise over a fallen stone wall - loose surface - understatement of the year. Nearly bottled that one ....but didn't hurrah!

Then did some hill starts on aforementioned steep rocky ascent - success ( bit of cussing and unscheduled stalls but did it).

The afternoon as Tams described it; ' some nice trail rides across the other side of the mountain' . Ooo I thought, excellent, I can chill and enjoy the view for a bit - wrong! More ruts, rocks, more rocks, water, more rocks, ruts, mud, more mud, water, rocks ......there's a pattern forming. Mid-afternoon, we were riding through a farm and a huge cow dawdled out onto the track ahead of us. It was sort of sashaying down the track so that we couldn't overtake, very amusing. If I could have stopped and hugged that cow, I would have. A little rest whilst behind a swaggering cow's backside was oddly a nice little reprieve!

At one point, I'd stalled (again) on the edge of a rut, a rock and well fresh air and I could see the next gate we were going to just around a corner next to a field of sheep - that should be a nice little grassy track to the gate I thought. Wrong again, more rocks, water, green looking rocks - that definitely means slippy. Hours and miles and it was truly fantastic, achieved riding over terrain that a month ago a girly tantrum would have ensued for sure! Tams shouted over, 'if you can do this Kate, the Pyrenees will be easy', I was thinking, if I can do this, anything life throws at me will be easy!

Thanks Tamsin for pushing me way beyond my comfort zone and out the other side and for the endless support, smiles and generosity. Thanks Craig too. The Pyrenees is now truly in my sights!

Fabulousness Auction update;

Traditional Afternoon Tea at The Goring Hotel (where Princess Catherine stayed with her family the night before her marriage to Prince William) - get those bids in!

In this pic - end of day and soo exhausted it's silly! Not however as exhausted as the guys who did the Romaniacs! Wow! Well done Ross!

PS. test rode another bike yesterday evening..........watch this space!

Mishap with a tree, a steep slope and a GasGas......

Out with excellent tutor Donna Gray today, former British Champion which was tops! I'm without doubt improving, though that's not withstanding that I still have a long way to go.

Donna as always was pushing my boundaries of comfort and encouraging me, even had me riding with one foot off the pegs for steering from centre point of one's bike purposes. Might have looked like I was trying ride like a flamingo but most importantly I could do it - it's just like using your weight appropriately when riding a horse.

In the photos, you'll see Donna showing how it's done and me well .....showing how it's not?! Answers on a postcard to what might be going on.....behind the tree!

Breakfast discussions with Ross Noble, Billy, Ian, various (many) others and a bit of heart-to-heart with Donna today, much as I love the GasGas, to use an equestrian colloquialism, I may have over-horsed myself! The GasGas is at optimum performance at a particular power band, it's not torquey so one has to keep it revving and it does go (off the proverbial shovel)! Of course that sometimes means wheelies if your weight isn't in the right place to keep the front end down. Now whilst wheelies are fun, when one's learning - they're a tad unnerving, I don't do them to order you understand, but I do them!

So, off very early for two days training tomorrow with Tamsin Jones, one of only two British Women to complete the Dakar - very excited if a little nervous!

Currently watching 60 years of Formula One and John Surtees just commented that you do become as one with your car and it talks to you. He was world champion on 2 and 4 wheels! Mr T drily commented 'you need to be at one with your bike, Mrs T'! Hmmm - I do indeed (I was always at one with my sadly departed 17'2 thoroughbred - he went like the proverbial and had a particular power delivery to work within too!!) The GasGas intimidates me a tad. Oddly enough, I actually believe deep down that I can complete the challenge on the GasGas however there is a massive confidence thing going in my ability, I'm reticent to let it get into that power band too much. Has life gone full circle? I felt just the same when I got Buns, aforementioned chestnut throughbred, green and unschooled from the racecourse...!? And of course on a thoroughbred, the option to close the throttle ........just isn't there!!!

I shall ponder the GasGas on my return........

Taking a dominant position........

In the course of my journey to ride over the Pyrenees for GOSH and KidsCo on an off-road bike, it didn’t really occur to me that road riding might be part of the learning curve. That said, I think a number of things didn’t occur to me; the terrain in the Pyrenees, the expertise required to ride off-road well, and of course being able to ride a motorbike in the first place!! Detail never was a strong point…..though always been strong on optimism..?!

So, yesterday I went out for a few hours on the road on a BMW G650GS with Ian Biederman from ART in Royston www.absoluteridertraining.co.uk. Found my road gloves, dusted off my helmet (well okay removed it, spotless as I’d left it, from it’s cover!). As you can imagine, as per usual, my nerves were running high. I mentioned this to Ian and he calming replied ‘I know, I thought you might be, no problem’, thus instantly diminishing a fair chunk of nerves and making me feel better.

Being back on the BMW was great and after a slightly hesitant off – away we went and I really relaxed into it. Ian and I were linked up by radio. He has a very calm and encouraging voice and talked me through every junction and feature of the road, which was brilliant. Ian is an absolutely superb instructor.

We stopped for tea – all very civilized, and in amongst my novice skillset, one thing I really need to sort is taking a dominant position on the road. Taking command of one's space and position, in the same way that we can use our body language powerfully in life or in a given situation makes a huge difference, it’s the same on the road! That makes sense. So, taking a dominant position was my task for the next few hours – fantastic! Throttle control getting better, poor clutch no longer being dropped with abandon and looking where I’m going. I've discovered this is particularly effective when going around tight roundabouts or tricky bends, that is unless you want to end up on the roundabout or in a flowerbed or hedge! When Ian was talking me through the features to look out for on a lovely country road with lots of bends and turns, I did recall Ross Noble saying to me - look where you’re going Kate and the bike will go there.I even touched 60mph at one point - yes really (and legally)!

So, from early angst in the week and shall we say variable confidence lurking, despite knowing that it’s now 1 month and 3 weeks to the trip or 43 days, not that I’m counting or panicking you understand…?!, It’s all coming together.

And if taking a dominant position is the way to go , I’m not about to disagree…….. !

Feel the fear.........

......and do it anyway.

That was the title of the bestseller and

so goes the expression..... Am feeling the fear for sure and whilst I have to say I'm enjoying the experience, it's for sure one of the steepest learning curves of my life and I'm perhaps finding it both very hard and tremendously exciting in equal measures. It's just under eight weeks until we go. Burst into tears today - something I don't do generally, lovely mate was there with tea and shoulder which was just what I needed. Thanks Caromy.

Whilst I'm finding this particular moment in the journey incredibly hard, this week I'm guest blogger for the GOSH blog http://greatormondstreethospitalcharity.wordpress.com/ Earlier this evening I was reading the heart-wrenching and amazing stories of the courage, bravery, love and steadfastness of children, parents and guardians alike. Truly humbling, inspiring and uplifting in the most difficult, challenging and tragic of situations. All the money that has been raised so far makes such a difference to the children at GOSH & KidsCo. The auction is two weeks away and counting.....

So, I am doing it anyway, not that I ever wasn't dear reader, I was just having a 'moment', feeling the fear perhaps!

As you will see from the pics, I have my leathers - I've always wanted some leathers and they smell great. However, didn't get them for smelling, obviously - just need the boots to go with. Don't know what 'Mary, Queen of Shops' would say but the bike shop in which I wanted to make a couple of purchases was shut when I ventured out, always shut on a Monday apparently! Bother!

The GasGas went to its first show (with me anyway) The Litlington Fete Bike Show; spot the odd one out - in the photo.. It was in a glorious line up of shiny, gleaming hogs, sportsbikes, roadsters.... lots of bike enthusiastic fabulousness. I said to Gary, I was a tad mortified that I'd turned up with a rather muddy bike. 'Authentic' was his response - I'm all for authenticity, so hurrah to that! I'd also mixed my own fuel! Thanks Martin, www.torqueracing.com and Donna for the advice. There's hope for the old girl yet?!

On another petrol heady note, The European Cannonball run set off yesterday and I was invited to the off -how excitingly exciting - wasn't sure eight year old and two year old would have been quite as keen as their Mum however!

Biketruck Billy, www.biketruck.com and Jayson Sticking are in a Dodge Viper (love those cars 8.3 litre, 400bhp - lots of oomph - technical term?!). How cool is that! Anyway.... Pyrenees, bikes, practice, determination.....

So, road riding, which will generally help my bike confidence along the way, on Wednesday. Between now and then I need to get some boots from a retailer that's open for business?

GasGas is getting a new master cylinder or is it a slave? Talking of slaves - I was with a client this morning, who I think quite inadvertently made me laugh lots. Been chuckling since, but then maybe that's a warped sense of humour?!.

I was telling him about the challenge, the auction, he also suggested a mid life crisis - but we've covered that! Anyway, he said ' Oh, auctioning, 'Slaves for the day, that sort of thing?'.

Well, no actually, but there's a thought.......

So, if anyone's game.........?