Last night I gave a talk down the road from my house. It wasn’t a big affair, no stage or mic stand or reporters, just a little talk to a yoga school about my journey. I have done a few presentations now - apparently people want to hear about what drives a man to cycle 19,000 miles on a tandem picking up strangers on the back!?

This talk was different though, I wasn’t delivering it to easily fired up students, or keyed in cyclists and adventurers, I was delivering it to a more or less middle aged group of women on a Friday night, last stop before weekend relaxation. As I looked around the room I wasn’t optimistic about my chances of a standing ovation, let alone all thirty of them remaining awake to accompany me on my visual journey down to the bottom of Argentina. But, in short, they did, whats more they fired question after question at me - why did you do this? What about that? I was quietly stunned at their attentiveness and the compliments they landed on my shoulders afterwards.

Riding home - not on Achilles the trusty tandem but still on two wheels, motorised ones - I was greatful to have been able to have inspired. In June 2006 setting off from Alaska alone I had no idea that I was giving myself the opportunity to do so - inspire, and every metre I travelled the more power I had, every person I met and shared my journey with the more stories I had to tell others.

Sometimes in these slightly tougher times trying to bring a book and documentary to fruition I forget the power I have stumbled upon and remember only the obstacles of the shallow and manipulative media. But it comes back when i stand in a room with people who’s eyes show a willingness to absorb the stories I tell. Then I realise again, that to inspire and to quietly let people know that they canreach higher if they want to, makes me happy. Deeper than happy, like I am a significant yet infinitesimal amount closer to achieving what I want to in this life.