The route that we have chosen to follow is one that Joff has wanted to cycle for as long as he could remember.

Whilst there is a clearly defined adventure cyclists’ route which stretches from the north of Alaska to the south of Patagonia, it seems that the route across from the east coast to the west coast of the USA does not traditionally form part of the transcontinental journey to Patagonia. It is partly for this reason that Joff wanted to undertake this particular route.

Our proposed route

From reading Bruce Chatwin and Tom Vernon, I have dreamed of South America and the “Land of Fire” for many years. In devising this trip, we both felt that starting gently would be a good idea. The soft green, kindly landscapes of Nova Scotia would ease us into the world of long distance cycle touring, before we take on the mountainous expanses of Montana, the aridity of the Mexican Sierra Madre, the potentially challenging environments of Central America and the enormous grandeur of the southern continent featuring (for us) the Andes, the Atacama desert, the Pampa and the almost mythical Tierra del Fuego.

It was during our honeymoon in 2007 in southern Chile, that I furtively asked Joy whether she would consider cycling the width and length of the Americas. Without a moments hesitation she said yes. “When would you like to do it..?” I asked, somewhat surprised by her entirely unexpected reaction. “How about next year..?” she said. Marvellous.

I immediately began planning for a long term health and fitness regime, featuring anaerobic training, strength development and mental stamina - but then popped into a bakery and forgot all about it.

The exact route will be roughly 19 or 20,000 miles, depending entirely upon which roads we choose. Smooth roads, bumpy roads, police roadblocks and friendly folks, malaria, men with guns, and the promise of good food will probably all play their part in helping us decide.

Setting off in May from Nova Scotia means that we hope to arrive in Vancouver by August - having done a few days kayak camping around the east coast beforehand and perhaps some white water stuff in between. The midwest might be rather warm for a while, and climbing the Rockies isn’t going to help us cool down, but at least we’ll miss the cold autumn winds across the prairies. Pedalling east to west is however heading straight into the wind - thanks goodness it’s only 3,500 miles…. You can’t legislate for everything.

A jaunt across the States

After kayaking on the west coast, and hopefully seeing some whales around the San Juan Islands, we’ll head south in September, down the west coast in anticipation of arriving in Mexico for Christmas 2009.

After Mexico, it’s a tick list of Central America - without the Encephalitis - Guatamala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Cost Rica and Panama.

Cycling along the west coast, we hope for cool breezes rather than humidity. Maybe we're hoping for too much.

At this point in time, sitting by a log fire in our cottage in deepest Cambridgeshire, we think that we’ll probably fly from Panama City to Quito in Ecuador rather than take a boat to northern Colombia and pedal the length of the country. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is a bit scared of Colombia, and whilst taking advice from the Government is not something I would usually consider a sensible option (Banking, anyone…?), I think that in this particular instance it might know a bit more about the country than I. Whilst we both like an adventure, we’re not 25 anymore, and the possibility of studying the no doubt beautifully machined barrel of a Kalashnikov has lost its appeal in recent years.

Various stories emerge about a place, for good or bad, but on balance we think it wise (some might think scaredy-cat, or narrow minded) to enjoy the scenery of the places that we will be visiting without having to worry, perhaps unduly, about additional destinations.

From Quito, we’ll pedal down the western side of South America, visiting Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina, before ending up in Ushuaia, in southern Patagonia.

Apparently the altitude dictates temperature more than latitude, in this part of the world, so we'll keep high in the mountains for much of the route - and hopefully get the best views across this amazing continent.

Currently we have several specific places to visit, or things we would like to do en route. They include:

• Kayak in the Bay of Fundy, in Nova Scotia, Canada;
• Visit Glacier National Park in the US;
• Overnight kayak camp on the San Juan Islands, Canada (to include seeing whales);
• See the Olympic Mountains in Washington State in the US;
• Overnight kayak camp on the Baja Peninsula in Mexico;
• Visit Mayan ruins in Central America;
• Pedal up and down the Andes;
• Arrive in La Paz, Bolivia.

If anyone has other must-see hidden secrets, or places to stay, please contact us at the usual address. Thank you.