Cycling, climbing, mountaineering, basketball, snowboarding... these are a few of my favourite things. So why chose to cycle from San Diego to Los Angeles and then through the desert and Death Valley to Las Vegas? I’ve done loads of various “adventurous” stuff over the years and most with my kids, Kate, Jonny and Nick. I’ve now started doing mini- adventures with the kids Keira and Aaron and they are true little adventurers! I’ve trekked to Everest base camp with Kate, climbed Mount Toubkal, highest mountain in the Atlas, with Jonny and each year Nick and I, accompanied by various others, do the 100 mile Chester Bike Ride (although this year Nick missed it due to getting a gash in his brow at basketball the night before, that required 6 stitches). We’ve canoed through tunnels and over aquaducts, climbed mountains in Wales in the sun, rain and snow, potholed in Yorkshire and gorged walked up waterfalls. I like to think I was the “big daddy” who made all the right decisions and guided the expeditions but I have to concede that in reality it has always been a group effort....

I can vividly recall the times when each of my kids have rebelled, in all cases with streams of expletives, at times when they considered my good judgement wasn’t..well... good! And I have to concede that more often than not they were right. That said, my current undertaking is all the more scarey cos I am doing it on my lonesome, on my bill, on my very, very own. Kate climbing Kalar Patar. And if you are a sherpa...don't ever ask her should you carry her bag...she will bite your hand off!

Jonny and Radka are currently cycling around the world (see www.cycleabike.com); Nick and Carla have re-located to Liverpool from Leeds and have employment responsibilities; and Kate and Anthony have the gkigs to look after. So, the answer is :- I do it on my own ‘cos I have to, and do it ‘cos I can! ) And Death Valley sounds cool! ...yeah, you know what I mean... I know it’s sweltering).

Everest and me...bessie mates!

Jonny climbing in Wales...the old man beat him to the top though.