It’s an exciting day, I have been in contact with Bjørn and we are in agreement. Today, I have sent out the project for 2014 to a handful of key people asking them for their initial thoughts and advice. Tomorrow, I shall outline the whole plan to everybody. It’s been frustrating bouncing so many ideas about but it’s a great feeling to finally have “everything” (joke) nailed down.

At this stage, I really only wish to thank those who have been working with me to plan the trip. In no particular order HUGE thanks to Stig & Carola at BoISmaland, Jan at Skinny Fiber, Mark Nessfield, Pete at HotCosta, Keith at Club Torrevieja, Roger Cummiskey, Helen Johnson at Property Quest International. Ali Meehan at Costa Women, Sam Campbell at Business 1st, William at Málaga Bike Solutions, Gil at Sun Park, Lanzarote and Mike and Sue at Sun Haven Guest House.

I must make one VERY special mention – to David Blight who looked after me after the hit-and-run incident. He gave me his 10 NOK, four years ago, when I could hardly walk, never mind cycle. He KNEW I’d bounce back. I’ll never forget that, amigo! You will meet them all these guys in the weeks to come.

Final words to Young Gil at Sun Park. “Steve, I hear some people are saying you are crazy to do this trip. They are WRONG. You’d be crazy NOT to do it!”(To put this into context Gil has known me 15 years. He has known about the health issues, the hospital visits, the fire …. everything. HIS opinion is VALID!)

Tomorrow, I hope that I will be able to upload the project and the draft route….which WILL change!

I really don’t think I need to say anything else!

Bjørn Heidenstrøm

It was great to meet up with the “Bold, Bald, Bad Viking” in Oslo yesterday. We had nearly three hours together and discussed our plans for the Shirt in 2014. Sadly, we are both waiting for confirmations from partners, sponsors etc but we are both confident that we are days away from being able to be public about the next stages of the project.

Let’s go back and look at the history of the Shirt.

2009/2010 – Bjørn cycles from Norway to South Africa. See BjornHeidenstrom.com It was a HUGE media project and he created huge awareness for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

2010 – Steve cycles to the 92 Football League grounds in England and Wales. See TheShirt2010.co.uk. He has learned a lot from Bjørn’s mega-multi-marathon trip but was knocked off his bike by a hit-and-run driver in Newcastle. He carried on to finish at West Ham United. A proud man. His trip took the social media aspect to the next level.

2011 – Bjørn cycles the entire length of Norway See BjornHeidenstrom.com . This was a huge challenge but he had a back-up crew with him which enabled him to develop the social media channels. He had huge media awareness in Norway.

2012 – Bjørn canoes across Europe. This was perhaps the toughest physical challenge but was successfully completed.

2013 – Bjørn gets married. The biggest tour of them all, some would say! Good luck to him and Marianne Grinaker!

2014 – Bjørn and Steve start two separate projects to support the Shirt in the year of the 2014 World Cup.

Whilst this has all been happening, Bjørn has been very busy with his own Ekspode business and has huge plans to develop it in the months and years ahead. Good Luck! For those who speak Norwegian here is his updated Ekspode site and if you don’t speak Norwegian enjoy the photos!

Atletico Madrid extend sponsorship with Azerbaijan

Atletico Madrid have extended their sponsorship deal with Azerbaijan until 30th June, 2015, which could be more than their original €12 million agreement.

It’s an interesting deal where a country sponsors a football club. Nevertheless both sides seem happy and are continuing so I hope it’s a win-win. The full story is here.

Barcelona

One of the highlights of Bjørn’s trip through Spain in 2009 was the amazing reception he got at FC Barcelona. So, I always look out for Barcelona shirt stories. Here’s one that broke a few days ago.

When Lionel Messi or his FC Barcelona teammates lift their shirts after scoring a goal, soccer fans will see Intel Corp. (INTC)’s logo under a sponsorship that puts its logo on the inside of the team’s jerseys.

Intel, the world’s largest maker of semiconductors, agreed to become the official technology partner of the 2011 Champions League winners and current leader of La Liga, Intel vice president of sponsorships David Haroldsen said. The company’s current advertising slogan is “Look inside.”

“This is a first-time placement of a logo inside of their jersey and a first for a technology company,” Haroldsen said in an e-mail.

Haroldsen declined to provide terms of what he called a “multiyear” agreement. Forbes magazine reported that Intel will pay the club $25 million over five years.

Intel’s technology will help Barcelona players and coaches improve research, training and performance, Haroldsen said. The company’s only current sports sponsorship also will provide devices to students at Barcelona’s La Masia training academy, which developed current players such as Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta.

“In the future, we will also be working to improve the fan experience through new technology at Camp Nou,” Haroldsen said of the club’s 99,354-seat stadium, which it says is the largest in Europe.

Full story here

Prospect Networking

Prospect Networking is a very diverse collection of international friends who come together on a Facebook group. The majority are UK-based and many of us have known at least some of the members for a number of years. This longevity and consistency have turned into one of my favourite “Water Cooler” groups. Yesterday, a number of members came out strongly in support of a joint effort to assist me as I cycle through the UK. I am grateful for this and will introduce you to some of their key members over the coming days.

Who better to start with than the sage administrator of the group, life-long Burnley FC fan, Steven Healey! I am looking forward to meeting him and his partner, Angelika, as I travel through Wilthire. He has recently started a new blog and I am happy to recommend that.

Thanks to all at Prospect Networking. I look forward to meeting many of you as I tour the UK.

Well, the weeks are moving on and I am starting to think carefully about my route, my equipment and my cycle. The more I think of it, the more my my mind is moving on to an electric bike – especially for the UK stage. Today I was interested to see this video. Quite fascinating!

Spain Is More Destinations

Spain is More

Oh yes, it certainly is! I am absolutely delighted to have found a partner for the part of the route I was least looking forward to. I would claim to know Spain well but the north west is really open through reading, videos etc. So, I was delighted to find, Rasmus and his partners at Spain Is More who immediately offered to support. Now, any offer of support is always warmly welcomed but when it comes from THE specialists in tours in the area, I know I have found a 2345 leaf clover! Great to be working with you and I hope I can get your name well known to my followers!

So, who are these new-found super-heroes? They say, “Our aim is turning your holiday in Northern Spain into a really special experience. Thanks to our deep knowledge of the area, we know hidden, secret and the most remarkable places, which “normal” tourists do not usually find.

We emphasize that the experience we offer is unique and that our guests experience the Spaniards’ own Spain, whether you travel with our group trips or on your own by car, train, foot or bicycle.

Our group tours are followed either by English-speaking tour guides or local multilingual guides. On our drive-yourself trips, you will be at every moment assisted by our personalized travel guide in English, which describes your trip in detail and suggests the best restaurants, beaches, attractions and tours, including addresses to the pre-booked hotels, activities and more.

In Northern Spain, everything is possible regardless of your age. Let us know about your needs and wants, and we will design your dream vacation in northern Spain.”

More information on the Spain Is More website

You will be hearing a LOT more about Spain is More from me especially when I am up i Galicia and Asturias!

Costa Women Silent Auction for Bancosol

It is always nice to support those who support me so today I am delighted to highlight my friends from Costa Women. I wish them every success with their Charity Week Project.

As part of the Costa Women Charity week taking place 22-29 November 2013, two abstract works of art have been donated by local artist Charli Leniston. The pictures, called Cells Dividing and Sand Dunes, retail for a total price of 750€!

The pictures can be bought by silent auction which is taking place on Facebook.

The starting bids are 25€ per picture.

Cells Dividing retails at 450€

Size 100cm x 70cm

Sand Dunes retails at 300€

Size 46cm x 73cm

Anyone can bid for the pictures. Please just private message the Costa Women Facebook page with your offer. All the money from the winning bid will be donated to Banco de Alimentos de Málaga which provides food for needy in the Málaga province.

For more information please email costawomen@gmail.com

Costa Women is a free social and business networking Group for Women living in Spain.

I was delighted to hear from a long-term friend today, Richard Eastabrook Partner of Digital Lux Group who immediately offered to support the project. That’s always hugely appreciated but today he went one better by agreeing to sponsor via Digital Lux Group, located in Alicante Business Centre (Alicante City Port) and London. If you have a requirement for either quality property in and around Alicante City or office accommodation he’d be delighted to hear from you. Thanks, Richard. Contact +44 7947 665 620 or info@digital-lux.com