Tuesday started with a great BNI meeting and then after a few phonecalls, blogs, tweets etc it was off to another lunch-time BNI presentation. It was also “the big day” as I realised that the promised bike was now as likely as Gillingham winning the premiership and I took up John’s kind offer of a loan bike. It’s not entirely suitable for the entire journey but it will get me around London. Thanks John.

I also got some photos through from Rob at Enfield futsal to replacement the ones that I screwed up and as you can see below my great friend Simon Ellinas completed a great caricature of Ecademy founder Penny Power.

Penny has been a true supporter of the project since day one (and before!) and manifestly “walks the walk” as far as supporting Ecademy members is concerned. Penny, your support is massively appreciated.

Ricky Valance

The REAL news today was NOT about the UK leg but rather about Bjorn in South Africa.

The first “draft” of sewing the shirts together was hugely successful but even more important was the endorsement from the President of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma, who signed the shirts at the South Africa World Cup. A hugely important addition as a “friend”. From a PR point of view this will open many doors.

In London, I was delighted to meet up with my friend Enfield Rob who eats, breathes and sleeps football at all levels and who has himself been to the vast majority of the 92 grounds …… and 100s of amateur and semi-pro grounds too. I was proud to receive a shirt from Futsal Enfield who play in the top level of futsal in the UK. Rob is also a FC Torrevieja fan AND has been out to the refugees in Rwanda coaching futsal. He found me a limited edition Futsal Enfield shirt which will fly proudly in the breeze in South Africa. THANKS!

After three nights of very little sleep, I woke today refreshed and ready for action! There was a huge orange ball shining brightly in the sky and I knew that my training was going to be tough in the direct sunlight. Needed to be done though!

Then I got one of “those” calls. Ecademist and GREAT supporter of the project, Dean “Warrior Coach” Grimshawe had driven up to see me! Humbled. Dean is passionate about his Warrior Coaching which is about aggressively striving to maximise Performance. This level of Coaching is a little hard for most people to face so it is only recommended for those who take their goals seriously! Dean has “promised” (threatened!) to “support'” me (push me!) to get through the 92 clubs and, more to the point, the 3,000 miles. Dean, I am sure when I have a puncture in the driving rain on some barren Yorkshire Moor that I will need you! THANKS!

What was even more pleasing is that he had his charming life-partner with him, Sara. In fact to be more accurate she had Dean as it was Sara who was driving! There is always something special about being introduced to a friend’s family and I am delighted to have met Sara. They make a lovely couple. I could, of course, say that she is far too good for Dean ……but I am not that brave!

Anyway, if you ARE that brave then I suggest you see how Dean can take you to the next level.

Yes, I know. I have heard all the jokes but it is true. They DO have concrete cows in Milton Keynes. The good news is that they do not throw themselves in front of the bike!

I came to this new town to see my friend Neil Muxlow who had a business lunch organised and to see my sponsor. Sadly, the sponsor seems to have “evaporated” and is no longer responding to emails nor calls. I guess I have to expect that people will not always do what they say. It is one of the things that Björn and I have learned from his trip. So, already off my itinerary and back looking for a sponsor. Life!

Anyway, the MOST important news is that Björn is now in South Africa. Yes! after 11 months in the saddle he has now crossed the border and is in South Africa, the land of the World Cup and his final destination. You will be able to read all about his arrival and the wonderful reception here. I am simply amazed and inspired by his achievement. Congratulations, bold, bald, bad Norwegian.

Thanks hugely to Neil at Business Alive and to my “sponsor” for the day, The Ramada Encore. This is a superb new hotel in the very centre of Milton Keynes. The service was superb and I thank Neil for organising the sponsorship.

Well, this is it I am OFF!

What an amazing day. It started at 4am (yes!) when I started a 3 train-journey to BNI Hogarth, then it was on Excel London for some meetings and it concluded with a fantastic Ecademy meeting in Victoria. Well, the “fun” bit did. The hard yards were getting me to Milton Keynes for 3am! A long but massively successful day!

I have a terrific relationship with BNI and in particular national director Charlie Lawson and locally John Coupland. My target is to visit each of their 34 regions in the UK to go to at least one of their local chapters. A great organisation offering excellent support to The Shirt. I have a BNI shirt which I am getting signed in each region and we are passing it on like a baton. When I have finished I will return it to John and Charlie ….with a minimum of 1000 signatures I am sure.

So, the first chapter I visited was Hogarth in Chiswick in West London. It was a fine meeting with a good buzz and I was warmly welcomed. Thanks.

From there I hot-footed it to Excel for a business exhibition where a friend was in attendance. Always good to shake hands with old faces (!) and I was delighted that next to him was the Regus organisation. I quickly explained the project and almost before I had finished they were clambering to be in. They really “saw” The Shirt and were delighted to commit. Thanks, all.

The very first person outside of the Shirt team I spoke to about my little contribution was Penny Power, the founder of Ecademy. She has given me unstinting support and encouragement from Day One and last night in the prestigious Grosvenor Hotel she officially endorsed the project and very generously presented me with a superb video camera. See her live here!
I have set myself a target of collecting the signatures of 1000 Ecademy members as I cycle through the UK.

This is Ben the owner of where I have spent two great nights. It’s just by Dollis Hill tube and close to Willesden so easy access to Central London. If all the accommodation is as good as this I will be happy! Thanks, guys!

D-Day MINUS ONE

Yes, I am in London for the first time in 9 years. Wow! Much has changed. So much cleaner and cheaper than I ever remember.
Thanks to all for kind wishes – huge number emails, Skypes, PM etc to return. I will do this afternoon.

Sorry for delay responding but I lost my glasses last night – first challenge of the tour and if that’s all I have to worry about life will stay sweet. Hopefully I am prepared for much worse!

SPONSOR OF THE DAY is huge football friend and all round good guy Zoe at Swap My City Pad

She is just starting a new site and sent me a great intro to wish me well. Well, Zoe, I wish you well and hope that all my friends and followers will check your site. You will, won’t you guys?

What an amazing day!

The day was going well when I got an unexpected and unsolicited email from an Ecademy contact, Milton Rodrigues, “Dear Steve,

I am happy to give you something I treasure, to help raise awareness for your great cause :-

A KOOKABURRA Shirt signed by the greatest Test Bowler of all-time,

SHANE WARNE ( 708 Test Wickets ) . Additionally, if I can & on the T20 Finals Day at the Rose Bowl, where I know the Hampshire Commercial Manager, Andy…I will try & get the great KEVIN PIETERSEN to sign it as well.

I was going to give it to my Son, Jamie who is a double Middlesex Champion with his Bessborough CC, but he already has a brand new Ricky Ponting Kookaburra Carnage bat.
So should be happy enough !

See you at SOUTHEND CC on the 5th Sept !

Milton Rodrigues
Director,
Surge-ITS Network Engineers, Wembley.
Co-Leader, ECADEMY Cricket Club.”

I replied, “My goodness, Milton,

I am ABSOLUTELY humbled that you would offer this.

Of course, I accept with thanks and humility. You can ABSOLUTELY be assured that I will pump the MAXIMUM out of this donation.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is exactly the type of gesture that makes Ecademy so great.

So whether you have a Shane Warne shirt or a Joe Soap shirt, please consider forwarding it to me. Better still meet up with me and we’ll get the press along to maximise the impact of the donation. If you do not have a shirt, pop down to your carboot sale, Chinese bazaar or wherever and get any shirt you like. Sign in, get your friends and family to sign and it call it FC Xerox, FC Zebra Web, FC York Seo Services or whatever your company is and anyway we go. Tina gave us FC Ecademy Denmark, Aron’s is FC Leasing Options and I´ll get you good PR. Perhaps you know a celebrity – we have Totti, John Arne Riise, Sir Elton John, Fish, Iron Maiden, Frank Worthington. What about a shirt signed by Paul Potts, Amanda whatever her name is that chose him, Archbishop of Canterbury, Richard Branson …… sorry I have been out of England so long I am not sure who your celebrities are!

On my “Bucket List” as I travel I would love to meet Sir Alex Ferguson, Paul Scally, Ryan Giggs, JK Rowling, Gary Lineker, Peter Shilton, Arthur Scargill, Dennis Skinner, Martin Offiah, Ian Botham, Sir Alan Sugar, Geoff Boycott, Dr Ivan Meisner and Neil Kinnock. Can anybody assist?

Where to meet? Ecademy London this Thursday would be a great start! Then it´s Croydon Ecademy on the 27th, Manchester 25th June, Ecademy London 15th July, Bristol Boardroom in August, Ecademy Cricket in Southend …….and wherever else you invite me!

Milton, thanks again. I really look forward to meeting you ….just don’t put me in opening bat!

Kind Regards

Steve Hall”

What an amazing gesture! After 108 days’ cycling I seem to have volunteered for a game of cricket at the Ecademy Cricket Match in Southend! I guess I´ll just about have the strength to slice the cucumber!

It’s 4,30am. I started at 10am.

I am tired, I am hungry, I am thirsty and a whole pile of people have not returned calls, emails etc.
I ask myself why I am even considering cycling for nearly four months.

Then I look at the photo above and read this and this and I know I will be fine.

Thanks, guys, for being with me. It is appreciated.

Delighted to confirm that Staysure Insurance have kindly offered to insure me on my journey. I feel a lot better knowing that I have a prestigious company covering me. Please check their site for full details.

(Actually they let me down BADLY at the very last minute. Disappointed to see that they have had free publicity for 5 years!)

More and more dates are being confirmed.

20 May London Excel – Business Start Up
20 May London Victoria – Ecademy Evening

17 June Bury, Manchester – The Best of Bury Exhibition