The good jobs are arriving thick and fast...South Africa, 30 degree heat, in February, a new BMW R1200GS launch? Astonishingly, editor Pryde hogged the gig for himself.

Riding around the world was easy compared to this. With only our wits, months of tuition, free bikes, sophisticated satellite navigation technology, a 12-man back-up team, unique access to foreign consulates that celebrity affords, a TV crew filming our every move and a whole mountain of cash, we set across foreboding seas to ride all the way around the Isle of Wight