Magnificent motorsport memorabilia........

When one journey comes to an end another begins. This amazing journey from one cold February morning earlier this year thinking 'I'm going to learn how to ride an off-road bike and ride it somewhere interesting ', to now has been quite incredible.

To date we've raised almost £8,000 and the final furlong, as it were, is auctioning the quite fabulous and unique piece of motorsport memorabilia and history. The shirt bit.ly/nKiLRu been signed by; Valentino Rossi, nine Grand Prix World Championships and multiple MotoGP World Championship title holder, Jorge Lorenzo, 2006 & 2007 250cc World Champion, 2010 Moto GP World Champion, James Toseland, 2004 & 2007 World Superbike Champion - he retired last month due to a wrist injury,

Cal Crutchlow, British Supersport champion and British Superbike race winner, and the 2009 Supersport World Champion, Danny Webb, 125cc World Championship multiple title holder, Leon Haslam, British Superbikes, World superbikes, Ian Hutchinson, TT racer, Jonathan Rea, World Superbike racer, Keith Amor, TT legend, David Johnson, British Superbikes , James Whitham,TT Superbike champion, British Superbike Champion Supercup and the ACU TT British Superbike Champion, John McGuinness, TT legend, Neil Hodgson, British Superbike and World Superbike Champion & Ian Lougher, 9 victories in the North West 200, 10 wins at the Isle of Man TT Races and 42 wins at the Southern 100 Races and all the signatures were gathered by Steve Parrish. What an awesome collection.

Some say a journey is best measured by the new friends and people one meets.

Many have been asking what the next challenge will be, there were a number of answers to that a fortnight ago!

A seasoned off-roader who competes regularly and is awesome on a bike, called me last week. He's done the trip. He said 'Congratulations and well done! What were you thinking (I don't think I was), that was a truly epic challenge for such a beginner. Good on you for coming back in one piece'. I'm still surprising myself now thinking back to some of the terrain I covered on a dirtbike! Wouldn't have missed it for the world and the guys were all fantastic and very supportive and encouraging but crikey I didn't know what I didn't know ......... But I do now......!

Thank you, Merci and Grazie to so many people;

Donna Gray for getting me on the bike, in the right kit and starting off my very tentative learning experience, Martin Wittering, mechanic extraordinaire along with buckets of constant moral support and encouragement, Gary Faillettaz for his consistent unfailing encouragement, tuition and so, so very much patience and picking my bike up more times than should be allowed, team-mate fantastico, Steve Parrish for the fabulous signed shirt, books and WSB passes, Michelle Hunter for hosting the auction at the wonderful Queen Adelaide, John Kettley - without whom for sure this journey would never have really begun! Jim Gale for the brilliant graphics and plastics, Tamsin Jones for training, moral support and hugely boosting my confidence, Liz Rhodes at BBC Radio Cambridgeshire for constant encouragement, Nigel Wheatley and Michele Maddocks of Enduroland, Ed Blum, film director, Charley Boorman for tweeting, FB 'ing ( in fact getting me on FB), signing a book for the auction, Ross Noble for an auction prize and for making me laugh and keeping me human in Wales, Billy Ward for making these aforementioned things happen and for suggesting more training, not to mention making me smile on numerous occasions when I really needed to, Tim McEwan, auctioneer of the mostest, Ian Glover of Bloodhound SSC, Nigel Harrison, Jayne Perks, Jeremy Goring of the Goring Hotel, Sue & Andy Banham of Taylard House, Chris Evans (thanks as well as singlehandedly almost completely putting me off bikes forever!) and Cyril Despres, Graham Banks of GB Racing for so much, Sally Saunders of Esse (support and keeping me vaguely feminine), Jacquie and Matt of The Wendy House, Janine Wood of SLP, Tessa Roberts of Ocean One, Christian Malissard of Eagle Perf, Angela Dawson of Dawson VA Services, Dave Newman of SupremeBeing, Irene Routh-Jones for moral support, lovely friend Rachael for getting me packed and lovely texts when I was in the Pyrenees, dear friends Paul and Ailsa for airport runs, Caroline Faillettaz for huge support, my parents for looking after the girls, my fabulous friend Wendy for so much moral support and my gorgeous sister Elly who was particularly brilliant when I was finding it harder than hard, Mr T for so much and so much more and my beautiful girls. And of course to so many generous family and friends who gave donations, kind words and huge support, thank you, thank you, thank you, merci, merci, merci, grazie, grazie, grazie.

As for the next challenge..........Andalucia and Africa in my sights and perhaps a rally. Watch this space.......

All framed and ready to be auctioned for GOSH & KidsCo...

Icing on the cake......

Have just received a message that the BBC shirt signed by;

Valentino Rossi,

Jorge Lorenzo,

James Toseland,

Carl Crutchlow,

Danny Webb,

Leon Haslam,

Ian Hutchinson,

Jonathan Rea,

Keith Amor,

David Johnson,

James Whitham,

John McGuinness,

Neil Hodgson,

Ian Lougher

is now framed and ready to collect (will take a pic of it when I collect it tomorrow) and therefore also ready to auction as the final icing on the cake of fundraising for GOSH and KidsCo. Thanks so much to Steve Parrish who very kindly organised this for us. Thanks Steve! How exciting is that and as a mate commented yesterday, 'must be worth more now as James Toseland has sadly retired due to injury'.

I've been overwhelmed by the wonderful support, encouragement, wry amusement and bafflement across this amazing journey. Had another cheque in today and I'm delighted to say that we've now raised just over £7500.00. So very chuffed, if still bruised! I was asked today what my next challenge would be - there's many answers to that particular question! Suggestions....?

Also very excited that another signed item by a British enduro icon might be on the horizon, I was told when in the Pyrenees that one should really stand when uttering his name! More on that to come.....

Has a little outing on the GasGas this avo to celebrate!

What goes up - must come down! GUEST POST FROM MR T

What goes up - must come down, there is no such thing as a free lunch, many a mickle makes a muckle, if I knew what the last one meant, that too may also apply to the challenging trip from which we have just returned. The first one is obvious. The 'lunch' in the second refers to the fantastic views we witnessed from the top of various Pyrennean peaks, which you too may have enjoyed in photographic form from the comfort of your PC. You will have realised that the 'no such thing as...' is the treacherous ascent on two wheels, to be followed by an even more hazardous descent!

In the early stages, whilst informing people of the planned trip in the attempt to secure sponsorship, a large proportion responded very positively assuming the undertaking was to be completed on mountain bikes. When informed that motorised transport were to be involved, a number looked somewhat sceptical, under the impression that there would be little challenge involved with an engine doing the hard graft. Yeah, right! The number of times one can drag a 140KG motorcycle 20 metres up a rock strewn 45 degree slope is very definitely limited to no more than twice an hour, (in my case, anyway). In fact, there are ample opportunities to do oneself some serious damage, or worse.........

Whilst I didn't break anything, or even ruin my GOSH riding kit with blood stains, I did have a rather alarming episode on the descent to lunch on day two. The descent in question was a rocky mountain stream bed, mostly dry, but slimy here and there and very narrow, perhaps no more than a foot wide in places. Add boulders, the odd errant cow, and all in 30 plus degrees heat, and things begin to get tricky. The final section was in excess of a kilometre, (could have been two for all I know), and wearing helmet, goggles and body armour, all added to an overheating rider, even the trusty KTM boiled up twice in sympathy! At the bottom, the trail turned to 9 inches of sticky mud with assorted rocks. Lacking the energy to steer by now, a rock caught the rear wheel and had me off. Stepping off, I was happy to let the bike fall whilst I attempted to catch my breath. Young Gary, waiting at the bottom, came and rescued the bike and rode to firm ground for me, I had neither the energy or will to pick the bike up myself...

Three minutes later we were at our lunch stop, I was the last to arrive. Staggering in, I sat down but had no interest in eating. Fifteen minutes later, I was still panting, my heart pounding and my T-shirt soaked. Interestingly, I later learned that the first aiders were getting alarmed at this stage, as I had turned grey and they were desperately trying to think of reasons why they shouldn't be the one to administer CPR! Really, I had shaved and brushed my teeth that morning! Anyway, a selection of isotonic pouches and a couple of litres of fluids later, I was ready - to quit! It took a couple of hours to return to my normal chirpy self.

On a few occasions, I would have happily have pointed the KTM down the mountain and given it a shove. So, bearing all of the above in mind, and that I have been riding motorcycles, albeit on the road, for longer than I would care to admit, I hope this helps you appreciate what Kate has achieved. In fact, only Gary managed to complete the whole three days, upholding the honour of the Enduro Challenge Team. I wouldn't have missed it for the world, but never imagined the level of bike control, fitness or skill required to conquer the trails, well done Mrs T!

Finally, without exception, the other 'off-roaders' who were riding the same route were top geezers, so we are still to encounter a dodgy biker, perhaps they don't actually exist......

15 minutes in! GUEST POST FROM GARY

15 minutes in and I realised that Kate was going to find this trip very challenging if not impossible.

It was more challenging and more extreme than I had imagined. Not only was the going hard, but it was also long. Not like the short bursts of rocks over p'haps 10metres or so in trials but kilometres of it! The descents and climbs were much steeper than I expected; very, very steep.

Nearly 400km of harsh, hard and challenging terrain covered over 3 days in 27 to 33 degrees heat.

The high point was getting up a huge, steep climb of c2km, covered in really tricky rock sections, strewn with boulders and up and down step sections!

Fantastic bunch of lads and stunning scenery, I'll definitely be going again.

Incidentally, had I done one of these trips before Kate, I would have told her to not attempt it!

Photos courtesy of sport-adventure.com

I'm still alive.....

If I knew then what I know now.....

A bit like childbirth, you never quite know what you're in for, despite what people say, until it happens. Think Gary and Mr T thought the same - not the childbirth bit.....obviously!

Nothing could have prepared me for the scale of the challenge to ride off-road in the Pyrenees. Hindsight is of course always 20/20!

Fourteen fabulous guys in the group, each of whom had variously ridden; enduro, trials, motocross, road-bikes for decades and had many, many hours in the saddle. Some had raced, some had championship points or champion status and continue to do so.

To add a little extra excitement Si Melber, James Barnicoat (Barni) & Justin King (JK) of TBM, "THE" Dirt Bike magazine were also on the trip testing out enduro bikes. I felt very honoured. They also kept me sane and laughing on many an occasion with tales of badgers, going the wrong way round tests, bikes going over the finish line without riders! Teehee....fabulous!

So, for some-one with such little experience, to say I was a little daunted or perhaps concerned would be an understatement of the highest degree.

We stayed in a hotel at St. Palais in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques region of France, the forthcoming days were to be across almost 500km. The courtyard of the hotel was a veritable delight for the dirtbike enthusiast. The favoured machine, by far, was the 300, 2 stroke and KTM, the preferred manufacturer. There was also a Husaberg, Husky, TM and a couple of Hondas, including that of yours truly.

First activity (after breakfast) on day one, was a briefing, signing of various disclaimers and familiarization with a road-book. The road-book is basically a long list of very specific navigation instructions, which means that small groups of two or three can go off together with-out a guide. One of the unique characteristics of Chris' trips is the road-book, otherwise the group would only ever be as fast as the slowest rider and with me amongst the troupe that wouldn't be a good thing!!!. Day one was to take us over c 120km of varied terrain.

Before the off, an 'opener' goes out ahead of the first riders to ensure that no new hazards have appeared and that the route is passable. He also puts out tape for some of the tracks, so that they are visible.

There was an amazing amount of 'stuff' going on in the parc ferme prior to the off. Don't get me wrong, there are several important things to check, replace and maintain on one's bike, however observing the general goings on, one appeared to be having a re-build, minutes before the off!

Everyone then got armoured up and we were ready. First stop fuel and away we went.

The first track was just that, with a few loose stones, so far, so good. Some time later followed a gravelly ascent, quite steep. That was my first spill, a slow one, they generally are! Picked the bike up, it's lighter than the GasGas - not to mention the adrenalin that was flying around.

Then a few rocky ascents, one was very rocky, very steep and wet. Cripes!

Dropped the bike, well, fell off- can't remember how but I do recall possibly grabbing an unnecessary handful of throttle. Picked it up, not properly as I'd managed to wedge it on a rock. I did it though and all was well.

On I went and it was just getting tougher and tougher and tougher.........through a small wood, very pretty, logs, slippery......

Some time later:-

We approached a steep descent through some brambles and ferns which I remembered from the briefing. Sounds harmless enough! There were also sizeable tree roots, big rocks and a very steep descent next to the very narrow path. Albeit camouflaged by brambles. It crossed my mind that the chalk pit that I had 'mastered' near where we live was a mere hole in the grass by comparison!

Deep breath, focus, I can do this and gentle controlling of the bike.

All good until I hit a rock (looked at it - oop) and then got the bike firmly wedged in the brambles and ferns and also got my foot caught.

It was all at slow speed and made me giggle rather at quite how stuck I was. Giggling over, I freed my boot and then contemplated how on earth I was going to get back on the narrow track. At is happens, Mr T was just ahead and he came to the rescue and we manhandled the bike up and out.

The terrain then got muddier, rockier and more slippery. "If I can survive this, I can survive anything" I was thinking. I had Gloria Gaynor's 'I will survive' going through my mind at this point!

Further down the track I spotted a definite bike and rider sized indent in the undergrowth which later that evening I discovered had been Gary.

On day one the weather was a warm 28degrees, a lovely pleasant temperature however in full off-road regalia, one gets very hot indeed not to mention the glowing (actually full on sweating !!). Thank goodness for the camel backs and isotonics! Ruts, rocks, nice grassy tracks, breath back - pheww! Mr T commented later in the day that they were rather more boulders than rocks. Some were firm, some were of the unsteady moveable variety. One thing I knew for sure, if I hadn't spent time with Tamsin Jones at Black Desert Racing, I wouldn't have got even nearly as far as I did. I was powering over the rocks, specially on the ascents, just as she'd taught me. Thanks Tamsin!

This is by far one of the most extraordinarily challenging things that I have ever done.

What was incredibly inspiring and helpful was the phenomenal support and encouragement that I received from this amazing group of guys (lovely people and awesome, awesome riders). And of course Gary and Mr T without whom none of this would have happened (I may not even have left my room!). Thanks so much to each and everyone of you; Ian, John, Pat, Peter, Barry, Andy, Tim, Alex, Si, JK, Barni, John and Frederique & Seb (rather lovely looking, couldn't help noticing, local policeman in the drug squad).

The new bike, the Honda CRF250X, prepped by Martin Wittering of TorqueRacing was utterly superb, I trusted it completely and it did a brilliant job. Thanks Martin! Despite the rider error spills, I was secretly quite pleased that the bike now looked truly like a dirt bike that had seen some real action. The Pyrenees-Atlantiques is absolutely stunning and very hard; physically, mentally and geophysically!

It was unquestionably a baptism of fire, as JK commented, later that day. One particularly tricky descent, with boulders, shale and a large flat rock at the top, I approached too fast round a bend and had a massive wipe-out. The bruises will tell the tale for some time yet, on one knee the bruises appeared under the armour. Must have gone down with such a wallop that the knee armour did the bruising I suspect!

It was a long, long descent; rocky (okay boulders) and deeply rutted. Get it together girl! I went down at my own pace, walked the bike a bit and coasted other bits. The relief when I finally got to the bottom was something else.

I've always had the greatest respect and admiration for off-road riders, this has gone up exponentially! The terrain is harsh, dangerous and taken at speed. The combination of expertise, confidence and technical skill and a certain je ne sais quoi is awe-inspiring and utterly compelling.

To have achieved with-out serious injury some of the most difficult terrain I have ever encountered on a bike, I'm still surprising myself that I actually achieved what I did. As some-one said one evening 'it's a bit like one of us taking a few horse-riding lessons and going to Burghley'!

'Discretion is the better part of valour' and at the end of day one, I retired (many emotions ensued but that's another post). The terrain was getting harsher, steeper, wetter, faster, more dangerous and some of my awesome companions were finding it a tad challenging which spoke volumes.

I have gone way, way out of my comfort zone, faced the fear (there was quite a lot of that) and come out the other side. To date we have raised just shy of £7000 for GOSH and KidsCo and frankly what some of those kids go through on a daily basis and what I did just don't compare. Donations are still coming in (THANK YOU!), cheques had arrived in the post on getting home. An incredibly humbling experience.

Will I get on a bike again, do girls like shoes? Absolutely, I will.....however next time some-one says 'you're ready', I might just do a little further research.....

Over- exaggerating with the title "I'm still alive..."? This Pyrenees trip has been running for years and this is the first one not to have had a hospitalization. So, no broken ribs and a punctured lung, no leg broken in three places and the list goes on..... if full limb count is a definition of success, I'm doing okay!

Next time:-

Guest blogs from Gary and Mr T, more from Barry of Symprove (hugely exciting product) - sponsoring Johnnie Walker - watch this space - very, very exciting.

What an adventure.....

.........and not for the feint hearted!

Many 'colourful' moments, many colourful bruises and lots & lots of stories.
More importantly more donations for GOSH and KidsCo and another brilliant signed shirt to auction on it's way.
The gory details to follow soon.......

Kate Tojeiro
The Unlikely Enduro
Endurochallenge.blogspot.com

Sent from my iPhone

Ouch!

Had a bit of a big spill on a steep rocky descent. Some rather blue & violet bruises developing- and on my hand whilst trying to wash off some mud, realised there was a rather black bruise, not mud & therefore unlikely to wash off!!!
The terrain is getting ever trickier, will take a view in the morning and may have to bow out gracefully ( if limping).
Hmph
A demain .....

Kate Tojeiro
The Unlikely Enduro

Sent from my iPhone

I will survive....

....is that the title of the song by Gloria Gaynor? Whoever sang it, it was going through my head quite a lot today!
I have.......!
It was however way through my boundaries of comfort and off out the other side.
The terrain (for me at least) is very challenging, I did it , albeit going round a few things and walking with the bike down one particularly yukky (to my mind anyway) bit. Rocks and ruts - mmm
Quite a few falls, the Honda's lighter than the GasGas though, that or it was adrenalin helping me lift it up?!? Teehee.
A few more donations today and tomorrow is another day .....

Kate Tojeiro
The Unlikely Enduro

Sent from my iPhone

Go for it!

Just about to have breakfast before today's briefing . .... Surprisingly calm and secretly now looking forward it.
Wide awake in the middle of the night, dreaming motorbikes- is that good ?!? - I recalled Donna, Si Pavey , Tamsin Jones & Martin telling me I could do it. So , with that in mind I will.
We're in the beautiful town of St.Palais not far from Spain. The group of guys we're with are great, very welcoming and supportive of my endeavours if possibly wryly amused. I have the smallest bike - funny that!!
It's not any group of guys mind, a few motocross & enduro champs/ winners & the guys from TBM ( THE offroad magazine) - is that phasing me ? ......,,,, noooo........

There have been so many donations in the last couple of days for GOSH & KidsCo too which is so fantastic and such an inspiration! Thanks so much everyone.

Go to it, girl!

Kate Tojeiro
The Unlikely Enduro

Sent from my iPhone

A tiny bit bonkers.....?!

Le ciel et bleu, le soleil brille (forgive poor use of French) and it's 29c. I am however beginning to wonder if I'm ever so slightly bonkers! It appears that some of the good and the great are on this trip ...... Arghhhhh....,,,,
Have new mascara ( of the waterproof variety) - seemed like a good thing at the time ?!?
Relax & enjoy, relax & enjoy ........

Kate Tojeiro
The Unlikely Enduro

Sent from my iPhone

A jigsaw of the most extraordinary proportions!

John Hall

arrived today just after lunch to load the bikes. Well! Wow! So many bikes into such a small space - it really was very, very impressive.

This last week, the over-riding feeling has generally been one of excitement - however as the last jerry can went in, I suddenly felt really rather nervous! Get those butterflies in formation, girl!

All that is left now is to enjoy, soak it all up and relax into it - that sounds more like a bath that an off-road adventure?!

I know that I have the skills, albeit more honed in some areas than others, so now it's up to me to use them and call upon those new found abilities and resources that are there.

Thanks so very much to all our friends and family for their continued fabulous support, encouragement and love, through the ebbing and flowing of emotions during the high days and the less so! It is so enormously appreciated and the monies raised thus far for GOSH and KidsCo is just wonderful - last look c £6700.

A bientot, Xx

It worked!

Yippee!

Kate Tojeiro
The Unlikely Enduro
Endurochallenge.blogspot.com

Sent from my iPhone

Preparations of a tech nature!

I seem to be ready and uncharacteristically early! So am now pondering if I can blog remotely? Here goes........

Kate Tojeiro

Sent from my iPhone

Butterflies in formation.......

2 days to go to the Pyrenees trip for GOSH and KidsCo. Bike ready, toolkit ready - okay Mr T, Gary and Martin have prepared most of that - I got the cable ties and jerry cans(which daughter no. 1 has decorated) - mousses fitted. Have spare gear levers, camel back, metal putty - in with the SPF 20 lip balm (yes, I do have lip gloss too - for the evening obviously!).

Started packing my kitbag this evening - armour, helmet, boots etc - hmm - helmet and body lotion or - boots & jeans or - kit & no armour -arghhh. Determination aside and having travelled light on many, many, many occasion I still couldn't pack my kit into one bag. I've obviously never been away with some serious kit. My kitbag has been away for a little light windsurfing and sailing (which to be fair wasn't generally light) however kit for sailing and kit for riding off-road is clearly different means a bigger bag required! Mid-afternoon Sunday before schools go back - all my mates are out - eek! However, lovely mate Rachael then came to the rescue! So, have her diving bag - boots, helmet & kit & lots of muesli bars, isotonic stuff and various bike 'things' and voila! Yippee!

Donna Gray and Martin Wittering visited this morning, it if wasn't for them I wouldn't be even nearly where I am now. Huge thanks to them - they've been brilliant. They're off to Turkey this week on a rally.

Have more 'butterflies' than the London Butterfly House however as a gorgeous friend said to me a few years ago (she's a former Royal Ballet ballerina), butterflies are great, you just need to get them in formation. So that's what I'm working on. Thanks Shiv.

We're at £6200 for GOSH and KidsCo, so if you'd still like to sponsor or perhaps you'd like to put in a bid for the BBC signed shirt, it will be auctioned on our return. Jorge Lorenzo has signed it - what a top race today , Valentino Rossi and 16 other top top bikers have also signed it ..... I've slept in it - no I haven't really - joke?!?

Today's pic is a lovely off-road track in France - the power of positive thinking!!!