The end

Silent cheers erupted from the busy streets and in every glance I saw applause dancing in the eyes of jubilant onlookers. People seemed to reach out in offering hi fives, only to finish brushing their hands through their hair in embarrassment. A lady shouted to us, "well done! You did it" just as a young child took their first steps nearby. We had done it, done what none had done before us (except quite a large number of people).

After 313 days we had cycled 13,825 kilometres (8590 miles) from the southern tip of South America to the shores of Central America.

That is the equivalent of cycling from London to Istanbul 4.6 times or travelling to the moon 0.0359 times.

We have cycled through 6 countries, battling wind, rain, snow and heat. We have traveled the length of the longest mountain range in the world. We have had over a hundred punctures. We have eaten a truly disgusting quantity of porridge oats, and Anna has been assaulted by an alpaca.

As we return to normal life the changes have been abrupt and numerous. Underwear that was discarded months ago as an unnecessary cause of bottom chafing is once again welcomed back as a desirable undergarment. Toilets, no longer seen as a weekly luxury are once again readily available at all hours of the day. The same can be said of showers, though admittedly with less enthusiasm (I've just gone off them). Our diets have once again been expanded to include things other than porridge, pasta and bread. Having developed the appetite of a lion, the possibility of returning to the days of 'Fat Mavis' is worryingly high. 

However, I feel these small benefits of living in a house are far and away defeated by the many, many things I am going to miss about this last year. Waking up in a new place everyday, falling into an exhausted sleep at 8 o'clock and waking before sunrise. Meeting new people and seeing spectacular sights every day. I miss it already.

The final weeks of our trip took us past Medellin, over the final mountain climb and down to the hot, flat plains that brought us, sweating and a bit burned, to Cartagena, on the Caribbean sea. Yet again our journey through Colombia was coloured by the generosity of people that took us in every evening, fed us each day and gave us more coffee than any person without regular access to a toilet should advisably drink. Someone even took us to the zoo. 

After a few days of celebration in Cartagena we said goodbye to South America, taking with us many amazing memories and, as it turns out, a parasite. We spent a day on the ferry before two very slow and sickly days brought us across the country (they had gotten a lot smaller) to Panama city where we arrived to scenes very similar to those depicted earlier. As we approached the city we were stopped by a couple who invited us to stay with them and went on to spend their entire weekend wining and dining us. It was an amazing end, and a meeting that epitomised the generosity we have been greeted with, particularly in the latter part of our journey.

Our final two weeks were spent off the bikes, learning to surf and attending the most incredible wedding of all time, set in the jungle of Matapalu, in Costa Rica. Congratulations Kristen and Jake!

I am now sitting at home in Worcester trying to think of something beautifully profound and inspiring to conclude this superb blog. I don't think I have quite managed it. This has certainly been the best year of my life. We have discovered an incredible way to travel that takes you to places you would otherwise never see. It is difficult, rewarding and last, but probably most important, it is cheap. I want to thank all of the people that fed us, housed us, and repaired our things when I was incapable. There are too many to name.