I never thought I’d see Dan in a Middlesbrough shirt and I never thought we’d cycle to New Zealand. Yet Dan now owns one and we’re cycling to New Zealand next week. Next week. I still can't believe either.

Over the last couple of years, this trip has evolved from a simple, short backpacking adventure into an all-out, guns blazing 12- to 18-month cycle to the other side of the world. I’m still not quite sure how that happened, if I’m honest...