The last few weeks have been super exciting for the QuadEpic team. We have managed to gain new partners that play a huge roll in making this expedition possible. We have had our ferry ride from Hull, England - Rotterdam, Netherlands sponsored by P&O Ferries, which leaves on 1st May. We can also now safely plot and track our route with a gps system thanks to ViewRanger, who have kindly donated a Nokia 5800 handset preloaded with ViewRanger software. The QuadEpic ladies have also had a great donation from Shewee to help them pee in the time of need at potentially awkward locations along the journey.

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Parts for the trailer have been arriving too.  I promised Dan that when he arrives in England, he can help build it so I've had to hold off (which I'm finding rather hard to do so). The 2 wheels for the trailer and the 2 spare wheels also arrived from Revell which, Dan I have to confess, last week I did put the tyres on and pumped up the inner tubes which arrived from Michelin. Dan don't worry though, you still have the coupling mount and axle bar to install, and the electrics for the indicators to figure out ;) Oh and another thing I'm finding hard to hold back on from doing, as I promised the boys we will figure this out together as a team, is the placement of the sponsors logo stickers. I have a pile of them in my bed room that have been arriving constantly over the weeks for the trailer.  Everytime I see them I start developing a sticking fetish and want to start sticking them everywhere.

We have also been working on designs for promotional items such as t-shirts, leaflets, posters etc. Once we have our final designs sorted for each of them we shall be posting them on our Facebook page for you all to see and comment on. We also welcome Anne from Calgary, Canada to our family. Anne will be joining us during the Dubrovnik - Thessaloniki stage, you can read more about her at http://www.quadepic2010.org.uk/riders.html .  While you're there why don't you check up on the other riders if you haven't already.

As far as training goes, I wont lie, I need to pick up the pace.  I've been slacking lately due to bad weather and personal events (cousins Stag "long" weekend) but I will be hard at it again over the next few days to lose my newly formed beer belly (pizza, kebab and beer consumed over "long" Stag weekend).

A blog from Neil

Hey all!

I should perhaps introduce myself. Like Paul and Dan, travel is in my blood. Having been lucky enough to see some of the world these past few years, my hunger to see more has only grown. I love travel and will take it any way I can get it, but I especially love it when it is purposeful and if it can be for a good cause. I came across QuadEpic through the miracle of social network sites (as many of you may have). When I saw photos of Paul tinkering away at a half-completed monster on wheels and a website I'd be proud to show my friends up and operational, I nodded my head and said "Hellllzzz Yea...". I saw QE as something I could sink my teeth into and have been on board ever since.

For the past few months I've been working from Canada on all things QuadEpic but I've since moved my base of operations to Barcelona so I can be a bit closer to the action. Being here and with the Epic only 3 months away, the excitement is really getting to me. I also have to comment on the IMMENSE support that has been going on from those of you following our progress. Most of the hard work involved with the project is in the preparation and your kind comments and messages of support urge us on the team along.

Paul and Dan? What can I say about these guys... Do any of you know these animals? Our cross-continental Skype board meetings are never dull and I imagine there may be some adventures during the epic I won't be able to discuss with my grandmother. Someone try and describe knowing either of these fellas in a few short words. If you've got a PG-13 anecdote you'd like to share, please post it, (any R-rated ones can be emailed in). I want to know what I'm in for. Other than that, can't say enough good about these guys.

Still lots more work to do before go-time. Please feel free to get involved any way you can. Come ride with us, suggest cool places for us to visit. If you have family, friends, or even know someone who lives along our route that might accomodate us, let us know! If you have gear you want to contribute, please do! Make a contribution to the WWF. They are doing amazing things, more on that in blog posts to come. Til then, stay tuned and keep the good suggestions coming!

Neil