We have never attempted anything like this before, but we are not going into this as complete novices - more like Cat 3 riders in an Elite race.
Our first trip together was the Ride Across Britain in 2014 - I managed to persuade Julia that this would make a fantastic 50th Birthday present. Not quite understanding what she was letting herself into, and in a moment of weakness, she said "Yes". Then found out she has signed up to 9 consecutive days of riding over 100 miles, quite a challenge considering she had only ever ridden 65miles before. After diligently following the RAB training plan for 10 months, we completed the challenge with ease and the seeds of the Trans South America were sown.
But it took 4 years before Julia accepted my next challenge when I suggested we returned to Colombia to climb one of the longest climbs in the world - the 80km and 3700m Las Letras between Mariquita and Manizales. This time Sarah helped her on the training plan.
Another Saddle Skeddalde trip followed - this one slightly easier in Chile and Argentina. Now it was time to....
