Tuesday 9am
INTREPID round-the-world cyclist, Susie Wheeldon from Wickenby, is today (Tuesday) crossing the border into Iran along with Jamie Vining, the only remaining members of the SolarCycle team. The Foreign Office has recently reduced the country's travel warning from 'all but essential travel', and is now advising UK citizens to 'keep a low profile'.
Not all that easy for two Brits cycling in hijab during the hottest month of the year!
Due to time constraints on their visas, the pair have only 15 days to cross 1,800km of this mountainous country.
As they will be cycling during Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, they may also have difficulties finding food and water during the sweltering daylight hours.
It will be yet another challenge for the team who have already combatted 50+ desert sand storms, gale force winds and the bubonic plague.
Susie, Jamie and Iain Henderson, along with two support riders, were waved off three months ago from City Hall - London's most prominent solar building - by Mayor Boris Johnson, as well as sponsors and supporters, Nokia, G24 Innovations, SolarAid and members of the 'We Support Solar' petition.
Their journey took them to France and the Solar Euromed project before sailing to the north coast of Africa. Their ambitious route through Tunisia, Libya and Egypt was chosen to highlight the potential of the Sahara to provide solar energy to Europe; as proposed in the Desertec Concept. This concept has been recently supported by a consortium of business leaders including Deutsche Bank and Munich Re.
Often cycling 150km per day, not only did they experience the true heat of the deserts, but also battled Libyan visa issues, psychotic traffic and the attention of some over-friendly goat herders!
On the flipside, they were given police escorts, overwhelming hospitality and access to some of the worlds most impressive natural and man-made sites.
Jamie Vining said: ''We have had a few difficulties but have also been amazed by the generosity we have recieved. Everyone is fascinated by the journey and the kit.
"We have heard that Iran is one of the friendliest places you can cycle and so, despite the heavy mileage, are really looking forward to the next two weeks.''
The team's journey so far has been constantly relayed to followers on the SolarCycle website, courtesy of their solar panelled panniers - custom built by G24 Innovations - the Nokia XpressMusic 5800 and the Nokia N96. Their progress and Jamie's heart-rate is also being tracked in real-time using the Nokia Sports Tracker application.
The team has also been providing details of their solar jorney. In Egypt the team was able to visit the Kuraymat concentrating solar power (CSP) station. At almost a kilometre square this is the first to be built in the country and a compliment to the wind and hydro power already adopted in the area.
Sadly it was at this point that Iain had to return to the UK.
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