From Nevis to Nevis - Fort man cycles across the world for Ewen's Room

We speak to Charlie as he pedals down the Nullarbor plain in the Outback. The roads are long, the conditions are arid and there are no trees to shade from the roasting Australian sun for 1,200km.

Each 200km or so there is a service station where he can stop for water and set up camp, it’s probably the most physically taxing leg of the journey so far.

And during his short time in the Outback, he’s already had a close run in with a venomous brown snake and a trio of huntsman spiders. Crikey. 

Australia has not been the only hard part of the journey. Charlie spoke of camping in the freezing cold of the Turkish Highlands and of the mental exhaustion he experienced in India. 

He said: "India is a beautiful country full of rich culture, but it really is so full. It’s so busy, you can’t get a minute to yourself, which when you’ve been cycling 140 kilometre days and can’t relax is so draining. 

"The roads are awful quality too, even the locals when I told them I was cycling from Delhi to Kolkata were like ’why would you do that?’

"I’m quite an optimist so I would say it’s been a good ride! Except for when I got stuck in New Delhi for a week and a half waiting for new bearings for my bike. 

"As for what’s been physically tough, I can thrive off the hard bits so it’s hard to say.

"There’s such big stretches just to get water out here [on the Nullarbor] and there is no public water sources at all!"

But all the struggles are worth it for Ewen’s Room. 

Charlie said: "Ewen’s Room have a Trail therapist, which is therapy through riding a bike. It’s something that aligns perfectly with what personally use cycling for. 

"Mental health is so important and is completely indiscriminate. It affects everyone from all walks of life equally. 

"I want to open up a conversation about it. You never know if you ask someone a simple ’how are you?’ what’s really going on. 

"Ask them in a deeper way that shows care and you will get a deeper answer, which is so important.

"Even if you cannot donate to Ewen’s Room, have that conversation."

Charlie added: "It’s been really tough being so far away from everyone for so long. I can’t remember were I heard it, but there’s a saying which has helped me through: ’Because I miss them, I won’t be missing this’.

"It’s cheesy and corny I know, but it’s true. 

"I like to remind myself how lucky I am to be in a position to be able to do this. 

"I sold my house and car to do this, but at the end of the day we can get money and items back. 

"I’ll never be in the physical condition to be able to do this ever again. The longer I left it, the harder it would be to do."

Charlie still has a month left on his route, which he hopes to complete by the end of May at the latest. 

But he is still over £3000 off his fundraising goal. To donate to his fundraiser click here. And to keep up with his journey, follow him on Instagram. 

As for what is next, there are other Ben Nevis’ in the world, including in New Zealand and Norway. Charlie said: "I’m tempted to try project Ben Nevis and cycle to all of them!" 

Charlie has a sibling in Australia and will be staying with them for a while. He plans to stay down under for a few years, and has just begun sending out his CV. 

"I’ll take any job at a brewery," he says, "As long as it puts food on the table and I can keep getting out on my bike!"