Sorry for the recent silence but we’ve been deep in Massai territory, in the middle of nowhere heading towards the Tanzania border with no mobile signal.

Monday was a challenge but mostly enjoyable, with the Massai providing us with excellent lodgings in a very remote place with hot showers, fed by a very elaborate water heating system, and toilets which even had seats, and most impressively electric light!  Go on the Massai!

Our favourite sign of the day read 'No trespassing - we don't call 911' under a picture of a gun. Out here I've a feeling they really do mean it as well.

Tuesday though has been so, so tough. We cycled 96km with at least a third of it being uphill – we all survived but with the loss of a lot of blood, sweat and tears. There really were some proper tears today with the majority at their limit, even some of the hard-core elite. We made it to Kilimanjaro but it was so, so hard, for me anyway.

There have been a few accidents along the way today, but the Popes remain relatively (ha ha) in tact. Luckily the team are all okay but completely exhausted with some nasty bruises.Such a great group of people and we are all proud of each other.

We are at camp now, part of the way up Kilimanjaro and at the moment in the middle of a pretty impressive dust storm. We are completely caked in dust with one hole in the ground and no shower tonight. No matter, I couldn't get any more dirty anyway so a cold beer and hey ho.

Am going to bed now (9.30pm) or should I say lying in my own filth until our wake-up call at 5.30am.

We’ve beat Kilimanjaro though – well at least the bottom of it.

Tomorrow we get to cycle down it…..