Day Seven: It's a wrap

So in total we had conquered 336km of Myanmar's dust tracks and roads, hills, traffic, pot holes, puddles, sun and rain. An awesome achievement especially given the weather conditions, so completely unexpected thanks to a stubborn storm out in the  bay of Bengal.

We boarded the bus at 0615, and drove the surprisingly long way to Mandalay Airport. Wallace and 99 gave us a characteristically euphoric farewell, we checked in our bags and waited to board our little flight back to Yangon.

A quick and comfortable journey ended at the mayhem of Yangon International Airport. Our bus - the Highland Express, just for Jim - awaiting us and battled its way to the Hosanna Children's Home through the traffic. A little help was required to find the correct turning off Route 3 but we arrived at 1200, to be greeted by the children all standing in high order clapping us into the yard at the home.

And also to be greeted unexpectedly by the guiding light of Hope Asia and the inspiration to the charity, Crispin Fairbairn. What a super surprise. We admired the new Ben White education centre, built with the funds of previous rides and dedicated to the memory of Crispin's great friend and original found of Hope Asia who passed away the year.

The home had laid on a simple but satisfying lunch and after a tour of the classrooms and the dormitories we went upstairs where all the children were sitting in neat rows. Pastor Va asked them to introduce themselves one by one telling us their age and year group. Their shyness diminished proportionately to their age and was completely dispelled as they launched into two joyous happy songs.

I have been privileged to visit the Hope Asia homes on three occasions. I am always struck by the happiness and healthiness of the children, and sharing a couple of hours with them is always so very special. It never fails to bring an enormous lump to my throat to consider what challenges what they would face if the coil not grow up in this loving environment.

After balloons were batted between us, drawings drawn, Lego built and doughnuts eaten our time was sadly over, and we heading back to our bus and the airport, for the 3 hour leg to Singapore, and then the 13 hours back to London.

In Singapore Fritz lead our little band like like the Pied Piper of Hamelin to collect our $40 transit vouchers, sufficient to variously fund a trip to the lounge, a Burger King (french fries....yee haa!), perfume shopping....

And now I sit wedged into 58B on this Singapore Airlines 777 with bearly two hours still to run, and a breakfast of baked eggs about to be served.

Shortly we will all go our separate ways, back to our normal lives. Each of us will undoubtedly been enriched in some way by the many experiences we have had in such a very short period of time.

Jim, our Global Adventure Challenge guide , has done a wonderful job keeping us going. I am deeply touched by his donation of his tip from us all to the Children's Home.

This for me epitomises the generosity of all of our many donors, who we must thank. At our final dinner there were was a team pledge to try to hit the team figure of £45,000, and if we can do so in the next few weeks that would be truly astonishing.

By way of signing off I would like to thank the 18 brave souls who accepted this challenge.  Agreeing to join this ride, for some over a year ago, marked the start of a huge journey of training, fundraising, planning and juggling home and travel arrangements and life events and ending today at a foggy Heathrow Terminal 2. Taking part is no mean feat, and I'm sure we all return home deeply contented, if perhaps a little sore in few places.

Crispin sent me a message as we drove away from the children's home. I can't say it any better:

Congratulations on [all] doing such an awesome job with the trip.
How fantastic to get to the end of the trip and know everyone was safe and had a great time and raised enough money to change lives!
It doesn't get much better!