by Nick Lillitos
nlillitos@thekmgroup.co.uk

Soon he'll be homeless, his personal possessions sold off and with just a cycle he'll start an incredible journey peddling across 18 countries, and four continents, a total of 13,000 miles in 300 days.

That's the challenge Craig Obee has set himself when he starts his adventurous run this month in support of children's charity UNICEF.

"As the date draws nearer I'm beginning to shake in my shoes wondering what I've let myself in for," said Craig who has given up his shop assistant job to make the journey.

"I love the adventure of travelling and the challenge of trying to live on minimal resources.

"I'm quite worried about the loneliness I will probably encounter but you never know who you might meet along the way."

He added: "My brother and dad are very supportive, but my sister thinks I'm a bit crazy."

The 24-year-old, of Vale Road, Northfleet, is aiming to start his journey from John O' Groats, Scotland, on June 16, cycling to Dover and crossing the Channel to France.

His first leg then takes him to Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and then into Turkey.

The second leg involves taking a plane with his bike to Thailand and from Bankok, heading south into Malaysia and Singapore.

Then it's into the third leg - Flying on to Australia where he'll cycle 3,500 miles from Perth to Brisbane, a great chunk of it across the desert outback. From Australia he gets a plane to New Zealand to cycle 900 miles from Dunedin to Auckland.

America then beckons, flying to Seattle for a 4,000 miles ride down America's west coast to Los Angeles, and then on to Miami - his final destination.