WHEN Camilla and Julian Read decided to move from Sussex to New Zealand they decided to cycle their way there. Katy Rice caught up with them (not literally but on the phone) on their way round the world.

NOTHING prepared Sussex couple Camilla and Julian Read for the terrifying packs of aggressive barking dogs that have chased them and once nearly mauled them during their epic 21,000km cycle ride through 27 countries in 12 months.

In a joint dispatch to The Argus from Tajikistan, a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia, Camilla and Julian told of one experience high on the volcanic plateau of Georgia during the first leg of their journey.

“Jules was nearly mauled by six Caucasian sheep dogs – it was a very scary experience,” they said. “Nothing has prepared us for the dogs barking and chasing us en route. From our first day, we had encounters and sometimes they can be terrifying, especially the sheep dogs in Northern Greece and Georgia. It's hard to look at dogs the same way anymore.”

Camilla and Julian are moving from Bosham to New Zealand and decided to make their journey count for wildlife by raising funds for international wildlife charity World Land Trust. They chose it because its approach to develop partnerships with local communities resonated with them and they like its “holistic” approach to international landscape and wildlife preservation.

They spent a year planning the trip, getting the bikes and gear, building up stamina by cycling to work every day, doing a test ride to Cornwall and getting vaccinations.

Then their cross-country journey began in March, when the first leg took them first to France and then to Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

After a six-week break back in the UK, they began the second leg in Uzbekistan last month. They have now reached Tajikistan, and from there they will travel to Pakistan, India, Nepal, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and finally Singapore.

“At first, it was really tough,” they said. “The weight of the bikes, starting in early March in inclement weather and the formidable challenge ahead - just picturing a world map in your mind was enough to freak you out. With time, though, a lot of these issues and fears subsided.

“Cycling on a day-to-day basis is actually incredibly invigorating. The cycling itself is almost metronomical - there's something about travelling at the speed of a bicycle that puts your mind at ease. Turning the pedals comes naturally, almost like muscle memory.

“We both have dodgy knees but luckily cycling is low impact on the joints so it isn't overly rough on our bodies. Long days in the saddle can give you a sore back for sure, though, and sleeping on a thin camping mat only exacerbates the problem.”

The couple ease the physical strain by practising a yoga programme put together specially by Camilla’s sister, a yoga instructor, to deal with typical cyclist’s problems.

“We try and complete it every four or five days and it works a treat,” they said. “We have both got to know our bodies and our limits pretty well by now.”

Cycling as a couple has both strengthened their relationship and helped them discover new things about each other.

“We both miss our homelands and our families a lot while on the road,” they revealed. “However, we have each other to prop ourselves up. Often one of us is struggling and we can help each other out. It really is the beauty of cycling in a relationship

“ We've had the benefit of being together for 15 years, so we know each other inside out. Even then, we've discovered little things about each other and it's only strengthened our journey together. In fact, the only time we have a spat with each other is if we were low on blood sugar.”

But giving up has never been an option, even when they have fallen behind due to illness or mechanical problems, and even when the landscape makes the going tough.

“The more remote and unfamiliar the terrain, the tougher it gets,” they said. “Europe felt more comfortable in a way, as opposed to central Asia where languages are very difficult to learn and customs are totally different.

“The friendliest people have often been from the predominantly Muslim countries. Coupled with this, the poorest communities have always had the most to offer - always inviting us for tea or dinner or offering us a place to sleep, expecting nothing in return. These experiences are extremely humbling.”

They list their interactions with people on the road as one of the highlights of their journey, along with the people in Turkey and Tajikistan, the experience of wild camping and the scenery, particularly the Dolomites in Italy in spring and Meteora, a rock formation featuring vertical cliffs and large and complex Eastern Orthodox monasteries.

Still ahead of them are visits to some of World Land Trust’s project areas, including the subtropical forests of the Garo Hills in India, home to elephants and gibbons, and finally to Khe Nuoc Trong in Vietnam, where they might get to see the most beautiful primate in the world, the Red-shanked Douc.

“Cycling in support of the World Land Trust is always an underlying motivation to keep going, especially as we head towards these conservation projects,” Julian and Camilla said. “When times are tough, one of us is usually in good spirits to motivate the other too. The end goal does get ever closer, though, so it helps keep us going.”

Julian and Camilla have raised almost £3,000 for wildlife conservation. To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/readcycleread.