Very unusual times for all of us. I hope that you are all keeping well and safe. Four weeks ago, I arrived in Thailand where there were only 16 recorded cases of COVID-19.
Two weeks later, when my flight home was due, the number had risen to over 900!

On return to the UK, that’s when it hit, with just how quiet the roads were on the drive home from the airport.

I feel 2019 has been one of my favourite years yet but saying that - this decade has been huge altogether.

Ten years ago, I was only a few months from departing at the age of 19, for my world travels. Fast forward almost ten years and here I am, at home after completing a third world-first record, in hiking the length of the Yangtze River.

What a rollercoaster of complete and utter awesomeness it’s been, since completing Mission Yangtze!
I’ve not really had much time to sit back and reflect, but I’m cool with that, as I’d much prefer to keep busy and continue the ball rolling with many events, activities and plans.

It feels surreal to be this close to finishing.

There has been so much energy, effort, time, blood, sweat and fear put not only into the one year of undergoing the expedition but also two years beforehand, for the planning, training and logistics.

Death-defying British adventurer Ash Dykes has today reached safety at the halfway point of his mammoth world first expedition, having faced immense threats to his safety whilst attempting to walk the entire length of China’s Yangtze River in just a year.

Ash shares a rare and deeply honest glimpse into the behind-the-scenes work that goes into Mission Yangtze as he reflects on 2018 and being away from home for Christmas. In the spirit of a true world-first adventurer and pioneer, he also has his sights and his determination firmly set on what lies ahead in 2019: the successful completion of his expedition!

Ash’s world record-setting #MissionYangtze promises to be one of the most digitally engaging expeditions in history and today we’re helping deliver on that promise by launching a Live Tracker on Ash’s website so you can see where he is in real-time.

Ash today signed a partnership agreement with Kailas, the biggest outdoor, technical clothing and equipment company in China, and a mainstream brand throughout Asia.

This is it guys - I’m about to fly to China for final preps before starting the expedition one month from now!

Ash Dykes heads to China ahead of groundbreaking world first along the Yangtze