The cycling couple aiming to play the bagpipes in 19 countries
"When you are cycling and staying in places, wherever you are in the world, people look after you", explains Matt, who is from Glasgow. "It's something Jess and I have experienced before, and to have the pipes with you is one of those ways you can give back. "People won't take money for their kindness, but they will take a sharing of your culture, and that's what this is. I did it when I was 19 and it went down a storm, but I didn't quite realise what I was doing then!"
The duo hope to be playing the bagpipes in varied locations as they go across Europe and Asia, from local festivals to the likes of the Arctic Cathedral, the Norwegian landmark in Tromso. A keen piper since he became hooked on the instrument after a trip to the Edinburgh Tattoo as a child, Matt has experience of sharing the pipes in unusual places.He and Jess lived in China for a spell, working again as teachers. While there Matt formed the country's first ever youth pipe band in Shanghai and found himself appearing on local TV to promote them.Now he is excited by the latest trip he's planned with his partner."Jess and I have wanted to do this for years. We've done loads of cycle tours before and with the experience we've got, it's the best situation I've ever been in to do this."Doing it with the pipes makes it more special though."
A former navy officer, Matt and Jess decided to go travelling just three months after they began dating several years ago.They've since worked as English teachers in Ecuador, lived in Paris and worked in China, while previous challenges saw the duo kayak the full length of the River Ganges in India and cycle from Kazakhstan to Mongolia.This time the pedalling pursuit is in aid of Glasgow charity Refuweegee, setting themselves a target of raising £42,700 to reflect 42.7 million refugees displaced worldwide.It is a charity Matt believes shows Glasgow "at it's best", by helping others less fortunate.However the trip, which stops in the varied likes of Denmark, Kosovo, Turkey, Uzbekistan and India, has a number of planning issues to overcome."There's the logistics of what to take," he explains."We'll be going from snowy weather in Alta to the crazy heat of Europe and then it's winter in Kazakhtan – crossing there is the scariest section. It's just emptiness there. There are roads but it's a very empty bit of land."
'Women aren't allowed on bikes in Afghanistan'
Other issues have involved countries they can't get into. As their plans are flexible, the couple were unable to secure entry into China, where an itinerary of their plans would have been required.Another problem ruled out travelling across Afghanistan, but it was nothing to do with any fears of violence in the country."We can't go through Afghanistan because women aren't allowed on bikes there. That's the actual reason, it's not because of any conflict there. "There's quite a lot of cycle tourists that go through the country but they're all males."
However the couple have still plotted out a route that should - hopefully - see them finish up in Jakarta.By that point, Matt hopes to have shared the pipes in every country they've stopped in along the way."You never know what'll happen when the pipes come out. At the back of our mind it is all about wanting to circumnavigate the globe but we know it will be exhausting."It'll be interesting to see where it takes us."
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