As I lie on my side in the tent trying to decide what to write about, I catch sight of my reflection in the small, handheld gadget I’mm typing this on.

After cycling from England to Cape Town I needed to find a way to get to South America.

The river Kaveri is one of the 5 great holy rivers of India, revered by pilgrims for centuries. From its source amongst the coffee and cardamon plantations in the cool hills of the Western Ghats, the river flows 500 miles across southern India towards the hot plains of Tamil Nadu and the Bay of Bengal.

My head is thumping. My eyes are stinging. I’m weak with thirst.