© Grace Wong
Hello – I’m Emily. On September the 1st 2011 I left to cycle around the world.
For the three years before that I worked as a cycle courier in London, England, and blogged about it as That Messenger Chick. I’ve never enjoyed a job so much, or stuck with it so long, but there’s very little career development in couriering, so I’m delighted to have found something else that enables me to cycle and write full-time. (Luckily, I never wanted to be rich.)
You can also read my stuff on Moving Target (the world’s longest-running courier ‘zine …probably), Slow Quest, Alastair Humphreys and Padded Shorts, and in Oh Comely magazine and in The Ride Journal, and hear me talking about my job on the Guardian Bike Blog. Occasionally I think I should write about something other than cycling. If you’d like me to contribute to your magazine or blog, get in touch and we’ll see if we can work something out.
I also do some (less glamourous) copywriting and editing, to keep body and soul and bank balance together, and have a background in academia that I don’t often admit to.
My hobbies (when not riding, breaking, fixing or talking about bikes) mostly revolve around food and books. I also like making friends, so drop me a line if you fancy a chat, and particularly if you live along my route, and want to offer me dinner and a hot shower.
Awards and Accolades:
2010: Courier of the Year at the UK National Courier Awards
2012: Jupiter’s Traveller Award from the Ted Simon Foundation
2012: Travel Blogger of the Year at the British Travel Press Awards
26 Comments
Good luck with your new life on the road…
Good luck for the journey Emily. May your pedals feel light, and the smile on your face stay throughout.
Godspeed.
so jealous.. will be watching the blog to look out for calls for emergency cake, just in case!!
have an amazing time, and if there *is* anything I can do PLEASE ASK!!!
love mike
All the best Emily. It takes guts & many of us are undoubtedly envious and admirative of your decision. May you ride safely & get the sedentaries among most of us to travel in spirit at least with you to the sound of your good words on this blog.
I enjoyed your previous blog, and am now looking forward to your posts from around the world. I’m now even more envious of you up coming adventure than I was of your career as a messenger. Sadly, the real joy of riding a bike, as a (supposed) grown up, came too late for me. I have to work on to retirement, and hope to maintain both myself and my bikes fit enough to continue, the ride of my life. I wish you the best of luck, and great success on your pedalling adventure. Cheers!
Hi Emily, like my welshcyclist friend above I was also envious of your career as a courier and your new endeavour fills me with admiration & even more envy reading. I look forward to reading the blog. All the very best of luck, I shall miss bumping into you on an irregular basis around town. Dx
Have fun with your new life, tailwinds and blue skies all the way
Shane
Hi Emily!
It is amazing what you are doing! Good luck! My bf and his Dad are currently cycling to Rome from Holland, they also started 1st September.
If you are passing through/near the Hague Holland let me know you are more than welcome for dinner! I will pass your blog round my international Twitter friends and hope you get some meals and night stays around the world…you never know hey!
Have fun!!!
Liss
http://www.twitter.com/lisswin
Thank you! Unfortunately I’m not planning to pass through The Hague. Maybe on my way home – or if I get very lost!
And thanks for passing on my blog – I will always be very grateful for a meal and a bed for the night.
Keep in touch… x
Love the website – engrossing, and with a nicely distinct style! Safe travels and steady tailwinds
Emily I am thrilled to bits for you. I’ve only just stumbled on this via Henrik’s blog but I’m really chuffed because you have just solved all those “I’ve got nothing to read” moments for the next few years. Thanks for that. I have a bit of catching up to do but then I will be following your progress on a regular basis. I don’t know you very well, but well enough to know that you will have a ball and the world will be richer for your words. Stay safe.
Good luck on your trip! I have just come across your blog and will be looking forward to reading your posts.
I’m jealous of your great adventure! You have a great blog. Good luck on your trip and be safe. I’m curious as to your end destination?
The end destination – all being well – will be back where I started: Llanidloes, in Mid Wales. But that’s many years off yet…
Hey Emily,
Bumped into your travelogue via Moin Khan’s FB page.
A big thank you to travellers like you for for giving us live feeds of a world beyond the confines of a 4×4 office cubicle, and keeping the travel bug alive in us!
All the very best for your journey of self-discovery
Do feel free to get in touch in case you need a place to crash sometime in New Delhi, India.
Cheers!
Hi Emily
It was nice to see you in my town..Me and my family was happy share a day with us..
God Bless to you..
Mehmet
Well done you for getting so far. Your mum keeps me up to date on your progress. You’ll knowby now that she’ll be flying North soon on the Newtown Mobile. I shall miss her company and her updates on your travels, so I’ll have to follow your progress myself then. I’ve got myself upgraded fromWindows 98 to XP so I’m in 21st century now too. All power to those knees as you pedal on. So looking forward to your book at the end of it all. Best wishes to you.
Joy Murray
hi emily
do you remember me?!
i love hesam!!
Gandom! Of course I remember you. It was so nice to meet you in Esfahan. I hope our paths will cross again someday…
Hey, Emily its Raheel student in Freiberg, Germany. An Engineer by profession.
I am originally from Lahore Pakistan.
I came across your webpage from Moin Khan fb page.
Here is some information that i want to know for assisting you in Pakistan.
I want to ask you if you need some hosts in Lahore or Rawalpindi?
though i am not in Lahore at moment but in these two cities i can for sure arrange because my family lives in both of these cities.
Secondly , in which cities of Pakistan(especially in Punjab ) you are looking for hosts? I had classfellows mostly from Punjab in my bachelors class . All of them may not be knowing you directly but if you can specify a city , i can look if i have a contact over there who can offer you a night stay or city tour may be…
All the best for your companionship with road.
Cheers
Raheel
Freiberg, Germany
hi
i hope you dnt forgot me.
you have lunch with us in zanjan.your website is wonderful i read it and translate to family.
i m so happy to remind me that memory.
goodluck
Hi Emily,
I heard about your inspirational story from Moin Khan’s Adifferentagenda on facebook. He was lazy in travelling the world on a motorcycle whereas you on the other hand are using a bicycle which requires human energy and effort. Although both of you are showing an amazing show of character and strength. I would like to wish you all the best and I am sure that my native people of Lahore Pakistan will be very welcoming and kind hearted. I am sure Moin Khan will be there to take care of you as well but if you need anything please contact me via my email and my friends can get in touch with you there. Do visit Bashai Mosque, and check out Lahore’s amazing food as well. Also, please let me know if you are planning to visit USA, I have friends all over the country who can host you. All the best, and be safe.
With Best Wishes,
Umair Chaudhry
New York, United States.
Native of Lahore, Pakistan.
Just heard your next expedition would be Karakoram Highway.. I just can tell you its very adventurous tour and takes at least 20 hours through car vehicle to reach Gilgit and then additional 5 hours to Hunza valley and then addtiona 4 hours to reach reach China border.. in between you would see around 8 to 10 mountains peaks which people die for seeing it live and one of them is the Killer Mountain (nangaparbat).. as far as people is concerned their hospitality is at highest level and very accommodating. so definitely I am sure you would not have any tough challenges in the highway… What I would say Good Luck and God Bless
Hi Emily,
Found your site via ‘The Bicycle Touring Weekly’.
Love your story. Look forward to following, and also catching up on your previous couriering activities.
Nigel
Call me when you reach India 09996073515.
I live 160 km north of Delhi in Kurukshetra. Will do my best to help you in any matter. Enjoy your ride Em!
Hi Emily,
We had a talk on touring last night at a women’s only night at the London Bike Kitchen, Hoxton. A few names of great women tourers were dropped (Dervla Murphy being one) but I have linked your blog as a current inspiring traveller! Best wishes, Juliet
One Trackback
[...] can’t quite remember how I came across the, “That Emily Chappell” website and blog. I think it must have been via a Twitter link. However I came by it, I [...]