The Turners are from London, and they set off from New Zealand in April 2012, cycling around the world on a tandem bicycle over 674 days, covering three continents. The countries they visited include New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and France. Remarkably, 32-year-old Kat had never ridden a bicycle before embarking on this challenge.
On the 15th, after experiencing rainforests, deserts, floods, and even earthquakes, the Turners finally set foot on British soil again. At the Plymouth dock in Devon, they were warmly welcomed by family and friends. Steve's father said, "When they left, I only gave them one piece of advice: even if this journey lasts only 2 weeks, make sure they come back together. But they persevered for 2 years, cycling through rainforests, deserts, cities, and open roads, surviving harsh weather, stray dogs, floods, and even earthquakes. Their journey was filled with adventure, and they met many hospitable people along the way."
The Turners gave up well-paying jobs to raise funds for the charity "Practical Action." During their journey, they climbed a total of 249,365 meters, equivalent to 28 Mount Everests. Steve suffered from severe heat exhaustion in Thailand, while Kat fractured her knee in Australia. In July 2013, they encountered an earthquake in Dingxi, China. Kyrgyzstan left a deep impression on the Turners, as they had never heard of it before.
Kat said, "The mountains there are magnificent, and the nomadic people are very hospitable. It was fascinating to watch how they set up their yurts. We spent many peaceful nights under the stars... We completed our journey with the help of many kind-hearted people; many passing cars rolled down their windows to give us chocolates or cold drinks. Strangers even warmly invited us to their homes and served us delicious food, which was truly touching."