Mark Beaumont, who is cycling the American continent from top to tip, has successfully completed the Canadian leg of his tour, and has moved into the Northern regions of the United States.

The Perthshire expeditionist, who broke the world record last year for cycling the globe, pedalled off from Anchorage in Alaska just over two months ago, climbing Mount McKinley (North America’s highest peak) en-route.

Having passed through the Okangan valleys of Washington State and the Idaho pan-handle, he is now progressing into Montana, cutting South East onto the main line of the Rocky Mountains.

He will follow the trail through to the southern States and then into Central and Southern America.  His adventure finishes in Argentina, but not before he climbs Mount Aconcagua, the highest mountain outside the Himalayas. 

 “The first few days [in the USA] have been great fun,” Mark told the BBC.  “It is quite similar to Southern British Columbia.

“Idaho has been a real surprise – the pan handle has been really scenic.  And I’m riding on a busy, two-lane inter-state now, which is a big change to the quiet roads in Canada. I’ve passed through many big forested regions, with spectacular lakes.”

Asides from the obvious physical and mental challenge of such a mammoth journey, Mark also has to undergo the tricky task of learning Spanish in time for the second half of his cycle, which will see him passing through mainly Spanish speaking countries like Mexico, Columbia, Peru and Chile.

“I’m plugged into an mp3 player trying to learn Spanish en route. I’ve just about learned to say ‘hello’ and ‘bicycle’!