Ok, 4:17am rise and shine. We’ll hit you with forty pushups, the call of a pissed off cat and an almost dead cert fourth day in the bucket.

The third day came and the bucket bath awaited. Smells were confused with the essence of oils and a script floated in with the lines of a fool. #writing

Out in the sea mist. #cycling

For the 6am zombies who do not run well on BST.

The road to something beautiful.

Dear 36mph headwind, We don’t fear you. #cycling

Gorgeous spin. #cycling

After tracking planes and partaking in 4am WhatsApp chats for the last three days, bro got to the final island. I can now finally stop talking about planes and Hong Kong hotel rooms, and Flightradar and probably showing myself up in the process. Love it though. There is no shame in being true.

That was hilarious. #cycling

My dad’s got a vertigo thing and has been up most the night, my brother’s somewhere over Myanmar, they’ve lost the baby’s bottle and still have two flights to go. Kudos to my brother and sister in law, if it were me I’d never make it.

Being a hyper-focused weirdo is tracking each stage of your loved ones journey across the world, working out the time zones, researching the specific planes they will be on, setting multiple alerts on FR and not being able to settle until each flight is complete. Hope it’s smooth for them.

Quiet hour. #writing

Treat every day as if it's the last perfect day

The sky was blue. The lanes were hot. The hangover was heavy but remedied with a 6am pint of electrolytes. Perfect ride for the last perfect day. #cycling

Mellow forty miles. #cycling

Long may these bright low wind days continue. #cycling

Late bird rocking up after a 3am connection. #writing

Back out on the road wheels after months, months and beyond on gravels. What a difference. No longer a snail. #cycling

When you think it’s end of the road tracing your favourite ancestor, until she appears again and the story continues.

Light refreshments and a scream from across the field. #writing

Thirty miles and every climb felt like heavy metal without lyrics.

Purr and fur.

EDITORS - Lucy Huddleston COVER IMAGE - L. Duthie @darkonelf.bsky.social INSIDE ARTWORK - Laurie Avadis, Sadee Bee @sadeebee.bsky.social & Sarah Leavesley

I’m so chuffed to share Issue 6 of Underbelly Press! Our website (in bio) features a PDF copy to download or read as a flipbook: underbellypress.wixsite.com/home/issue-six

Just entered the place where backs are turned, curtains are drawn, lies can no longer be told and editing is promised to be relentless. #writing

On a foul day; Dirty slits of paper Ink blemished stain Dimly lit walkways Faces all the same, Hooded, drooping, greyed Dripping entrails of the sky Floating in a bloated world, Where all is said as, I. #writing

Sunset on your back, Shadow by your side. #cycling

Normal people just sleep on the road, probably. Got three pages of counties we went through last week. It’s great.

Just a day.

Nice road, crosswind like a punch.

What a week. #cycling

Empty road of an endless place, On old king rock and its rhythmic base, Sing to the moon at a crossroads halt, Found a diversion that was never your fault. #writing

Appreciation for J’s driving skills right now in the middle of this night, in the middle of nowhere, on a dark and desolate mountain road thick with ice.

Absolutely thrilled to see my shot as the cover for Issue 6 - Greed! Thank you so much 🖤 @underbellypress.bsky.social

4:06am, in a beautiful pea-green boat.

Moody day on the loch has gifted our tired legs a rest day and my latest chapter a rogue little twist. Must be something in the water. #writing

Best stop on the loch. Beat our ‘24 time on the loop today, despite the pain in places after yesterday’s hike a bike. Savage ride. #cycling

When in Scotland.

Great company on the ferry today. #cycling

The apparition.

After two long days on the road, little sleep, a weird night and then an encounter with a dancing hitchhiker, there are few eloquent words. But we’re here, back in Scotland and it’s beyond beautiful as always.