AN OXFORD doctor has reached the Middle East, eight months into his mammoth five-year round-the-world cycle ride.

Dr Steve Fabes bid farewell to Europe as he crossed the Syrian border — an now has five more continents waiting for him.

The 29-year-old, who grew up in North Oxford, and went to Abingdon School, aims to raise £50,000 for medical charity Merlin, which sets up medical clinics in developing countries.

As well as battling Internet problems, Dr Fabes lost his credit cards on the eve of a three-day-long Muslim festival.

Writing on his blog, he said: “At the border the Syrian guards seemed a little confused that my bike didn’t have a licence plate but they waved me through anyway and I was excited to be here.

“A new nation to roam but now a new language and alphabet to contend with.

He added; “I high-fived kids on the street as I rode towards Aleppo and watched them playing in the irrigation ditches in the countryside to escape the heat.

“There’s no better feeling than waking up in a dilapidated hostel in a strange new city with time off my bike to explore.”

Dr Fabes was facing disaster four months into his trip when doctors in Greece told him he needed keyhole surgery on his knee and a 12-week rest.

But after hitch-hiking home for an operation and a short recovery period, he resumed his ride in August.

He said he had faced communication difficulties in the Middle Eastern country.

The medic said: “Here the media is often state-run and there’s a ban on Facebook in Internet cafes “I couldn’t even access my blog without the cafe owner adjusting the settings that are applied in case government officials come in to make an inspection.”

Dr Fabes said he was rescued by a French girl called Charlotte when he lost his bank cards.

He said: “I wandered around and purposefully got lost in Aleppo before I realised it wasn’t just me that was lost but also all of my credit and debit cards.

“It was the eve of a festival called Eid, which marks the end of Ramadan and in one hour everything would be shut for three days.

“I had no money of any sizable denomination in my pocket.

“In amongst some running around in an attempt to find them, a desperate and unsuccessful attempt to reach home and get money wired and then lots of calling myself a numpty, I met a French girl called Charlotte who chilled me out and lent me money.”

Dr Fabes has so far raised £10,000 for Merlin, 20 per cent of his target.

His route will take him through regions affected by tropical diseases which occur in areas of poverty and affect as many as one billion people worldwide.

To follow Dr Fabes’s progress, or to donate, see cyclingthe6.blogspot.com