Male suicide is now famously high, though among young women it’s more or less doubled in the last few years. Something is going terribly wrong. A couple of peers of mine unfortunately took their own lives as very young men. I really think happy and lucky people like us should do our best to help those who are struggling.

The Samaritans charity is dedicated to providing emotional support to anyone in distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide. Their trained volunteers offer a 24/7 confidential listening service by phone, email, or in person, for people who feel overwhelmed or have nowhere else to turn.

Obviously, I don’t expect anybody to join me, as I am wild camping without a tent all the way, but if you want to, I will keep you updated. You can join me for a mile or buy me a drink when I pass. Quite a nice excuse to just go for a quick outing with the boys. Leaving Castle Cary (near where Alfred burnt the cake) on Sunday the 3rd of August, I plan to come into the Vatican on Saturday the 1st of November 2025, where I hope to join the All Saints' Day festivities. Might also stop off at Agincourt to do the St Crispin's Day speech.

Do come along if you are a little bothered by the direction everything is going. It is a touch frustrating that the three things normal people get their life's meaning from, finding someone you love, building a home, and having a couple of children, all seem to be getting harder. Not to be too victim about it, but these issues were not so bad last generation, so ought not be insoluble.

If I do have an army following me, there is a small chance it will become a meme and all the Romans will cheer me in shouting “Maximus, Maximus, Maximus” before we raise loads of money for Samaritans and the Pope crowns me the 8th King of Rome. And if he doesn't, I'll just politely remind him of my massive army. Could be quite jokes.

If you want to hear about my adventures and other ramblings, do subscribe to my Substack. Don’t worry, it’s free, and I won’t flood your inbox, I promise:

https://maxbriston.substack.com/

P.S. People may post pictures of me using the Insta tag #8thKingOfRome which should suggest my location, though, in any case, my approximate route is:

Just ask Google Maps to go from Castle Cary, to London, to Canterbury, then I'm following the Via Francigena pilgrimage)

@maxbriston (only because people have been asking along the road)

Here is my set route:

18/09/2025 Aosta

19/09/2025 Chatillon

20/09/2025 Verres

21/09/2025 Pont-Saint-Martin

22/09/2025 Ivrea

23/09/2025 Viverone

24/09/2025 Santhia

25/09/2025 Vercelli

26/09/2025 Robbio

27/09/2025 Mortara

28/09/2025 Garlasco

29/09/2025 Pavia

30/09/2025 Santa Cristina e Bissone

01/10/2025 Orio Litta

02/10/2025 Piacenza

03/10/2025 Fiorenzuola a'Arda

04/10/2025 Fidenza

05/10/2025 Fornovo di Taro

06/10/2025 Cassio

07/10/2025 Cisa Pass

08/10/2025 Pontremoli

09/10/2025 Aulla

10/10/2025 Sarzana

11/10/2025 Massa

12/10/2025 Camaiore

13/10/2025 Lucca

14/10/2025 Altopascio

15/10/2025 San Miniato

16/10/2025 Gambassi Terme

17/10/2025 San Gimignano

18/10/2025 Monteriggioni

19/10/2025 Siena

20/10/2025 Ponte d'Arbia

21/10/2025 San Quirico d'Orcia

22/10/2025 Radicofani

23/10/2025 Acquapendente

24/10/2025 Bolsena

25/10/2025 Montefiascone

26/10/2025 Viterbo

27/10/2025 Vetralla

28/10/2025 Sutri

29/10/2025 Campagnano de Roma

30/10/2025 La Storta

31/10/2025 Rome

01/11/2025 Rome