Tuesday 11th Jan 2011

All up bright and early, before the sunrise for our longest and hardest ride of the trip (and the first ride - 110km!). We set off cycling through colourful fishing villages, with many houses built on stilts over the sea.

We then headed away from the coast, climbing at a steady pace as it got more remote hoards of children started to emerge from their timber bambo houses, shouting ''Hello, Hello'', very excitedly.  This was to be repeated for the next 8 hrs!  We soon lost count how many times we said "hello' back, together with more waves than the queen gives on one of her state visits!! We soon started clearing schools, with the children rushing out  to greet us.

After 25km, we stopped for delicious fresh fruit snacks and top up of water, as the heat was reaching 32 degrees, before heading on in to the Mountains.

The views were spectacular and round every corner we found something different, with Oxon /Buffalo and dogs crossing our pathes and even three tons of rice laid out on the road, drying in the mid day sun, that we soon learned to weave around.

For lunch, our guide drove  ahead to negotiate a place for us to eat - The owner was out, so he asked his brother who lived next door, if we could dine there!  We were then asked to take off our shoes and climb on board a table to eat our lunch, which we had chosen 12km earlier- rice and steamed vegetables. We had day old chicks running underneath us. 

After lunch we set off in the soaring heat for the final 3rd part of our cycle, with only 35km to go.  Along the route we saw in the distance a couple that we had met earlier in the day, who turned out to be a French couple cycling round the world.   It was 4pm and they were looking for a safe place to pitch their tent for the night.   Our guide, showed them a safe field to stay for the night.   They had left France in June last year and had so far cycled 7,300 km, with 10,000 km to go.  Their bikes weighed half a ton, fully loaded front and rear, putting us to shame, so we couldn't really complain about the 110km we had to cycle.

We all arrived at the hotel, with much releif, covered in dust, grit and filth! How Kate and I were looking forward to that shower- which turned out to be a cold dribble, but it was nice to feel clean again!

We rounded off the evening with a nice dinner and a few beers at Rickitikitavey's restaurant.

So far no takers for the bus yet - with 630km to go !!

A nice easy day ahead of us tomorrow with only 35km, boat trip and snorkling.

Jayne, Kate& Mike 

xxx