Simply amazing views, and a lovely long downhill into flat for the the next leg which I did with Caz. By lunch it was scorching hot and we had done 50km. Lunch was great in a little cabin place; rice, beef and a green banana mash which tasted like truly amazing mashed potato!
Look! the chefs' were hanging out the back of the cabin while they served us!
By this point I had consulted Dr Sarah and been told to stop drinking so much water, and have more salt as I have a bad headache that nothing was touching! SO I switched to dioralyte to drink and am plastering my dinner in salt!
We had our last stop at 16.45, and had another 13km to go to the hotel. Claude told us in no uncertain terms that if anyone didn't make it by sunset (5.30ish) they'd have to go on the bus (known by us as the bus of shame!) Well i wasn't going on that bloody bus for anything or anyone, it was as if someone had stuck a rocket up my backside! Going through Trinidad and the surrounding villages was amazing, all the people came out to see us and we were all cycling like fury into the sun as it set, through these pretty little villages, gorgeous mountains, stunning sunset, and with the village children shouting 'Ola!' to us. It was very emotional! (Cycling and crying is possible but probably not advisable)
Near the end I saw a sign for a hotel and took the turning, then got told by those behind not to turn as no one had been marking it - so I lost my stride completely and turned around. About 15/20 minutes later one of the police escort bikes (Oh yes, we had a police escort. we are VERY important people!) came down beside us, sirens blazing, and told us to turn around! I wouldn't have minded so much if Gwen who was here last week as well (from Women for Women) hadn't gone the wrong way with us! When we finally got to the hotel we had completed 101km, (62 miles) and burnt 2462 calories! We had a fab dinner, lovely hotel although Claude later told us the way we were heading (in the wrong direction) lead to the five star hotel! Dinner, then drinks at the bar with the posse, then bed. The posse was now very firmly established: Sarah, Maggie, Julie, Frankie, Caz and myself) Wahey! Tomorrow 50km pre-lunch, then a tour of Trinidad, then a dip in the pool!
I wish I had taken more photos on this day. The ride down into the sunset and through Trinidad was just stunning - but I was so worried about the time and getting on the bus that I didn't want to stop to take pictures!
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