25th November 2008 (61km pre lunch!)

We set off from the hotel and battled along a very flat VERY long road into Trinidad. I was really really struggling, and worried I'd over-done it yesterday - then realised my tyre was flat! Swapped bikes with Claude again ("I recognise that elephant") and caught up with Caz - who had another altercation with her bike, so then she went onto Claude's, I was back on mine and he had hers! The road actually was not flat at all, but was a really slow climb up from sea level, finishing in a big hill to the first stop. We climbed steps to a peak and admired stunning views while buying souvenirs.






Back on bikes, and the next leg wasn't too bad; but then there was (drumroll please!) THE HILL. This thing leered up at you and seemed to taunt you with 'you think you're gonna get up me? ha! type jeers. It was terrifying riding towards it, looking at it, and wondering how in the hell you were going to get over the blinking thing; kind of mentally setting you up for failure before you had started.... I was just about to quit (not walk - just pause for breath!) when a voice said "keep going" behind me, and we talked each other the whole way up there. Can't remember the lady's name now. It was the only time we talked the whole week I think - but we got each other up that hill! There was a hypothetical mug of tea and a galaxy bar waiting for me and a margarita waiting for her - that was how we did it! Getting over the top was amazing! We cycled back into Trinidad, waving to the school children and everyone else as we went. Then a 15 minute walk to the restaurant. Lunch was really lovely, great food, excellent band good company! Jules, Maggie, Sarah, Frankie, Caz and I then wandered around the market. Jules got told she wasn't normal and was Cuban it's a long story and you had to be there - but we were in hysterics for ages! and Maggie, Frankie and Caz got told the air would come out the tyres if they got on a bike! bloody cheek! It rained while walking round the market which we really could have done with when climbing the monster hill in searing heat instead! hey ho. We got the 4pm bus and at the end of the ride Hector (the fastest bus driver in the west!) put "Guantanemaro" on the CD player and we all sang along and got our maracas out (bought that afternoon!)It was great!





When we got back to the hotel we jumped in the sea and watched the sunset which was just amazing. Then out and showered for dinner and briefing we had a briefing every evening and every morning from Claude, and he became famed for saying 'stay in the shade'! Later we had drinks at the bar (a few too many!) and watched the magician who had me totally perplexed!