26th Novemebr 08

We got up at the usual time (breakfast is at 7am) but afterwards, instead of jumping on our bikes we jumped on four army trucks with very hard seats, that bumped and jolted us for an hour up into the mountains. We had stunning, fabulous views back to the sea. We got off the trucks at the top (topes des callantes) and found our bikes and set off. I should mention maybe, that when I found my bike it had only one wheel, and it took quite some time before I managed to pin down a mechanic to double that! Also, at this stop, my knees were suffering as they were bruised from banging into the back of the seat in front on the truck ride, and then I went to use the (ahem) local amenities, and managed to sit on a stinging nettle. Humph.







The first leg was entirely down hill, very steep on a very pot-holey road. It was really lethal in places, and exhausting on your hands as you couldn't change position you had to be hovering near your brakes the whole time) On the second leg I turned the corner and saw about 300 metres away a body tangled with a bike laying on the ground - Nina had hit a hellish pothole and was quite bashed up. I was first on the scene, and very relieved when she said to me "Sorry, I'm dripping!" as I just thought "thank heavens she's breathing!"

The scenery changed from jungle mountains to countryside to little villages and then bigger towns. People always coming out to see us and cheer where ever we were. After lunch we did a REALLY long slow climb into Santa Clara and re-grouped. I had a wee in a lady's house. The whole house was about the size of my dining room, with no internal doors, no loo seat or sinks anywhere, very bare, wooden or concrete floors. I gave her a few pesos and some toiletries to thank her. The last leg through he city was amazing. We all had to go as one group because of the police escorts closing junctions for us etc. We arrived at the Che Guevara monument and had a quick talk from Hosea (one of the local travel guides) but there was not time for a group photo as the light was going. The police completely closed the roads all the way to the hotel to enable us to cycle - by the time we arrived it was very dark and it was like cycling blind! Caz only had her prescription sun glasses with her - her normal specs were in the bus, so she could either cycle very dark or very fuzzy. For a while we managed well with me shouting out to her when there were potholes, but as the light went a bit more I lost all my distance perception and neither of us were really able to see anything! Remember we had no lights on our bikes either - it was really very surreal!







beautiful hotel, little shacks dotted around the grounds. Fantastic dinner. Last day cycling tomorrow! i must, must cycle lots when back home. (oh dear, typing this now on 19Th Feb that seems to have not happened!)