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Today was hot and arduous.
Really hot, and humid, and a very long day in the saddle.
Those who know me know I ride a lot, and in some pretty crazy conditions and I can tell you it was a pretty solid day for me also. Which makes me even more impressed with the fortitude and perseverance of each and everyone of my friends (some new, some long standing) as they faced the miles and various obstacles on the road today.
Following a relatively brief 1 hour bus ride, we started the day on a nice strip of smooth asphalt, but that was far too short lived as we turned on to an alternating soupy, sandy farming road. Not a single piece of blacktop to be seen for miles. While there hasn't been a heavy solid rain since we arrived, you would not have know from the contion of the first stretch of this section. The road was dotted with pools of standing water surrounded by strectches of slick soupy sand. The kind of sand that makes it feel like you are riding on a bar of wet soap. There were a few spills and scrapes, but everyone who went down bounced back up, immediately got back on thier bikes and continued forward undaunted.
After apporximately 1 hour of this, and a water and snack stop which included tending to the scrapes and bruises, we were back on blacktop. Though I am not sure it was much of an improvement given the insanity that passes for traffic here.
Then came the hills just before our lunch break. The long steady kind where you can't see the summit. The type of hill that can crush you by the time you reach the top, and by the time we hit the lunch stop, everyone looked like they had reached the top.
After some tasty sandwiches and veggies it was back on the road. The group was much quieter and more determined, but still rolling. The afternoon got even hotter, the road got rougher, and even longer...
After 90km, and approximately 4 1/2 hours of riding, we rolled up to our stop for the day in Kampong Cham. A distance that I suspect is equal to, or futher than the longest ride that some in the group have ever ridden. An incredible effort, from a very dedicated and determined group of people.
I hope they are all proud of thier effort today. I know am honoured to be riding with this group, and look forward to sharing many more miles with them as we experience the culture of this incredible nation and people.
And on we go...
Darren Durupt
- comments
Lucie Brouillette Hi Darren, Thanks for the blog entry We're proud of you and the whole team!
Dennis Treibel Thanks Darren for your blog. Fun following the team and their stories
mother - in law proud of you
Jean Highlands With you every minute of the day love the blog. Take care. love
Barbara Dunn So proud of all of the riders. You are doing something invaluable for the children of Sunrise3
Dennis Massicotte Great update Darren - good luck to you and the whole team the rest of the way!
wife Was it JABR hard? Proud of you and everyone.
Salacious B. Crumb You are ALL to be commended! Reading these different blog entries and viewing the photos makes me feel as though I am there with you - experiencing the peaks and valleys of your journey. Thank you, each, for riding; and thank you to those who are documenting for our benefit. Godspeed!