Wednesday, July 30, 2008

im sitting at a starbucks in langkawi writing this. we are waiting for the ferry to transport us to penang and another beginning. our thai friends have been most warm and helpful and when the pictures are up, you would be able to see a little of what we have been blessed with seeing over the past few days. the scenery is quite inspiring, the limestone formations make you feel a lot smaller and less important.

it is hard, once an event is over (even if it is but a part of a larger event and we have broken it down into two separate countries) to accurately remember what actually happened. i remember it was long and hot, especially these last two days, as we covered 150km from krabi to trang and 157km from trang to satun. some parts were more memorable because of the scenery, sure, but mostly, what i remember is the heat and 13 people cycling in unison, legs pumping up and down as we break away from our lives.

i remember the seemingly long pulls at the front into the headwinds and up the slopes, breath coming in shortened gasps and our legs bathed in liquid fire. most searing of all would probably be our butts. our thin flesh stretched and abraded, sores bursting open as we shift in our saddles for a few seconds of comfort. some of us were pedalling on one butt cheek for some time. but still onward, onward we went. why? i have no idea. maybe its because everyone else was going forwards as well. maybe its because we are afraid to be left behind.


the days are beginning to blur into one another. after cycling, there is the wash up and dinner and then preperation for the next day. it becomes routine, our nomadic lifestyle, our leaving behind, our breaking away. in some ways its refreshing, every day is different, new, exciting. in some ways it is terrible, each day with its own stresses and rushing.

9 more stages. we have ridden 640km in total so far in thailand and we are still feeling good.

allez.

Posted by Anonymous at 1:23 PM