Steve's Cycling Blog

I was still feeling rough this morning but forced some breakfast down in an attempt to get some calories in me for the day, then headed out on the road.

Stage 74 route notes

For about the first 20km Roger, a new rider from Australia who has joined us and I rode together having a chat as we made our way out of the city which helped keep my mind off the state of turmoil inside me.

During a brief mechanical issue with Roger’s handlebars several other riders caught up with us including Michael who stayed to help out and then the three of us continued together.

The lunch stop was opposite a coke stop, so I went in and got myself a bottle of lemonade for lunch – I couldn’t face ‘solids’ and that was the best way to get some fuel in. I took a break while others ate before we headed on again, this time also with Will and Charlie.

A while later and Nancy and Wim, two other new riders, caught up with us – I think once I’m healthy they’re going to be good fun to ride with as they’re fast – seriously fast!

By now it was getting pretty hot and we were nearing camp so we stopped in at another coke stop where most people had ice-cream, while I opted for coke to keep me going.

Camp this afternoon is in a school yard again, though this time there’s actually grass to make things more pleasant, though no shade, so for now we’ve opted for not putting our tents up and are sitting under the eaves of the building staying out of the sun.

Later: a young lad showed up with the key for the school door so I’ve been able to take a look around inside – to say there’s not much in there is to overstate things somewhat.

The lad in question is currently beating Michael at draughts, though he does seem to have an interesting understanding of the rules

School draughts campion (it would seem)

Later still: I’ve spent most of the afternoon lying under a tarp which Andreas set up as a sunshade, with a damp sarong draped over me trying to keep cool, and keep drinking – the later has been helped by the fact that a short walk out on the main road is a lady with a freezer full of almost-frozen water bottles.

I managed some dinner, but that made me feel rotten again, so I’ve now put my tent up and am about to try and get some sleep and though the sun’s set, it’s still really rather hot so I”m not sure how that’s going to go.

Riding data

View from my tent

Schoolyard campsite