The CONFESSION POST....

Check out the new shirts

Okay. It's early days and we want to clear the slate. It is time to fess up before this goes any further. Kit and I would like to confess that, and in no particular order, talcum powder, coca cola, padded lycra and white bread are now items that we hold very dear to our hearts. Without these four things we could not have made it this far. These items that would never pass our lips or cover our bottoms back home, have been a Godsent over here in Asia. And surely drinking coke at 8am isn't that bad. Can one plead ignorance if the ingredients are listed in a foreign language?

Today was a bloody hard ride. 8 hrs and 85kms of heat and humidity but, lucky for us, paved roads. Up until 8 months ago the road from Pailin to Battambang was all dirt, dust and potholes, so we were most surprised to discover the opposite to be true. The traffic was constant but light, the people so lovely and curious and the going extremely tough.

The first 20kms was once again hills, as we continued to ride through the Cardomon mountains. The hills were not as steep as the previous few days riding but they were long. One hill would have been at least 2 kms long. We were quite surprised at how much easier it felt going up the hills and marvelled at the bodies ability to adapt and become fitter after only four days on the bike.

The scenery was awesome. Mountains, farms, palm trees, rice paddies and once again little children running and shouting 'hello, hello'. Whenever I turned to smile or shout 'hello' in return it took my mind off the heat, the never ending hill and the fatigue and gave me an extra boost of energy. Each time we stopped for a rest we had such a wonderful interaction with the local people and even though we could not understand one word that the other said we always had a laugh.

About 20kms away from Battambang I had a 'moment'. I was at the side of the road, close to throwing up and exhausted when an elderly lady with a baby took us into her house and offered us shade and a place to sit with her family. Cambodians are such lovely people. We rested, shared my packet of mentos and cuddled the baby and this gesture of kindness was all that I needed to get the energy to get back on the bike and keep on peddling.

So here we are in Battambang, staying in a fancy hotel that costs $15 US a night. We are showered, happy and amazed at our achievement. I feel like strutting my tired, sore little backside around town telling everyone I just how far we have ridden. I have never cycled a quarter of that before and then it was only on quiet country roads.

Tomorrow is a rest day. I will head to CCT and Kit will head over to Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat. Gotta feeling I am going to need a day off the bike to rest my weary bones....