Bacon.
That was the craving I woke up with. I had visions of piles of freshly fried bacon.
We are seated in a nice air-conditioned room in Nilaveli, a beautiful seaside resort village in North Eastern Sri Lanka. Today is our rest day on our third Around The Pearl ride. Its been scorching hot, humid, windy and tough going but a load of fun.This ride has evolved from being a tight knit circle of friends, off on a roll around Sri Lanka, to a much wider group of professionally organised and managed people still riding to raise funds for an amazing cause. Our target is to reach the 40,000 wheel chairs needed to help Sri Lanka's CP afflicted children get wheel chairs. In spite of the ever increasing numbers, there is still a good camaraderie in the group although not to the same levels of the first two rides. This is to be expected when its grown from 12 to 22 to 40 riders.
Two years ago, this was a turning point in my life. The ride that changed my life in more ways than one. Today, I am fitter, healthier and stuffed to my gills with bacon. Yes; my craving was satisfied.
We began the ride 6 days ago, in a sweltering Colombo. The weather gods have lost their collective marbles and decided to bring Sri Lanka to a slow roast. Training for the ride was challenging enough but actually getting down to doing it, in this heat, was something totally different. I am happy to say that riding 150+km's a day is not the toughest challenge any more. Toss in a couple dozen lunatic TukTuk drivers, even more psychotic bus drivers, cows, dogs and insane heat (near 40c on most days), a bear, a few elephants, a dead ring tailed civet and a goat; you have a serious challenge on your hands.
The group consists of 40 riders of varied skill and fitness level. Shapes range from champaign flute to brandy balloon, and riding skills, similar in variety and its enough to make anyones organisational skill groan and creak at the seams.
Our erstwhile skipper, Yasas and his able bodied assistants Udam and Crystal (Ajith and I apart from the occasional phone call, or e mail contribution have had very little to do with with the actual organising. 'Consultant' is a good description. Like most consultants, we do little but enjoy much merit) have done a yeoman job. The routes and fuelling stops, planned and manned by the super woman and the other half of the dynamic duo, Ajani. Well stocked with iced water, Fish buns, Vegetable and Beef Roti, Vadai and a variety of cooled drinks, these stops are beyond welcome in the sweltering heat.
We set off from the beautiful Land Rover showrooms in Colombo. LR being one of our main sponsors, this was a good way for us to show our support. Stunning place with a great cup of coffee and on this particular morning stocked with energy giving banana's and oats. The ride didn't start off well, with our friend Dila, who was joining us for day one only, falling off her bike, while stationary and dislocating and shattering her elbow. In the hustle and bustle of getting the ride started, few of us knew this had happened. Sadly for her, she has to undergo surgery and won't be on her bike for a while.
There were a few more spills along the way but overall most of the riders made it unscathed to Mandara hotel in Mirissa. A small, comfortable place on the beach, away from the crowds. The first few days are always tough. the sun, the traffic and our bodies getting used to the routine, usually means that the socialising is limited to a few cocktails at most and a very early night.
Day 2, takes us from Mirissa to Katharagama. A 140+Km's of rolling hills and heat. The roads start to get less crowded and the surfaces are better but did I mention the heat? It is seriously, seriously hot. I sometimes wonder if what we do and the time of year we do it is the most sensible. Probably not, along with the ever expanding list of the not too sensible things we tend to do in this ride. It certainly not for the feint hearted, but i have seen incredible transformations take place as well. This ride is no different to the two before; transformations of physique and personality are taking place before our eye.
Endurance riding is an interesting sport. its more mind than body and more grit and glory. I never thought of myself us an endurance rider. Lacking patience at the best of times, I hardly saw myself as a man capable of sitting his ass down on a seat, that basically looked like a wedge of cheese and I am pretty certain is far less comfortable although I have to admit, that I have never sat on a wedge of cheese. In addition to this, endurance riding in Sri Lanka means you are riding for hour upon hour in conditions that are more suited for camel than human.
Put 40 people on bicycles and make them ride fare distances in insane heat and interesting things tend to happen. Some break out in spontaneous song, as others bitch quietly at/to themselves, some dig deep and grind away the miles, while some look fresh as daisy's while rolling up the hills (The two C's, Charlene and Chantal being a case in point), some find a reason to quit while others find an excuse to go on. Some question their sanity for ever taking this one, while others glow with the pride of their daily accomplishment. Either way, ATP is a life changer.
Day 3 was Katharagama to Arugambay.
My favourite ride of the tour. We roll along the Buttala plains, between Yala and Lunugamvehera parks. Picturesque country with thick jungle on either side of the road. the bird life is incredible and this stretch has always been a birding hotspot. We expect to see Elephant, buffalo, deer and other smaller mammals but incredibly, this time a slower group riding a few km's behind the main pack had amazing luck when a bear crossed the road ahead of them.
We then ride in the the Monaragala hills and down on the the eastern valley through yet another park, Lahugala and the almost guaranteed sighting of elephants. Finally the open plains of Pottuvil and the spectacular and impossibly blue Bay of Arugambay. Sadly day three claimed another victim when Dharini had an unfortunate mishap, having covered her longest distance ever and had to terminate her ride with a broken clavicle.
We stayed at the Blue Wave hotel in Arugambay. Sri Lanka's answer to Fawlty Towers. I will not dwell not the 'comedy' we endured under the guise of service, but in fairness, they had a nice pool and the dinner was half way decent. Less said about the rest of the Hotel the better, but if you do happen to be unfortunately enough to end up there, good luck dodging the hard sell on their club sandwiches. Basic conversation with room service.
Q: Do you have a room service menu
A: Yes sir. We have club sandwiches
Q: Could I see the menu?
A: Yes sir. I will send it. Would you like a club sandwich with that?
Q; (Having seen menu) Could I have the Hot Butter Cuttlefish?
A: Out of stock sir. We could send you a club sandwich
Q: You have Nasi Goreng?
A: No rice sir, but we have club Sandwiches.
Life is too short.... we have the f'ing club sandwich and get some sleep......
Day 4 and onwards to Pasikudha.
And guess what....
Club F'ing sandwiches, (minus bacon) for breakfast....
A hot and flat ride. Most riders were a little worn out from the day before but held a steady pace to make it to the lovely new Sunrise by Jetwing. A gorgeous spanking new property on Pasikudah beach which we were the first guests. While the Manager and Shiromal (of Jetwing fame, who is a gracious lead sponsors ATP year on year) nervously prepared for the onslaught of the riders, the stay was extremely comfortable and the food, exceptional. A massive contrast to the Blue Wave.
We passed a small heard of elephants as we left Arugambay. A reminder of how close these massive pachyderms live to human habitation; great birdlife along the way as well. The ride itself was .. yes.. you guessed it, HOT.
I have to take a minute to let you guys ( incase you dint figure it out yet) how much i hate the heat. I have a serious dislike for the heat. To me, anything over 28c and if i had my way, i would lock myself up in an AC environment and not come out. exactly what i am doing now. :)
Day 5. and on to Nilaveli.
Once again HOT and flat but the group is riding to gather like pro's and looking good. Steady pace, regular rules stops and lots of humour and we keep grinding out the km's.
Today we went to a CP camp in Trinco. You have to see one to feel the true impact of this cruel affliction. The sore bums, aching legs, stiff backs and all the aches and pains we have seem so trivial in the face of what these kids and their parents endure on a daily basis. This is bravery. This is heroism at its best. Every time I attend a camp, I am moved more at the courage and the commitment i see from Dr Gopi and the crew of Cerebral Palsy Sri Lanka Foundation. The true hero's of ATP. Please help us make the reality of providing wheel chairs to all afflicted kids. you could make a contribution at www.aroundthepearl.lk
Today is day 6. our rest day, at Nilaveli.
Charlene and i have decided that the most physical thing we would do for the morning is eat a huge breakfast. We are relaxed and rested and looking forward to the rest of the day. The riders have split to go whale watching, snorkelling off Pigeon Island and to visit Army camps. I am awaiting my first cocktail of the morning and maybe an afternoon nap.
Tomorrow we head to Mullaitivu. a lovely ride along the isolated coast. I am looking forward to it, but then again, there is the bane of my life.. the heat. Oh my... the heat.
That was the craving I woke up with. I had visions of piles of freshly fried bacon.
We are seated in a nice air-conditioned room in Nilaveli, a beautiful seaside resort village in North Eastern Sri Lanka. Today is our rest day on our third Around The Pearl ride. Its been scorching hot, humid, windy and tough going but a load of fun.This ride has evolved from being a tight knit circle of friends, off on a roll around Sri Lanka, to a much wider group of professionally organised and managed people still riding to raise funds for an amazing cause. Our target is to reach the 40,000 wheel chairs needed to help Sri Lanka's CP afflicted children get wheel chairs. In spite of the ever increasing numbers, there is still a good camaraderie in the group although not to the same levels of the first two rides. This is to be expected when its grown from 12 to 22 to 40 riders.
Two years ago, this was a turning point in my life. The ride that changed my life in more ways than one. Today, I am fitter, healthier and stuffed to my gills with bacon. Yes; my craving was satisfied.
We began the ride 6 days ago, in a sweltering Colombo. The weather gods have lost their collective marbles and decided to bring Sri Lanka to a slow roast. Training for the ride was challenging enough but actually getting down to doing it, in this heat, was something totally different. I am happy to say that riding 150+km's a day is not the toughest challenge any more. Toss in a couple dozen lunatic TukTuk drivers, even more psychotic bus drivers, cows, dogs and insane heat (near 40c on most days), a bear, a few elephants, a dead ring tailed civet and a goat; you have a serious challenge on your hands.
The group consists of 40 riders of varied skill and fitness level. Shapes range from champaign flute to brandy balloon, and riding skills, similar in variety and its enough to make anyones organisational skill groan and creak at the seams.
Our erstwhile skipper, Yasas and his able bodied assistants Udam and Crystal (Ajith and I apart from the occasional phone call, or e mail contribution have had very little to do with with the actual organising. 'Consultant' is a good description. Like most consultants, we do little but enjoy much merit) have done a yeoman job. The routes and fuelling stops, planned and manned by the super woman and the other half of the dynamic duo, Ajani. Well stocked with iced water, Fish buns, Vegetable and Beef Roti, Vadai and a variety of cooled drinks, these stops are beyond welcome in the sweltering heat.
We set off from the beautiful Land Rover showrooms in Colombo. LR being one of our main sponsors, this was a good way for us to show our support. Stunning place with a great cup of coffee and on this particular morning stocked with energy giving banana's and oats. The ride didn't start off well, with our friend Dila, who was joining us for day one only, falling off her bike, while stationary and dislocating and shattering her elbow. In the hustle and bustle of getting the ride started, few of us knew this had happened. Sadly for her, she has to undergo surgery and won't be on her bike for a while.
There were a few more spills along the way but overall most of the riders made it unscathed to Mandara hotel in Mirissa. A small, comfortable place on the beach, away from the crowds. The first few days are always tough. the sun, the traffic and our bodies getting used to the routine, usually means that the socialising is limited to a few cocktails at most and a very early night.
Day 2, takes us from Mirissa to Katharagama. A 140+Km's of rolling hills and heat. The roads start to get less crowded and the surfaces are better but did I mention the heat? It is seriously, seriously hot. I sometimes wonder if what we do and the time of year we do it is the most sensible. Probably not, along with the ever expanding list of the not too sensible things we tend to do in this ride. It certainly not for the feint hearted, but i have seen incredible transformations take place as well. This ride is no different to the two before; transformations of physique and personality are taking place before our eye.
Endurance riding is an interesting sport. its more mind than body and more grit and glory. I never thought of myself us an endurance rider. Lacking patience at the best of times, I hardly saw myself as a man capable of sitting his ass down on a seat, that basically looked like a wedge of cheese and I am pretty certain is far less comfortable although I have to admit, that I have never sat on a wedge of cheese. In addition to this, endurance riding in Sri Lanka means you are riding for hour upon hour in conditions that are more suited for camel than human.
Put 40 people on bicycles and make them ride fare distances in insane heat and interesting things tend to happen. Some break out in spontaneous song, as others bitch quietly at/to themselves, some dig deep and grind away the miles, while some look fresh as daisy's while rolling up the hills (The two C's, Charlene and Chantal being a case in point), some find a reason to quit while others find an excuse to go on. Some question their sanity for ever taking this one, while others glow with the pride of their daily accomplishment. Either way, ATP is a life changer.
Day 3 was Katharagama to Arugambay.
My favourite ride of the tour. We roll along the Buttala plains, between Yala and Lunugamvehera parks. Picturesque country with thick jungle on either side of the road. the bird life is incredible and this stretch has always been a birding hotspot. We expect to see Elephant, buffalo, deer and other smaller mammals but incredibly, this time a slower group riding a few km's behind the main pack had amazing luck when a bear crossed the road ahead of them.
We then ride in the the Monaragala hills and down on the the eastern valley through yet another park, Lahugala and the almost guaranteed sighting of elephants. Finally the open plains of Pottuvil and the spectacular and impossibly blue Bay of Arugambay. Sadly day three claimed another victim when Dharini had an unfortunate mishap, having covered her longest distance ever and had to terminate her ride with a broken clavicle.
We stayed at the Blue Wave hotel in Arugambay. Sri Lanka's answer to Fawlty Towers. I will not dwell not the 'comedy' we endured under the guise of service, but in fairness, they had a nice pool and the dinner was half way decent. Less said about the rest of the Hotel the better, but if you do happen to be unfortunately enough to end up there, good luck dodging the hard sell on their club sandwiches. Basic conversation with room service.
Q: Do you have a room service menu
A: Yes sir. We have club sandwiches
Q: Could I see the menu?
A: Yes sir. I will send it. Would you like a club sandwich with that?
Q; (Having seen menu) Could I have the Hot Butter Cuttlefish?
A: Out of stock sir. We could send you a club sandwich
Q: You have Nasi Goreng?
A: No rice sir, but we have club Sandwiches.
Life is too short.... we have the f'ing club sandwich and get some sleep......
Day 4 and onwards to Pasikudha.
And guess what....
Club F'ing sandwiches, (minus bacon) for breakfast....
A hot and flat ride. Most riders were a little worn out from the day before but held a steady pace to make it to the lovely new Sunrise by Jetwing. A gorgeous spanking new property on Pasikudah beach which we were the first guests. While the Manager and Shiromal (of Jetwing fame, who is a gracious lead sponsors ATP year on year) nervously prepared for the onslaught of the riders, the stay was extremely comfortable and the food, exceptional. A massive contrast to the Blue Wave.
We passed a small heard of elephants as we left Arugambay. A reminder of how close these massive pachyderms live to human habitation; great birdlife along the way as well. The ride itself was .. yes.. you guessed it, HOT.
I have to take a minute to let you guys ( incase you dint figure it out yet) how much i hate the heat. I have a serious dislike for the heat. To me, anything over 28c and if i had my way, i would lock myself up in an AC environment and not come out. exactly what i am doing now. :)
Day 5. and on to Nilaveli.
Once again HOT and flat but the group is riding to gather like pro's and looking good. Steady pace, regular rules stops and lots of humour and we keep grinding out the km's.
Today we went to a CP camp in Trinco. You have to see one to feel the true impact of this cruel affliction. The sore bums, aching legs, stiff backs and all the aches and pains we have seem so trivial in the face of what these kids and their parents endure on a daily basis. This is bravery. This is heroism at its best. Every time I attend a camp, I am moved more at the courage and the commitment i see from Dr Gopi and the crew of Cerebral Palsy Sri Lanka Foundation. The true hero's of ATP. Please help us make the reality of providing wheel chairs to all afflicted kids. you could make a contribution at www.aroundthepearl.lk
Today is day 6. our rest day, at Nilaveli.
Charlene and i have decided that the most physical thing we would do for the morning is eat a huge breakfast. We are relaxed and rested and looking forward to the rest of the day. The riders have split to go whale watching, snorkelling off Pigeon Island and to visit Army camps. I am awaiting my first cocktail of the morning and maybe an afternoon nap.
Tomorrow we head to Mullaitivu. a lovely ride along the isolated coast. I am looking forward to it, but then again, there is the bane of my life.. the heat. Oh my... the heat.
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