For me it takes a couple of weeks to feel truly comfortable on a bike tour. When you reach that point when you feel this is my life, this is all I do each day. Ride a bike, eat some food and find a place to sleep. It does not get anymore basic than that and it feels amazing. Short trips are good, but nothing beats that feeling of being off grid, not knowing where you will end up. Dealing with things as they arise, basically just living with everything you have on you. It is the best feeling in the world and I hope everyone gets to understand that feeling at some point. It makes you aware of all the pointless stuff we buy. The interactions and connections we make with people everyday is just a beautiful thing. It blows my mind and My Heart Is Full.
We got up eager to get breakfast and get off for our two crocodile filled river crossings. I noticed the rear tyre was a bit flat and thought I would just give it a couple of pumps. After a little inflating I started to unscrew the pump and it brought out the valve core with it. In one second all the air came out and the tyre was completely flat. I tried inflating again but it was not having an effect. Damn blast, why did I just not leave it well alone. I made a plan to walk it to the cafe which was a minute walk to see if they had a foot pump or a bigger pump. They did not, but they did have some pliers so I could tighten the valve core in enough so it did not unscrew again. I kept on trying but the tyre would not inflate. All the bags came off, the bike on its side, wheel out. I decided to change the tube. Still no joy, the tyre did not inflate on bit. Rachael then realised the pump was leaking air. The pump as an attachment for people that are lazy and want to use air cartridges and it was coming from that connection. Once that was tightened up the tube inflated perfectly. Wheel back on and sweating like crazy I could enjoy my breakfast.
Once on route things got back to the daily concern, just pedal, nothing more, nothing less, just turn the wheels. We went along the beautiful stretch of coast and into the forest. It was all dreamy and magical.
We found some fruits that are apparently really good for you but taste horrible. They do smell really sweet and beautiful.
We also saw some Howler Monkeys. One leapt from the tree right above us in a star shape, I just missed him with the camera.
We ended up by mistake, straying on to a horse ranch, the only way out the other side was to lift the bike and its bags over the gate.
Then we had our two river crossings with water that had crocodiles. The water was not that deep as it has only rained that one night with the thunder since we have got here and the water was really clear. So we did the first crossing, the hardest part about that was the knee deep mud on the road once you had got out the water.
The second crossing was more straightforward, the cows were leading a line through it and you could see how deep it was.
But the proof there are crocodiles in the water.
We kept on riding and we eventually came to our digs for the night. It is truly stunning so we have decided to stop for two nights.
It is so quiet it is crazy, we near enough have the place to ourselves and the chef is amazing. There is wildlife everywhere, crocodiles, large toads and birds that make you think you are in Jurassic Park
Tomorrow we are going to go for a walk down on to the beach. Hopefully to see some stingrays and some more crocodiles.