Tuesday 5 February 2013

Day 14. Sat 2nd Feb13. Singapore104.4 miles.

Wow what a last day. Tied the Scottish St Andrew's flag to Spike and proudly left after b'fast with the group. Rode first of all with Nick, head wind and rolling hills so Mark drafted me for 20 miles. Not much talking, unless at traffic lights, just head down, getting it done. Heat of the day really comes in about 11.30 am, intense and doesn't start lifting till 3.30pm. Crispin wanted us all to ride into Singapore together as the roads,  would become a nightmare to navigate. After mile 55 we set off and picked up Route 1, a charging 3 lane road heading for Singapore customs. The peloton looked impressive, safety in numbers, but even so we had to be alert to vehicles, filtering in and out, cutting us up. Customs were very slick, different channels for bikes and cars. Then we were through but still another 20 miles to the

Merlion, our finishing point. Now we just wanted it done, hot, sweaty, grubby, tired. The traffic was frantic, gps following all the way. I was called up to the front to lead the group, with Mark to the finish. A real honour among such special people.  Crispin, Sally plus some cyclists friends cheered us over the ramp and finish.  We were all elated and emotional, hugging and congratulating each other. Photos and video followed then we retired to a nearby bar for snacks, beer and singapore slings. We caused quite a stir, people taking our photos, getting in on our photos, and posing beside our bikes. We still had to reach our hotel though, so back on the bike for another 5 miles. By this time it was getting dark, and gridlocked rush hour traffic. What an experience, jinking through the vehicles, lane to lane, pavement, determined to get ahead. We lost sight of each other in the chaos but miraculously managed to regroup, when we turned onto a quieter road, all unscathed. I love the challenge of intense traffic. A new, lovely hotel with friendly, polite staff was a very welcome sight. What they must have thought of 13 sweaty, dirty, noisy bikers coming into their ordered hotel, I don't know. It has amazed me how all hotels have allowed us to take our bikes up to our rooms. All cleaned up and still elated we headed out into Singapore nightlife. Met up with Hutch, Kukri representive, in Singapore, and enjoyed a lovely meal with good company. Phil made a speech of congratulations, followed by Mark, then Crispin read out a very funny poem naming each member of the team. Sue was presented with a signed 'world' shirt by Mark as being the hero of the gang. Very worthy, her confidence increased day by day, after her accident, amazing girl. By this time some people were thinking of flights home and the group starting dispersing. Emotional goodbyes were said to Sue and Sarah  who had early flights home. 

Another very hard, taxing day on the bike but what a fantastic ending.  My mind knows I could go on but my body is saying enough, too many aches and pains to cope with now. It has been one of the hardest, intense, pushed me to my limits, cycle trips I have been on. 1256 miles over 14 days, average 90 miles per day. If I had known what would be expected of me, I would have said 'no way' but amazingly I coped. I grew to love it and my fellow cyclists, the best group of people I have cycled with. I am already missing them, we laughed and suffered together.

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1 comment:

  1. An amazing blog of an amazing trip by an amazing lady. Looking forward to seeing you again. Brian

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