We had breakfast at the base before getting fitted for our bikes. I made sure that I put my borrowed gel saddle cover to good use, and with drinks bottles filled, sun tan lotion applied and safety briefing done (left brake is front wheel.....don't apply this one as much as the right!!), we were ready for the off.
Well, I don't think any of us quite understood the challenge we had let ourselves in for! Within less than 5 minutes of leaving camp, I was in first gear and peddling my heart out to get up a hill. I was thinking to myself that I must look rather silly, and then Raoul cycles slowly past me at about 1mph with his legs spinning so fast that he looked like a hamster on a wheel!! Well, that, combined with the adrenaline was the end of me, I got the hysterical giggles and had to get off my bike to get my breath back! I think I dissolved into giggles about 3 times that day!
The bike ride took us up and down steep dirt tracks through the plantations. It was tougher than I ever imagined it would be, going up hill on stoney, rocky roads is not the same as going up hill on a tarmac road! Every time I was nearly getting there going up a hill, I'd hit a large stone, loose my balance and couldn't get started again. I wasn't the only one pushing my bike up hills on this day!!
We finally has some respite when we stopped in a clearing by a river. We had some water melon and pineapple and took on water. We also played on the assault course by the river, swinging on ropes and dangling upside down on metal poles.....was nice to be a kid again for 20 minutes! Then back on the bikes for our return trip to camp. After some lunch, we were all feeling a bit despondent. Evan told us that there was an optional cycle ride in the afternoon. A few of us were horrified at the thought of getting back on those roads......Ross told us that it was not optional and to, excuse the pun, get on our bikes!!
We were all glad that we did. The afternoon cycle was much more productive, I think we were happier having warmed up and also knowing what to expect. Fawaz was the only person who I think wished he'd stayed at home. After having had a small fall off his bike in the morning, gaining a couple of scratches, he had a much more dramatic fall in the afternoon and did the one thing we were told not to do.....he panicked going down a hill too fast and hit the left brake before the right.....needless to say our support ambulance was put to good use in cleaning his skinless arm and upper back and then taking him to hospital for a tetanus booster!
The rest of us continued back to camp where we met the kids from Borneo Child Aid. It was explained to us that while these kids lived at home with their families, they came from poorer backgrounds, where their parents work in the plantations and cannot get their children to the schools in the area as they are so far away. Some children live 2 hours drive from the nearest school and there isn't access to cars or transport. We will provide a cross terrain vehicle to help children and teachers get to these schools with some of the money we raised. On thing I noticed about these kids was the poor dental hygiene. I'm not quite sure why this tugged at my heart strings so much, but I found it really sad.
After playing with the kids in the garden, having piggy back races and playing on swings, they put on a show for us, of traditional dancing, singing and poetry. At the end of the show, they asked us to take part in their bamboo dancing. Rather scary having 2 pieces of bamboo trying to squish your ankles as you dance around, but it was good fun!
After the children had left for their trip home, we had dinner and then our briefing for the next few days. We were informed that the following morning we would be cycling around 30km on roads, before getting changed and starting our hiking. Most worryingly, we were told that we had to pack everything that we needed for the next 3 days and this we would carry in our packs. Everything else would be reunited with us after we descended from the summit! Struggling to get our heads around this, we all spent about 45 minutes repacking our bags and trying to streamline our packs before sitting and chatting with our guides. They explained to us that when they saw our itinary, they expected us to be triathletes!! We explained that we were jack of all trades and masters of none!! Strange to see how differently the expectations were seen.
Finally, it was my night to award the hat. It was a really tough choice of who to give it to. Manfred had been a trooper, offering advice throughout the day to those of us who were less experienced mountain bikers, Fawaz had picked himself up, dusted himself off and was still smiling. I finally decided to hand the hat to Raoul, although I didn't want to as he had been pestering for it since the moment I got it the night before. He was awarded the hat for something he did when he wasn't playing up for it! Without a second thought, and without realising anyone was paying attention, he helped push his wife's bike up a hill when her knee was hurting and when she was left behind to get her knee seen to, he stopped at the roadside at a small bush and recognised her favourite flowers, picking her one to make her feel better. The romantic in me melted and he won the hat!!
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