Off at the usual time of 7.45; very busy traffic (in Cuban terms anyway!) again. Lots of heavy vehicles and fumes, but after about 10km we’re out on smaller roads and passed through some lovely villages and towns. Today was designated photo day as I’ve been so focused on finishing I’ve not taken as many shots with my SLR as I’d have liked. So I carried the compact and took a lot more shots.
In one small town there was a huge contrast between the beautiful old colonial-style houses on one side of the road, and the communist apartment blocks on the other.
Nice flat roads today but very hot. I forgot to apply the Vaseline but my rear has probably got so leathery I didn’t notice the lack of it! Slacked a bit in the sunscreen front too and now it looks like I’m wearing red stockings!
Picnic lunch again and then we re-grouped for the final stretch and, despite asking the ones who had always been at the front to hold back and let the slower ones go first, Gill managed to get herself to the front again! Anna had been very emotional at the last stop, as she had to finish and go on the bus with Sonia to prepare the “finish line” and I must admit I found myself a little teary towards the end. This has been such an emotional and all-consuming experience.
The finish was tremendous; banners, cocktails, general hugs and jubilation all round. We took our bits off our bikes and then went into the very grand yacht club for lunch.
We all sat by the water and Maneir went for a swim fully clothed! I managed to cut my toe in the water and needed the doctor, just after we’d “paid her off” too!
Then back on the bus for the 3 hour drive back to Havana and we had one hour to get ready for the fancy dress evening. Maggie was a pensioner complete with nylon dress and cardi, rollers on and stockings falling down! And Jackie was “Two fat ladies” – fantastic although how she sat down for dinner with balloons down the back of her trousers I have no idea. They were very worthy joint winners. Poor Kevin had put a lot of effort into his bingo costume but too, but seems to have gone down with sunstroke as he could hardly hold his drink for shaking.
Stayed up till 12 but many others were up till 5am at least!
I make the total miles to be 388km
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