Pedal on Garth

Leisurely start as we don't have to be at Chris's house until 10am and he only lives around the corner.  He has managed to summon one of his mates to come out for the day too.  The ladies (his cleaner Rina and landord's daughter Po) are busying themselves in the kitchen preparing a barbecue for an army to take on the boat while we sup Kmer tea and choose our bicycles.  Lucky me, due to being of small stature I win the one with suspension. An hour late we leave for a hairy bike ride through town to get the boat.  Honestly don't try this at home, you just go for it and hope it's not your turn to die. Another delay as we wait for the all important ice to keep the beer cool for the day.

As we leave the jetty it's Adrians turn to go green - over the side.  Beginning to think we are alergic to cycling. So while he fades into the background the rest of us tuck into the beer and nosh as we chug up the river for the islands formed where the Mekong River meets the Siem Reap.  It seems to take forever until we instruct the gold sequinned capped Captain that the purpose of the day is not simply to be on the river but we actually want to get to the other side for some pedalling around the countryside.  He duly finds a few more gears although he is fighting a very strong current.

We offload the bikes and head off down the road. The solid concrete soon gives way to vey lumpy dirt track (thank you for the supension) and we explore armed only with GPS to bring us back.  All the way we have to wave and say hello to the local children.  And we stop to watch the weavers.  Many of the houses have looms underneath some even with flying shuttles!  They make fine silk cloth and scarves to sell in the markets.   (Possible sideline to supplement the teaching)

We spend a happy couple of hours bumping along before Chris & Andy remember they are meant to be going to a 40th Birthday party tonight so we quickly find a route back to the boat.  Adrian is getting quite tired anyway as he he's running on empty.  

Onward to Bali tomorrow...