Tuesday 29th April 2025 Chongon to La Libertad
Worst meal we have had in a long time last night, think we waited till we was that hungary, then went to a restaurant that was not open again, then another one, ended up in a very hot, fast food place not good, but mainly our fault, crap meal get over it. So went to the little shop brought loads of chocolate and had a feast when we got back to the digs, with a bit left over for the morning.

Same again for breakfast as we unlocked the bikes from the garage compound, just getting light as we headed up to the highway, tracing the route from yesterday afternoon, not what we like to do, but needs must sometimes, thinking of the meal last night, would have rather carried on, but we did not know that, no planning.

Got on the highway, then just 70 odd miles to the seaside, think the first bit is a touch industrial, with a port, refinery and stuff, then the surfer beaches further up, bring them on. Not much happening on the road, spent the first 20 odd miles on a bike lane adjacent to the highway, then it started to get a bit bumpy with the tree roots and brushing past the hedgerows, all sorts (could do with a packet of Berty Bassett’s Liquorice Allsorts now) of creepy-crawlies lingering in the undergrowth, we soon got back onto the hard shoulder. Going back to the Berty Bassett’s Liquorice Allsorts, that was my thing back in day, when we played away, used to go through a packet of them easily, even got a young Steve Richards involved in them on his first team debut against Erith, he wanted wine gums, but being a responsible adult at the time, thought he was to young for them, still gave him a gallon of beer for the journey home, back in the day. I hear people say you should have a session in my shoes and pedal a few miles, the scary bit would be having a session in my head, that would scare you more, I haven’t a clue where all this stuff comes from.

Back to the riding, that’s the easy bit, eating up the miles on the smooth tarmac, little bit undulating but very fast, just keep the pedals turning and my mind focussed, that’s the difficult bit, heading for the seaside so all happy and excited, as we just carried on, just a little stop at a service station for a coffee and soft drink, nice little chat with a gentleman, who noticed the flags on the cycling shirts, gave him the little chat about the tour, then back on the pedals, hitting then hard as we raced to the seafront.

Soon hit the industrial part of La Libertad, skipped past the refinery, then into the Port area, got some digs relatively easy, only just after one in afternoon, so time to wash are filthy kit, nice shower and a leisurely lunch, ended up watching the 2nd half of the Arsenal v PSG champions league game, not a good result, for the Arsenal, but PSG played better, in my humble opinion.

Little walk around the town, then rest these weary legs, before we go shopping later, already got the Berty Bassett’s Liquorice Allsorts on the list, will be devastated if we cant find them, may have to get Sandra to bring a packet out for us!