Wednesday 30th April 2025 La Libertad to Ayampe
Sandra’s birthday have a great day and see you soon.

Loads better meal last night, back to the Hong Kong special, a massive plate of noodles and vegetables, with Bingo’s a bit of meat, felt a bit better after eating a substantial meal, then straight around the supermarket for pudding, what a holiday as the boys are saying back home.

Little lie in this morning, slight misfunction on the Bingos phone, mate I got up 2 minutes after his alarm should have gone off, just how we are tuned in to the world clock, same again with a bit of chocolate in the porridge, basically cause I was up first got it out ready and waiting.

The on the seaside route today, up to see all the surfer dudes, with are bleached blonde hair and slim toned bodies going to hit the surf, well we have to cycle a bit first, that’s what I have in my little crazy mind, riding a 9 foot wave with my long hair flapping in the wind, we will see about that, but it kept me amused for a good few miles.

Little stop for a coffee in a small beach village Monteverdets, tempted to have a beer because its Sandra’s birthday, but resist the urge as its only just after 8 in the morning, do not want to get a reputation, nice little stop though, waves crashing into the beach, making me thing of riding the surf, I wish.

Off we go again hugging the coast, through the rolling hills, loving the smell of the sea breeze and the warm wind blowing in, countryside is still very green, mainly market garden stuff now, very nice. Just easing are way up the coast, me saving my energy for the on coming surfing, always going to be fun, all you have to is stand up, how hard is that, pretty hard I believe. Making the miles just slip away, came to another beach resort, Simón Bolívar, Bingo goes to the little beach bar, going to order a soft drink and ice cream, I have to intervene its Sandra’s birthday, we should have a beer, he did not take much persuading as we settled into the beach mode, obviously never finish on a odd number so had to have another one, with a few fantastic pictures of the beach, making the boys back home think that’s all we do, sit on a sun bed and drink beer, not far from the truth, in reality, just add a bit of riding that’s the holiday.

Managed to escape the beach front and back on the bikes, for the serious stuff, heading to the surfing enclave of Ayampe, last little bit up a 4 mile climb, good to get the legs spinning, all quite steady really nothing serious, then hit the downhill into the village, could see straight away, very arty, surfing place, think I will stick out like a sore thumb, but lets give the new look a go. First chance Bingo stops and the 1st bar, who trained him, I screech to a halt, much to the amusement of two guys in the bar, failed that audition, but they was only French so who cares. Bit of liquid refreshment then off to find some digs for the night, first place looked closed, banged on the door, surfer guy came out, you need to go down to the shop man! not sure about this now, as we carry on down. Then meet a girl coming up the road, you looking for a place to stay, yes we say, I have a little room just down here, lovely place, all booked in, she even got us a coconut drink, bloody horrible, but smiled and said thanks, really nice, digs though.

Freshen up wash the kit, then hit the surf man, well went swimming and spent loads of time watching the skilled surfers, they make it seem so easy, I just posed up and down the beach, will get my board out when the surf comes up, in my dreams, lovely afternoon and early evening though, think I may have missed my vocation, would have made a great surfer dude. My mind in overdrive thinking of all the surfer songs, I can sing tomorrow, Surfing USA, Beach Boys; Riptide, Vance someone, all a bit tired for me, settled for a skater song going to rip it up tomorrow:

He was a skater boy
She said, “See you later, boy”
He wasn’t good enough for her
She had a pretty face
But her head was up in space
She needed to come back down to earth

Good night.