Fuck me you both put a good shift in on this ride 😳well done lads

Monday 9th June 2025 Aguadulce to Silimin
After last nights epic walk, legs a feeling a bit stiff this morning, only joking, up with the larks ready to rock and roll, though I did put a bit of extra chocolate in my breakfast this morning, Bingo declined it so rather than wasting it I ate the whole bar, it would only melt anyway. Just as I was putting my shoes on a massive cockroach poked his head up from inside my shoe, fair play to him / her, not sure how you tell the sex of one them little beasties, who would want to, but if whatever sex they are can sleep in my cycling shoes, they can surely survive a nuclear war!

Out of the love hotel just before 6, it looks like it has been raining and the sky is pretty daunting, storm brewing, says the weatherman. We can worry about that later, just get these old legs rolling, heading towards San Bartolo, another one of Cathals relatives, only one hostel and no reviews, so neither of us are very hopeful, let’s see what happens.

Soon get into the swing of it, well we should been doing it for long enough, easing up through the gears in the fresh early morning, still 28 degrees but feels fresher because of the rain, eating up the miles, just like another start of the working week, in the ever extended holiday we are both enjoying. Just keep the pace steady very little climbing just a few little bumps in the road. Both of us have the nagging thought that we will struggle to find a place to stay this evening, may have to camp, which brings all the thoughts of creepy crawlies, snakes etc, that will be fun, both agree to think about that later, if we have too, you just waste energy thinking about stuff that you may not have to deal with, another one of my unquantified words of wisdom.

I felt good this morning, must have been the whole bar of chocolate i ate with my breakfast, so Bingo calls the first stop, just outside Santiago, little cafe, have a coffee and a soft drink, as we look up to the sky it’s getting darker and darker, only one thing for it, lets try and get to the finish before the storm rolls in. That would be good if we knew where we would finish, but gives us the push to carry on, once we are through Santiago, the places to stop get few and far between, so we load up with water and on we go.

The road is far less busier as we hit the countryside, signs on the side of the road to be aware of the anteaters and monkeys, we even pass a special crossing for monkeys, like a high net across the road, brilliant idea, but unfortunately we did not spot anything. We stop again in a strange village hamlet Bisvalles , just a few buildings on the side of the road with a little shop, check the maps for what they are, allegedly the hostel is about eight miles away, nothing can go wrong. When we soon hit the infamous San Bartolo, Bingo pulled off and said I think it’s down here a little unmade road, me thinking, sometimes I do, not riding down that for no reason, so go into the little shop and ask. I show the address to the very pleasant girl, she throws her arms up in the air in a dramatic fashion, then goes out of the shop, to talk to some people outside, comes back with a sad face, sorry it shut down about 3 years ago! going to have a stern word with Cathal, putting his name to a place that closed 3 years ago, not good enough young man.

So what do we do, as in all crisis have a beer and discuss your options, so we sit on the steps of the shop, like some kind of reprebands, having a beer, as the storm closes in, well don’t fancy camping in this as the rain bounces off the road, few other places along the road, but nothing certain, best have another beer and discuss it more was my input, as the rain belted down. So we both sat on the step, bit like the naughty step when we was younger, been there a few times, watching the rain bouncing off the tarmac, Bingo nonchalantly says I would rather cycle another 40 mile that camp in this, I must say I agreed with him, so finish the beers and get going, with the rain, not letting up.

Off we go again into the wilderness for a while, just have to get on with it, but already got my song, one of my all times favorites, no its not “I only want to be with you” by the Bay City Rollers (Plewsy), it has to be “Riders on the Storm” The Doors, with the unmistakeable vocals by Jim Morrison:

Riders on the storm
Riders on the storm
Into this house, we’re born
Into this world, we’re thrown
Like a dog without a bone
An actor out on loan
Riders on the storm
There’s a killer on the road
His brain is squirmin’ like a toad
Take a long holiday
Let your children play
If you give this man a ride
Sweet family will die
Killer on the road, yeah

Giving this the full works, as we battle through the storm, just pushing the miles now, hard strong and fast, both on a mission, me like Mr Magoo can’t see a lot, but thankfully the road is pretty clear, just keep pedalling, only 40 miles we will soon have this knocked off. I came over the top of a little incline said to Bingo, think it is easing off, he wasn’t there, so pulled over to wait, sent him a pin drop on the wrong, Whatapp thing, then another one on the correct one, little puncture so was soon back with me. Pushed on really fast, the pace not relenting, but thankfully the rain did a bit, not many villages, just a road through the jungle in seemed, signs warning of the monkeys again, would be cool to see them, but guess they are not too fussed about the rain like us.

Came to a little town / village, we did not go in to it Tole, stopped at a shop, got some soft drinks and loads of chocolate, sat on the steps, checked the maps, Bingo managed to book an homestay place about 20 miles away, result, fuelled up with snickers and soft drink, lets rock. Few songs in my head, but concentrating on riding fast, so I give up on multi-tasking and just ride, baby ride, another Doors track, keep my mind on the road and pedal. We did the last 20 mile in 1.25 hours, full steam ahead, as we rolled up to the homestay place. Both shattered after an epic 110 mile ride, through some of the worst storms I have ever ridden through. Andy the host was soon there to welcome us in, his wife was in Panama City dealing with some corporate stuff, gorgeous, with stunning views, but so tired just needed to eat. Andy pointed us in the right direction to the closest restaurant, about 1/2 mile away, just as we left he mentioned the cabs will stop and give you a lift for a $1, mate I am in, only gone a few yards sitting in a shared taxi, luxury.

Only just got in the taxi and we was back out again, only people in the restaurant, the lady looked after us so good, managed to order a veggie meal as sorts, Bingo had the full works, really good service and very helpful sweet lady, as we paid the bill and took another 6 beers back to the homestay. Got another taxi back though, these legs aren’t made for walking, sure that another song Frank Sinatra daughter Nancy.

Did not need rocking to sleep tonight, a few night caps then out like a light.