This morning provided some of the most enjoyable riding I've had in ages. We chose a squiggly line on the GPS and pursued it south. It was a magnificent road with little traffic that led up high into the hills and through a pass into the adjacent valley. This landscape doesn't grow old and it's fascinating to see the different ways it is cultivated, from orchard to rice paddy.
The kids are wonderfully friendly, most of them shouting "hello, hello" and waving madly when they catch sight of Adam in his open faced helmet. I'm sure I'm more of an enigma behind my full-face number but they get a wave in return from me as Adam is usually up the road before he can react.
Chickens, dogs and even oxen range freely over the roads so that when we want to gaze on the landscape, we pull over to give it a safe amount of concentration. Road hazards occupy our attentions while on the move. We have come across orange stalls, pineapple stalls and sugarcane stalls in the past couple of days - farmers selling their wares at roadside. Large snails were also on offer this afternoon but had significantly less appeal.
We have taken ourselves far off the tourist track today and fetched up at a rural hotel for the night. Our room has the appearance of a converted stall in a barn, with suitably rustic furnishings. But for $9 USD, we'd be churlish to complain too much. The meal from a stall down the road came in at $10 USD but for the first time in days, Adam and I are stuffed on sautéed chicken, steamed rice, stir fried veggies, soup and beer.