TravelStream™ news feed for member peterdelves on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/peterdelves en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Tue, 13 May 2008 09:51:23 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1210374180/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1210374180/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1210374180/tpod.html Tue, 13 May 2008 09:51:23 -0400 Peter's Thailand to Cambodia Bike Challenge in Aid of Myton Hospice

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Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Today we made the final leg of our challenge from Siem Reap to the ancint city of Angkor Wat. This was the shortest leg of our challenge, so though it was hot and humid again, it just felt like a bit of a jaunt! Siem Reap is the second biggest city in Cambodia, after Phnom Pen, and is a pleasant place to cycle through and explore, but we spent most of our time at Angkor Wat.

I have taken lots of photos today of our finish and the amazing temples but will only be able to upload them when I get home. Tomorrow gives us another opportunity for a rest and a bit of a look round before we depart for the UK in the early evening to arrive back in the UK mid-day Sunday.

Thanks once again to everyone who sponsored me. I have been very conscious of your support and that certainly helped to keep me going when things got tough. The final amount raised for the hospice will be calculated when we get back.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1210284000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1210284000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1210284000/tpod.html Mon, 12 May 2008 15:39:02 -0400 Peter's Thailand to Cambodia Bike Challenge in Aid of Myton Hospice

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Siem Reap, Siem Reap, Cambodia

In the last two days we have entered Cambodia and immediately started to cycle along dirt tracks and through very poor villages. We are always greeted by children along the way and sometimes from their schools laughing and shouting hello and goodbye, as perhaps they are the only European words they know.

The cycling has been much tougher in Cambodia, and even though we have averaged about 60 miles each of the days, the terrain has been tough making slow going. Last night we arrived at a temple where we slept in the pagoda and had a lovely meal prepared by our guides. The temperatures had been very high again, but at least we didn't have any rain.

Today we set of at 7.15am. We were scheduled to start at 8am but everyone was ready early! It was hot even then and was set to rise to 100 degrees during our ride, which started with 5 miles of downhill mountain biking, requiring concentration and skill. Later on in the morning we had to cycle a section of about 6 miles along a sandy road. There were a couple of mishaps and minor injuries and I parted company with my bike on one occasion, only to find myself on my feet running down a bank. It looked quite comical from behind apparently! We arrived for lunch at another village temple, the most exhausted we have been, due to he heat, and then carried on in the afternoon to finish in Siem Riep.

Tomorrow we will cycle to Angkor Wat, our final destination, and visit the famous temples there.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1210071302/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1210071302/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1210071302/tpod.html Mon, 12 May 2008 15:37:00 -0400 Peter's Thailand to Cambodia Bike Challenge in Aid of Myton Hospice

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Omach, Cambodia

Tuesday. After a hot day of cycling 53 miles we have crossed over the border and are staying just inside Cambodia. We said goodbye to our Thai guides who have been brilliant and will meet new Cambodian ones tomorrow.

Already the road surfaces have changed and we can expect more in the way of mountain biking and dirt tracks. Cambodia is significantly poorer than Thailand which is quite obvious.

Thailand borders Burma but we have experienced nothing of the Cyclone which has hit it so badly. In fact we only knew of it through contact with people at home, though I believe Thailand has been providing some aid.

Tomorrow ( Wednesday) could be the most challenging so far given the terrain
and weather conditions so I'll be sure to get a good night's sleep.
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Korat Plateau, Thailand

We are 6 hours ahead of UK time and today, Monday, we set off at sunrise. The weather started OK after heavy rain during the night and we hear that there is a typhoon over Burma which could be heading our way.

Our first stop was at a temple where we received a bllessing from the Buddhist monks and gave alms. After that we continued cycling along flat roads in quite hot conditions with just one short downpore. People at the side of the road and in vehicles continue to cheer us. Quite differernt from the UK!

Overall we covered 64 miles.

Tomorrow we will be cycling 53 miles and crossing the border into Cambodia from which point we will be cycling on dirt tracks.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1209892202/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1209892202/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1209892202/tpod.html Mon, 12 May 2008 15:27:47 -0400 Peter's Thailand to Cambodia Bike Challenge in Aid of Myton Hospice

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Khao Yai National Park, Thailand

Today (Sunday) we started with a steep climb of 6 miles heading into Khao Yai Monsoon Forests and National Park. We were spared the 37 degree temperatures of the day before, so though challenging, this climb turned out to be more bearable. The view from the top was amazing before we descended, and spotted Gibbons crossong the road. There are wild elephants in this area, but unfortunately we did not get to see any.

All along the way people smile, cheer and wave at us. Yesterday a policeman greeted us, shook all our hands, and gave us an escort for a few miles.

Tomorrow we start cycling at 6am as the sun rises and are set to cover 75 miles through tapioca plantations and rice paddies.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1209809402/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1209809402/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1209809402/tpod.html Mon, 12 May 2008 15:25:23 -0400 Peter's Thailand to Cambodia Bike Challenge in Aid of Myton Hospice

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Saraburi, Thailand

Our first serious cycling today (Saturday) and a testing one.

We started at 8am with the temperature around 30 and rising. In the moring we cycled 30 miles with some serious hills which took a toll on everyone combined with the heat and humidity. The break for lunch was very welcome, but the afternoon offered a different challenge.

Over here they call it the wet season. At home we call it Monsoon. The heavens opned about half an hour into the afternoon with thunder and streams of water rolling down the roads. We cycled through this for the last 20 miles arriving at our destination drenched and exhausted.

Tomorrow is a bit shorter than today, but apparently more challenging in terms of climbs, so we will all be relaxing tonight to try and be fully recovered for Sunday.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1209737402/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1209737402/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1209737402/tpod.html Mon, 12 May 2008 15:23:55 -0400 Peter's Thailand to Cambodia Bike Challenge in Aid of Myton Hospice

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Bankok, Thailand

Today (2nd May) we left Bangkok by boat travelling upthe main river in Thailand to reach a villlage where we were greeted by villagers who conducted a ceremony for us.

Such rituals are reserved for very special occasions and by no means someting for tourists. So we all felt very honoured, and we had threads tied around our wrists to help keep the spirit in.

After that we collected our bikes, had our own saddles fitted and tested them out. Tomorrow the proper cycling begiins with a 50 mile ride. I'm keeping the thread around my wrist!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1209569940/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1209569940/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1209569940/tpod.html Fri, 02 May 2008 09:05:08 -0400 Peter's Thailand to Cambodia Bike Challenge in Aid of Myton Hospice

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Birmingham, England, United Kingdom

Here we are at Birmingham airport looking less than enthusiastic. Perhaps it's the news that the wet season has started in Thailand.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1209221402/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1209221402/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/peterdelves/1/1209221402/tpod.html Wed, 30 Apr 2008 07:50:05 -0400 Peter's Thailand to Cambodia Bike Challenge in Aid of Myton Hospice

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Kenilworth, United Kingdom

Only 3 days before I set off for Thailand and Cambodia and I'm delighted to say that sponsorship has passed £3000. I can't believe how generous everyone has been. So a huge thank you from me, which I'm sure is seconded by Myton Hospice.
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Kenilworth, United Kingdom

It's nine days before I set off, and I'm sure that I won't need all these layers of clothing in the temperatures of Thailand and Cambodia - which are around 35 degrees C. On Sunday before I completed my last long training ride of 62 miles, and from now I will be tapering off training to build reserves.
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