My week without walls trip was cycling i chose this mostly because friends i knew were also doing it but also because i really like cycling compared to the other trips that was more walking and hiking based especially with my condition i felt that cycling was far more easier than walking or hiking everywhere.

Prior to the actual trip we had two  test rides  on the 9th of December and the 21st of January to get practice. The distance from the first to the second trial was quite an increase but wasn’t as bad as i thought, but after those trials I knew that i was prepared and able to do the whole thing. I would say one thing these trials made me realize was that i need to change my gears before i do a climb or decent otherwise the gears lock and your at a stop. It also helped me getting familiarized with the hand signals and the guides who after spending time with i knew were people who we could trust especially Suranga

   ( First trial on the left and 2nd on the left |Source: Mi Fitness app| )

 

The Ride begins

 

On the 29th of January we set off on a 5 hour bus ride to Dambulla al the way to the place we were staying called Back of Beyond. This wasn’t the first time we’ve stayed with them so i  wasn’t worried about the stay. I thought that we would go to the camp straight but we actually stopped a bit away from camp and rode the rest of the way to camp. I learnt a lot of things like the path to camp and how important keeping distance is.

 

By the Lake

The morning started off promising with our packed lunch by the serene lake. We had prepared it ourselves before setting off from camp. The weather was okay until it started raining which got us all soaked but was also a unique experience After our return, we had a much-needed hour of downtime before diving into a bicycle repair workshop. It was quite fascinating learning how to piece together a bike and understand its various components. Well as we were group 1 we had to prep dinner where we cooked red sauce pasta with meatballs for everyone as well as a side of garlic bread.

     (The dinner we made)

Distance = Speed x Time ( Day 3)

The next ride took us 25km, and we stopped at King’s Village near Sigiriya rock for a cooking demo and lunch. After lunch, we visited another WWW group, and the reunion was heartwarming despite the drizzle. Unfortunately, we had to skip the nature trail walk due to the weather and time constraints, but the river bath and some downtime were much appreciated. Surprisingly, we covered more ground than planned, totaling 45km because we had to cycle back to a town to get ingredients for the second cooking group

Reunion 

We started the day with a hearty breakfast and embarked on our ride, 7km into our journey. The weather was dry but overcast, setting the stage for our climb up Pidurangala, albeit with a slow race on the way, where the slowest person who could stay on their bike without falling was the winner which actually take more tallent and skill than going fast. We clocked in 35km today, excluding the strenuous climb up Pidurangala.

 

 

 

A Scenic Ride

As we geared up for our final ride the next morning before heading back, we were already reminiscing about the picturesque landscapes and shared moments of triumph. Our last ride along Naula canal was underway, and with 10km already behind us, the day couldn’t have been more perfect and by the end of the trip i think everyone was exhausted and ready to go home