We left the hotel in Kratie having woken up to a view of the Mekong River, a civilised breakfast of warm baguettes, jam and butter and Lipton yellow label tea.
Then I met Super Sat 2 for the first time - having said goodbye to our Vietnamese versions on the other side of the boarder.
We headed out of the town and quickly left the new main road to join country tracks that had been so well documented in mrpumpy.net.
And we entered a new world. Following the bank of the mighty Mekong we entered the real Cambodian life all on show. The blacksmith, the school, old colonial buildings, a lively and vibrant market with the freshest fish you'll ever see.
After a rest stop at a cafe we continued to complete a 25 mile run before getting to the orphanage. 2 miles away we stopped to change into our Hope Asia t shirts. And in so doing became the centre of attention for the who politely watched with interest, and then became a little bolder as the sweets and fruit can out. Sharron fell in love with a little baby so much so that we had to check her handle bag just in case it had found its way in there.
And then to the main purpose of all of this: our efforts in fundraising, Crisoin's inspiration, the planning and training.- our visit to the orphanage.
I'll write something specific for this most magical of afternoons, but from a colourful and joyous welcome to a tearful and highly charged farewell, our visit was truly five hours like no other. I simply didn't want it end.
I am now writing this on the bus as we transfer to Kampong Cham tonight before some serious biking tomorrow (I hope - who'd I'd thought I'd say that.
Before I sign off I suddenly realise I have hardly acknowledged my fellow cyclists and with a few of you now reading this each day back in the Uk that's remiss of me.
Our team is made up of:
Crispin and son Sam (who celebrated his 24th birthday in Saigon)
Stef (our guide)
Jill, Sharron, Dorothy, Nikki ( following in the footsteps of her son), Donna, Peter, Colin, Clive, Jonathan and yours truly.
Stop press- now arrived at hotel- the pool in the car park (!?) looks very inviting
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