Well, it is now! (to coin a phrase)
After all the training and the tension and stress and nerves, the waiting is over and we have finally done it. Iain and I have spent the last 8 days in Cuba and we have completed our trip without incident or accident.
First, I just have to say that I am so please Iain came all the way from Australia to join me on this trip. It has made it very very special. Thank you.
Next I would like to point out what a wonderful, beautiful and lovely country Cuba really is. The sights, sounds and people all make it truly wonderful. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend you get over there as soon as possible. Especially if the USA get more involved and start to commercialise the country, you need to see it before that happens. Personally, I think too much USA involvement would ruin the innocence and beauty of the country.
So, on to the trip:
Day -1. Iain arrives from Australia early and I meet him at Heathrow at silly-o’clock in the morning. A good day spent catching up.
Day 0 – Flights. Started well on the Sunday. Arrived at Gatwick on time and met the rest of the team….less one. Dan (our leader) had to drop out due to his wife being ill (good luck to you both). So we were down to 5 strong. We met up with the Yorkshire lot (strange bunch… all dressed in matching green T-shirts) and headed for the lounge! A little bit of luxury before the simplicity of Cuba (and Airline food). Sitting on the tarmac for an hour didn’t help get things going but eventually we are off and 9 hours of movies on a 2" TV screen with poor contrast and colour to follow. I’d highly recommend MOON as a good film to watch btw.
Day 1 – La Habana and transfer to the bike place. 3 hours on a coach was not a good start to my morning but there we are. The bikes are fitted out and there are some surprises….like a 17" bike for a 6’3" fellow…. huummmm…. nice! We then had lunch before setting off on our first short day riding. 50Km later of mostly flat but pot-holled roads. Not overly pretty or interesting but good to be on the bikes.
Day 2 – A different bike this time. Rockhopper 19" frame. Much closer to my 21" at home so at least I was able to ride without hitting my knees into my chin! More interesting ride out from 8:30am for 96Km over hills and rivers, trees, villages and towns. A really good day. I think this was my 2nd most favourite as it was a challenge but it was also the first day we saw Cuba and its sights. We met some children and families and saw how hard life can be for Cubans.
Day 3 – Trinidad and up some more mountain roads. A bit frustrating this day. Only managed around 40Km today but it felt more like 10 ! We were stopped from riding by a national bike race for a few hours midday which really hurt our distance.
Day 4 – Cien Fuegos and Santa Clara are both beautiful towns. Very different but equally wonderful. My favourite day by far. 89km ride across the Escambray mountains (800m above sea level) and down into Santa Clara. Very hilly with lots of up and down riding. We finished at the memorial of Che Guevara and the national museum. A very emotional end of the day for me personally. Suddenly, the reason we were there was very apparent. This was all about Henry and making a difference for other children and families and I let it out. I can only thank Julie (Mi-Jooly as she was known) for her support on that day. We stayed in a hotel above the Dam near Santa Clara with the most beautiful morning views possible. Sun rising above the lakes in the mountains. It doesn’t get much better than that…. even if I was sharing with my brother!
Day 5 – A short day to finish with around 70km riding to be done to take us the end of the day. We finished in Cien Feugos at a hotel by the seaside with flags and banners and a band and cocktails and a very happy and emotional bunch of people. Riding a lot through towns and small villages we got to stop and meet children in schools, families in their homes and everyone we met was a real pleasure and joy.
Day 6 / 7 invovled walking alot (no more bikes) around Havana and this was a little of a disappointment. I don’t mean that against La Habana as it is a wonderful city. However, after the rural areas of Cuba, to come back to a city, without our bikes, was a little weird. Laurie said something that hit home. It makes you feel guilty for enjoying the city considering the reason we were out there. She is right. I was feeling guilty. Again, that day and evening were spoilt slightly by my guilty feelings. However, it is a wonderful city and has some fantatsic sights. We saw government buildings, Che’s offices, military bands welcoming a foreign dignitry (Mexico we think).
The funniest thing was to watch the regimented band and demonstration for the officials on the steps with guns and cameras and music playing…. all the pomp. Then, when the command to stand easy was shouted, it was if junior school playtime had been announced. Everyone just dropped weapons or trumpets or drums, and milled off for a leak in the bushes! Very funny.
Finally, after just a short 6 hour wait at Havana airport (with only a couple of tourist stalls, and a very limited cafe for company) we managed to get a plane to take us home. We nearly didn’t though…. watching the line during boarding we sat back thinking, "We’ll just wait till it clears then walk on". Good plan…. if we had been watching the correct line!
So, Last Call for Mr Barnfield….. and we made the plane!
What can I say about the trip?
I made some good friendships, met some wonderful people (even those from Yorkshire were quite nice….sometimes!) and have some memories to last a lifetime. I also raised over £5,500 for our charity and together we have all raised over £60,000 for cancer research.
Go to Cuba if you can. You will not regret it and let me know…. I’ll come with you!
You can view some photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclecuba2009
Cheers and thanks for reading….
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