15th May 2014

Another day off!!!

Simon today was meeting Steve and prepping the camera's to go out diving and to play with the 'White Balance' on Steve's new camera.

As I wasnt up to much, I though it a fantastic idea to do some more exploring of the island and go to Mango Bay and maybe meet Si as the boat was doing a double dive there.

So after Simon left to meet Steve, I pottered in the house for another half hour and then headed out on my bike.  I knew that I'd only cycle to the top of Sairee as the hills were too steep. Parking my bike at the bottom on my first major hill I slowly made my way up.  Boy it was hot and this time I was clever enough to bring some water with me.  Stopping from time to time in the shade, just to cool off I followed the sign (the ONLY sign I saw) for Mango Bay which led along a sandy track and then changed into concrete which went up yet another hill.   So as I plodded, I thought to myself that it would take me no time at all to reach the bay and I'd snorkel out to the Crystal boat and have a cuppa and chat and then snorkel back into the beach and walk back. 

 Three hours later and absolutely drenched in sweat  ...I'd walked non stop, up some of the steepest and longest hill I've come across, no poxy signs, on conquering the steepest of hills where I nearly passed out  ...I was told that Mango was only 2km away  ..surely not I thought.   So plodding on I came to a view point where I was told I was going the wrong way and so turned around and walk back down part of the hill ..Oh my knees!!!

What turned out as a very good plan just got worse.  I followed a road downward, stopping occasionally thinking that if this is wrong, I'll have to walk back up, but seeing I'd come so far, I couldn't turn back  ..the road turned into a gravel road, then, into a little gravel path
which went down and down and I finally saw signs of life  ...bikes, a sign which said 'camping site'  ..so I followed the man made steps across rocks, down make shift ladders and then heard men shouting  ..I don't know why but I turned around ..clambered my way back up to where the bikes were parked and for a moment or two, was going to steal a bike ! I couldn't bare the thought of walking back up the hill  ..then some clarity came into my head, if I stolen one, there was no way I would have made it in one piece  ...I had to walk on tiptoes most of the way as it was so steep.   Texting Si, Hot, tired, calves burning and non knowing really where I was  ..I was almost in tears, so I text Si  ..NO RECEPTION!!!    ARGHH!!!!  ...so with that I dragged my feet ALL the way back  ..I was not happy  LOL

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