Day 02 - Bumpy Roads ...

After a huge distance covered on Day 1, Day 2 was significantly shorter, although for good reason – lots of bumpy “roads” – more dirt tracks really and therefore going fast was never a real option.

The Loonies had an early rise to get some more use of the fabulous pool at the Aliya resort catching the sunrise over the tropical landscape, followed by a sumptuous breakfast. We narrowly missed being able to join the 6am ‘yoga by the pool’ class, so the gods of luck were beginning to look favourably on us.

Once into the tuk-tuks, the Loonies got off to a flying start, navigating without issues to the first checkpoint at Pidurangala and arriving before most other racers. The challenge was a hike/run race to the top, collect an orchid on the peak, run back down to the monastery, learn a local Buddhist prayer offering routine and then recite it to the lead monk. Through a combination of age, beers and a lack of training, we lost our early lead and the younger pack were soon bounding past. We consoled our near last ranking in the challenge by calling out the hike/run as our effort for Kowloon pre-season rugby training. Nevertheless, challenge completed and some wonderful pics of the view over Sigiriya and beyond taken.

The day then drifted into something of bumpy ride. Some 60 kms of driving slog later across half-decent tarmac road mixed with pot-holed dirt roads we eventually reached our destination for the evening around 4pm. Tonight’s accommodation was the slightly less palatial camping site in Wasgomuwa national park. The Loonies arrived mid-pack and with a rain storm starting, it was time to move inside one of the main tents and sink some beers and swap stories.

The evening then descended into more beers, a bit of food, some local sing-songs and chairs incapable of supporting 200kg of combined Loonie beef ...