Day 07 - Big Budda's and Beach Bar's

Back to a five tuk-tuk group convoy for today’s leg through the Highlands to the more touristy south coast and our ‘on the beach’ hotel in Marissa. Excused from leadership duties, the Loonies tucked into the convoy and took time to enjoy the fabulous scenery as we headed south along winding hill roads. The Loonie tuk-tuk needed to dig deep on some hills given the fuller male figures she was carrying, but keep up we did and made it safely with our Challenge brethren.

The organiser’s threw a curve ball in the daily challenge…”Show your creativity as a group and make up an original challenge and complete it”. After reviewing the route map, a split in ideas required a casting vote from our new group leader. “Challenge: Find Spiritual Enlightenment” took the vote. All group members getting inside the head of the 50m big budda statue just outside Dikwella was snapped for the judges submission and we were back in convey. The Loonies left the convoy a few kilometers early to welcome family members and friends who are joining us in Sri Lanka for some R&R (Anna, Hazel, Rory and Alicia on Dave’s side and Frances, Patricia and Vera on Sean’s). Our support crew had been staying in a fabulous private villa near Marissa for a couple of days and will now connect with us daily as the Loonies approach the final line in Mount Lavinia.

Following dinner with the families and a return to the tour hotel, evening “Beach Bar” action was called to celebrate the birthday of a fellow contestant (Andy), with more shapes being thrown on the dance floor by the Loonies … thankfully this time with the travelling Sri Lankan TV film crew no-where in sight.

Loonies costume dress code was dealt a blow with Dave losing a flip-flop to the ocean on the way back home from the birthday bash. The sight of mobile phones being held up in pitch darkness to light up the ocean in search of the flip-flop failed to reunite left & right. If you holiday in Thailand in the near future, keep your eyes peeled – you may have the unfortunate pleasure of encountering the elusive flip-flop on a beach there !