Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle

of cycling and groan at the thought of get- ting back on a bike. "Are you having fun yet?" I say to Caitlin during the final day of the ride—a 55-kilo- metre journey along a hilly paved road from the lazy town of Kampot to the beau- tiful beaches of Sihanoukville. Back in Australia, Caitlin doesn't even own a bike, but she's part of the group of 11 friends of all ages on the tour who've made a tradi- tion of cycling through a country in southeast Asia every year. Drenched in sweat from the sweltering 37 C, Caitlin looks unimpressed as I ques- tion yet again the things I do for fun. I'm sweating in places I didn't even know it was possible to sweat, but the group keeps my spirits high. The final day is a struggle, the heat zapping every shred of energy from my tired little body, leaving me wondering if I should sit out a stretch in the support van following us the entire ride. None of us, however, are willing to throw in the towel. A wave of relief washes over me as I arrive at Otres Beach for sunset and imme- diately crack open a cold beer, basking in the glory of completing the entire ride. It feels like I just won an Olympic medal. The group is all smiles, chatting excitedly about what country to cycle next year. During the next few days of lazing on a white sandy beach that feels like flour, I'm still buzzing with excitement about the epic cycling journey, even though I'm scared to sit on a wooden chair. I contemplate whether I would ever do it again, then realize I can't wait to jump on my bike when I return to Canada. "The overall feeling of riding into Sihanoukville was joy and accomplishment," says Caitlin, a few weeks after the ride. "It was harder than I expected, not because of the distances, more so because of the heat and potholes. But I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's still an amazing way to see a place." FALL 2018 DREAMSCAPES 29 TRAVEL PLANNER From tasty food and nice hotels to good bike equipment and all the little details in between (cold face cloths, fresh fruit, cold water, coffee, drinks and plenty of tasty treats), Grasshopper Adventures covers everything you need during a cycling tour across Cam- bodia. A support team and an air-conditioned van follow the group along the way, offering a place to rest if you need a break from cycling. For more information visit grasshopperadventures.com. At the start of the trip in Siem Reap, stay at the Lynnaya Urban River Resort (lynnaya.com), and the barefoot chic Tamu Hotel (tamucambodia.com) in Otres Beach is the perfect place to unwind once it's all over. DS

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