March 30th 2002

A wonderful night's sleep, no dogs and sunburn abating to a dull ache, feel really refreshed and ready for some action. Outside the place is packed with students camping. We walk over to KB to hire a Honda wave 110 bike. �5 a day rental, but no insurance included! This should be fun, I'm used to being on the back of a bike. Andrew's never ridden one before let alone with a pillion. Andrew has a 10 minute run on his own while I grab a coconut shake, then collects me. We zoom off to White Sands. This bike is in real good condition, the clutch slips, and the brakes are none too hot either!

We arrive and go to Best Pub for lunch. Andrew has Fried gravy with ground beef, I have squid rolls and we share some french toast with honey-jam and Chang beer of course. We check e-mail, get Gracie's new address, walk around the shops to buy more T shirts, 1 for me and 3 for Andrew, and some new trousers as Andrew has shredded the hippy trousers from knee to waist on the bike! Bought towel as ordered, and fresh tomato juice. We head back, Andrew is doing really well, I am totally comfortable. He is worried in case he knocks me off the back when the clutch slips, we jerk with every gear change.

Decide to go to Lonely beach for afternoon, opposite direction to White Sands. The roads this way are steep with tight curves, resembling a roller coaster, like our drive from the ferry. We both lean forward going uphill as the bike grunts unhappily and threatens to reverse downhill, I almost slide off the back twice as Andrew changes down a gear. On a particularly steep incline I get off and walk up as Andrew does Fred Flintstone impressions trying to get to bike to the top!

Down hill is no better, as the bike picks up speed I call to Andrew to slow down a bit please. The brake is on full he shouts back as we hurtle down the slope. Oh Dear I think. Suddenly a biker skids in front of us and crashes. Both he and his girlfriend get up immediately but look shaken. "Are you ok?" I call helplessly as we scoot past them. A car stops to help them, which makes me feel better. Arrive thankfully and hit the waves. This is a wonderful beach, white sand and no rocks in sight {or in foot I should say} The sea is warm and the sun is sparkling on it, what more could you possibly want? We leave at 5.30pm to get back for the sunset as we don't fancy the hills in the dark. We wibble up hill and down dale slip and almost come off the bike on the sand. Andrew manages to hang on to it  while I hop off and he pulls it upright again we continue and gratefully give the bike back, exchanging it for a large cocktail each. Choose dinner from the Barbeque at KB, drink more beer and a last cocktail and head for bed.