Day 19, January 19, 2025

The trip to Con Con

This morning, we packed up and headed to the airport to meet
up with the Rat Race crew and the other riders. Marc
mentioned feeling a bit off, with a sore throat and general
fatigue. He’s unsure if the air conditioning is the culprit, or if
his tiredness is due to his usual 3 a.m. wake-up since arriving.

The Rat Race crew was incredibly organised, and our pick-up
from the airport and check-in at the hotel were smooth and
hassle-free. I wish I could say the drive to Con Con was
scenic, but I slept through most of it.

After check-in, we took a short walk to a nearby mini market
in search of USB chargers compatible with local plugs. The
travel documents had stated that two- and three-pin plugs
were interchangeable, but that turned out not to be the case.
With everything charging at a painfully slow rate, we hope to
have it all sorted before we leave on Tuesday morning.

Con Con has a somewhat third-world vibe, but there’s
something undeniably charming about it. On our walk to the
store, we passed by a children’s soccer carnival taking place
on the field. We stopped to watch for a while, admiring the
talented players and enjoying the rhythmic drumming coming
from the grandstand. It was a lovely moment.
Once back at the hotel, we assembled Marc’s bike and then
took a stroll down to the beach.

By 7 pm, we were enjoying a delicious buffet dinner,
featuring a variety of meats, carbs, and desserts. At our table,
we met some wonderful people from the crew and fellow
riders. It was reassuring to hear that many of them share the
same nerves about the upcoming days, as they prepare to
tackle the mountainous roads ahead.

After dinner, we took a leisurely walk to the beach to watch
the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Now, it’s time to call it a
night and hope Marc gets the restful sleep he needs