Day 8: We take a train from Kandy to Hatton which should take approximately two hours but ends up taking more like four! Trains are renowned for being late and today is no exception! Apparently there’s a broken down train on the track ahead so our train has to go out there and tow it back to where the line splits. The train journey is as you’d imagine – bumpy, noisy and hot!! It’s a slow train stopping at every little station along the way. The fans are ridiculously noisy so we turn them off and have the windows open instead. Each time we stop at a station some vendor sticks his head in the window to offer samosas or fruit or nuts – it’s very entertaining and the platforms are like a scene from slum dog millionaire!
Once out of the city we see some really nice scenery though
On arrival in Hatton we disembark and meet our team with our bikes and of course The Force. We get straight back into cycle mode and cycle a short 9km to lunch. Because of the delay with the train, those intending to climb Adams Peak cannot complete the rest of the cycle. It would be a shame if we missed sunset so the “climbers” – five of us out of the group, set off toward the sacred mountain leaving the rest of the group to cycle to the hotel.
The mountain is a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists who believe that Buddha’s footprint is up there. Others believe its where Adam first came from Heaven to earth. Either way it’s a really busy spot for both locals and tourists.
Adams peak sits at 2,243 meters above sea level and its quite a climb from the small town to get up there. Seven kilometers and hundreds of steps lay in front of us and so we set off. It’s a tough slog but thank god the sun is behind some clouds this afternoon. even though our view isn’t great as we start, the clouds blow away and we can see the top.
The views all around as we climb above the clouds are amazing.
Our youngest tour member Caroline (legend!) stays with me the whole way up and we’re delighted when we reach the top:
The sunset sky looks magnificent from so high up:
It’s a challenging descent, hard on the knees but we get down as quickly as we can as we have about an hour drive back to the hotel. The roads are bumpy and windy and on more than one occasion a wild boar jumps out in front of the bus but we make it home by 11ish and head for bed as we’ve another early start tomorrow!
odohertyelaine 