Day 8 - our last day........

The tears are still in my eyes as I write about my experience yesterday. I did try to write last night as I lay in bed reflecting on what was one of the most amazing and emotional days of my life, but words just weren't there......... We started our day as a very solemn group, partly due to our realization that today was last time we would dress in our hands jerseys, put on our cleats, connect our iPods, join each other for breakfast, see Pongs gorgeous smiling face as we approached the truck for a water bottle refill, hear our morning pep talk,and ride proudly out of a town that had touched us all in some way, and partly due to hangovers from our celebration dinner last night! I will add here proudly that today is the first day that I rode with a hangover, the excercise, water and electrolytes that we are consuming have had a great effect on our metabolism! We rode out knowing that we only had 50kkm to the orphanage! We slowed the pace a lot today to get as much from the journey as we could. All, that is except Kuhn Thiew! She got the whip out to poor Dan, and set a cracking pace to take her home! We were met at our last water stop by some of the teenagers from home hug who rode the last 5 Kms with us. We had a police escort as well, as the roads were blocked to allow us through! We were greeted at first by a group of teenagers (a high school I think), who lavished us with gifts and hugs and applause! We rode through a line giving high fives as we approached! Next stop the orphanage...... About 20 kids on scooters (gifts from one of our riders for Christmas!), who rode the last 100metres with us laughing and cheering and just so happy! The driveway to the orphanage was long and we rode very slowly as by now the emotion had taken over and the tears were flowing and all that we have worked for became very real and very overwhelming. We rode in as a group, but individually were reflecting on our journies and how this experience has changed our lives and what it's given to us! Unashamedly every rider wore their tears with pride... What a welcome we received! Cheering and applause and most importantly happy healthy children!! We truly have made a difference here! This is the first time the chdren at this orphanage have had riders raise money for them, hands has been involved for about 12 months now, and there have been a couple of working bees in that time,but nothing to the extent of this ride. We arrived like royalty and our bikes were taken away as we were each individually welcomed under an arch of flowers by three kids bearing a wreath, and photos of us! They were obviously primed with who we are individually with photos taken along the way so met us individually with these gifts! What a personal experience! Our personal guides (two teenagers and a tiny one about 3) took us to a table for water and then sat us in chairs! The little one climbed into my lap and snuggled in while the teenagers just kept hugging me and saying thank you for what I had given them and thank you for riding for them and just thankyou!! Wow, I knew I had contributed to something special but on an individual level to realise that I really had made a difference was truly the most amazing moment for me...And then the kids put on a show for us! Firstly a group of boys came out and the music started and they took turns to break dance! And they were good! Then the girls danced and even the little ones joined in, what amazing children! There was a huge banner across the back of one of our group shots on the ride, the preparation that Kuhn Gai had put into all this is unbelievable! Lunch with kids came next, and there was a certain amount of guilt as we ate food in amounts that they would have found astounding I'm sure! Then our personal guides found us again and took us on a tour of the orphanage! They were so proud of their home, of the improvements that hands has made for them and continued to thank me and hug me! Toni (who has led the working bees) explained the improvements along the way and they really have changed the lives of these kids, simply be adding things such as fresh water and a kitchen. My guides were telling me the Thai names of everything and asking me the English equivalents. We spoke totally different languages, but could communicate so well through emotion and love, it really is the same in any language! Need to get breakfast, will continue shortly....