Satun to Hat Yai

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Today's distance: 96km + 30 km from Langkawi ferry
Total distance: 650 km
Time on bike: 6.5 hrs

Talk about getting in shape ... their comes a point in bicycle travel as you ride your way into shape and your body accepts this is the fitness level it will take. Getting to that point is not easy, as your body is fighting every step of the way! I more or less started out this trip 30 pounds overweight and seriously out of shape. The last major bicycle trip was a year ago in India, but since then it's been a relatively sedentary and stressful lifestyle (yes, at the same time) in Shanghai.

With serious headwinds the whole way over, today's ride was a real workout. The road itself wasn't very spectacular, nor was the scenery, but the main purpose of this trip is fitness. A friendly greeting here and there and delicious Thai food to stop for is a real bonus. It's just, please, don't sneak up behind me and yell "Hello", I would prefer if you saw me first and then said hi.

Anyhow, people have asked me before, and on this trip too, if there is any cause associated with this. Like raising funds and then riding a bike to cure cancer or stop Alzheimers disease. While I appreciate the sentiments with people who do these kind of causes, the truth of the matter is that riding a bicycle isn't going to cure aids or stop Low's disease.

What bicycle travel *does* accomplish, however, is increased health and fitness levels. So if I want to associate a cause with my riding, it will be for getting in shape, taking better care of your health, exercising, and enjoying a less sedentary lifestlye. When this trip is over and done with, I'll have lost about 10 pounds which is my goal. More importantly, I've got a rather hardcore fitness regime lined up in Shanghai when I finish this trip off, so that the weight loss and increased exercise will continue.

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