Don t make any sudden changes in direction until I get by. Farther out in the countryside, they often just mean Hallo. Our confidence and skill quickly reach a level where we begin to enjoy the things around us. I must confess, I never did get used to the standard left turn of drifting from the right side of the road across the center into head-on traffic working over to the left side of the road, completing the turn into head on traffic then working back to the right hand side of the road. Our return trip takes us through the center of town at rush hour.
Traffic flows at bicycle pace but with only inches between wheels and handlebars.
I feel like a twig being carried along in the spring runoff. The next day, our morning ride has an unfortunate start when one member of our group is bumped by a moto. The new clipless pedals are adjusted tight and don t unclip fast enough. She suffers road rash, bruises and a fractured hand. Our guide flags down a cyclo to take her to the hospital.