Hi Dave

Sorry about the delay in replying. You've doubtless resolved the problem by now.

I've gone back to my list of daily rides. And I see that we did indeed ride 121km from Mullaitvu to Nilvali and then 22 to Trincomalee. And that, as you doubtless read, was not without much suffering.

We found somewhere out of our class at Nilvali, a place of pools and bars and cabins and stayed there for two nights while I dragged myself back from the dead.

I'm sorry if you're having trouble finding places to stay, at least on that day. The economy collapsed the week we left and indeed the whole island was closed, in and out, the day after we flew out. Covid and the lack of tourists, and then the financial crisis, will doubtless have closed a lot of the places that were open back then.

Sorry not to have brought your cheerier or faster news. What became of you in the end?

I'm in Kilanochchi and would like to ride to Mullaitivu tomorrow. If I can find accommodation between Mullaitivu and Trincomalee. Hopefully, around halfway. You two appear to have followed this route; where did you sleep? I assume you didn't do the 100+ km in one day?

Mmm, didn't a door just drop off a Boeing?

We too stayed at Ceylon Resort, only a few days ago. We didn't meet Madhu but Roshan seemed to be fully involved. Otherwise, I suspect our experience was similar, except that my bike is parked in Colombo for a month while my wife and I travel by car and train. Two more rooms are now complete. I will pass by again, in three weeks or so, on my bike this time.

I stumbled across your journal in my exploration of cycleblaze. Serendipity. I leave for Sri Lanka in ten days.

Hi Suzanne. I'm so sorry. Did I never reply to your message? Yes, safely home, just in time for Colombo airport and then the whole island to close behind us. It was a lovely ride and I left wishing there'd been more of the island to visit. How about you? Are you still adventuring?

Hi Graham

Sorry about the tardy reply. We've been wandering about France for a month. I'm glad you enjoyed the Sri Lankan trip. We got to see much of the island yet we left with the feeling that we wished there'd been still more. Do go!

Hi Leo,
I thoroughly enjoyed your journal and have now put "Cycle tour Sri Lanka" on my To Do List. It looks and sounds to be an interesting and reasonably comfortable country to pedal around now that peace has broken out.
Do you have another tour planned?

An enigmatic end to your trip! I kept waiting for more. But I guess returning to Colombo completed the circle and that was the end.
I loved your vignettes of cycling in Sri Lanka. I trust you are now safely back home now.

Hi. So glad you enjoyed your trip. It's a lovely island, isn't it - although we got out just in time because Colombo airport closed a little while later. We were (or rather Steph was) surprised how little cricket we saw while we were there. It was on TV in cafés but I think we saw only two or three games. It'd be pointless talking to me about it because cricket, to me, is a Posh Boy's Sport. There were 32 of us in class at school and 16-a-side cricket gave plenty of chance to the Keen Boys to play if they wanted to while, if we were lucky, our side batted and we could compete to be as low as possible down the list so we could lounge about in the sun and tell dirty jokes.

Enjoyed the write up Leo. We had 4 weeks in Sri Lanka on the bikes 6 years ago and loved the trip. Fancy, empty hotels with deeply confused employees also a part of our story!! Also the usefulness of bus shelters for roadside stops - seats and shade. As Australians, the tuk tuk drivers and old men that always appeared during these breaks would invariably want to talk about the current cricket season... Must write the tour up here. Thanks for the inspiration to do so.

Thanks, Bill. I had no idea

Fruit bats! (aka flying foxes). How interesting!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_flying_fox

I was intrigued so did a little Internet searching. I found this: "Also quite common are chrome plated small shovels mounted over the engine cover. I found out long ago that they serve no purpose other than as a handle to open the engine cover!". (http://serendib.btoptions.lk/article.php?id=1422)

Is it rare? I had no idea. I thought it was just a funny-looking tortoise, which I suppose is just what it is. I will now go round and boast about it. Thanks, Bill