Day Three - A Day of Undulations. 77kms cycled

Breakfast at 0630, bottoms reunited with saddles at 0700ish, and we made way for our first stop of the day: the local market.

Bustling with life, fresh produce and a vibrant atmosphere and colours, we tourists were no match for the haggling of the ladies on the textile stall. Even retail guru Nick, looking rather special in full Lycra gear and helmet, couldn't elect a special price.

Today was to be a day of road bashing, with the daunting prospect of those miles being almost exclusively uphill all the way.

But tarmac vs quagmire is no contest and we all revelled in wheels and gears moving freely.

We quickly made our first rest stop at 20km. The palm furniture deckchairs at the palm sugar factory a mile further on and green tea on offer were almost too comforting, but the next stop at 45km was soon upon us, and then we entered the town of Kyaukpadaung for lunch.

That does sound too simple. This was sweaty hard graft. Thankfully the rain kept off and  Burma's harshest temperatures also kept away, but legs and muscles were put to the test.

After the now ubiquitous lunch of Chinese meals and rice (with rice and plates eventually provided)  we headed off to an off licence to stock up on beers - at prices cheaper than our hotel tonight.

While today so far had been steadily uphill over 55 miles, the last 20km would, we were warned, be really steep. Relentless the team urged each other on.

Perhaps at our penultimate rendezvous point we were a little too gung-ho at the prospect of the final 2km (English distance or Burmese distance? - a constant topic of discussion)

Jim, our trusty guide, should be under no illusion. This was a HILL! Or perhaps the name of our hotel gave it away: Popa MOUNTAIN resort.

I couldn't honestly say all the sweat and pain were washed away by the beauty of this amazing resort, with teak bungalows perched overlooking the Popa valley...but a dip in the ice cold pool certainly did.

And a dinner that broke the mould of Chinese fare - prawn cocktail and 'fish and chips' eaten as we contemplated our position above the valley below, and the heights we had reached, led to some very happy bunnies who heading off to the welcome luxuriousness of our teak-floored rooms.

In this confident mood of achievement, only the heavy downpour that accompanied us to bed alluded to that fact that tomorrow will undoubtedly have its own share of surprises and adventures