Departure around 7:30 after a hearty breakfast. I say goodbye to the only three people with whom I practiced my English: three friendly Torontonians.

The road is easy early in the day, but the mountains are still very much present in the landscape. I'm in the Sierra Maestra; it was in these mountains that Raúl Castro and his associates stayed for weeks before overthrowing the former dictator.

Then I pass by the Pochera. I get three holes repaired in another inner tube. I'm going to be prepared for the worst today...

Afterwards, the road transforms into a sort of Saskatchewan, that is to say, straight roads and cornfields.

I finally reach the sea after 80 km of cycling.

The rest is quite unusual; I meet people in an arcade located by the sea in a small village called "Ceiba Hueca". I take the opportunity to have a little fun...

I'm having a great time while the sun beats down on the asphalt. I get back on the road and finally arrive in Manzanillo. I try to find a place to sleep, but it's very difficult. Meanwhile, a storm breaks out, and I wait with the people who are safely sheltered for over an hour.

I give a Canadian flag to a little girl to apologize for scaring her with my mask a few minutes earlier. I meet a baby kitten; it's adorable!

I finally found a room to rest in after 124.56 km. I ate two excellent hot dogs for 30 cents and a spaghetti napoletana for 50 cents from a street vendor. I tried to go to the ice cream shop, but there was a huge line.

Manzanillo is celebrating its 225th anniversary. The city center is very pretty.

Go ahead! Go ahead! Pedal...you can do it!

David Beauchesne