We rode 10km out of Vinales where the bikes were put in the bus for the last time, The ride took yas thought the Valley of Silence which was very peaceful, verdant and productive.
We then walked through farmland for about 5kms to a tobacco farm where we saw the leaves drying, along with coffee beans and were treated to another cigar rolling exercise. This time Michael took a puff after dipping his cigar end in honey and rum.
The farmer told us that he gives the government 90% of his crop and keeps the other 40% for private sale. This is of course illegal, but possibly the only way of eke out a relatively decent living.
Then onto to the bus for our transfer back to Havana to the hotel we stayed in before. It was like a homecoming in a sense. We'd been on the road on our bikes and in the bus for almost three weeks and had circumnavigated Cuba, seen the various landscapes, the beautiful cities and coastal areas and the lifestyles of the farmers. We had been sung to and entertained with stories, trips to historical sights, food - good and not so palatable, and each other's stimulating company. The long hours in the bus were spent in discussions or sleep. Not a lot of reading as there was always something to look at from the windows as we travelled pretty slowly both on the bus and in the saddle.
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