We were rewarded with another climb and fantastic change in scenery. In the morning we were dropping down from yesterdays camp into lush vegetation and large rice fields fed by the waters of a big river, before we had to re-climb all of the early descent. The climb felt stepper and hard than yesterdays, although it was not as long. On top a fresh and cool headwind help to cool down the almost boiling blood.

Paul is racing down the first descent of the day

We were riding through numberless villages and the friendly ‘Hello Mister’ and ‘How are You’ calls did never end. Not only scholars and kids, but also adults were greeting us with big smiles in their faces.  Hard to believe that just about 100 years ago the last cases of cannibalism were reported from this area of Sumatra. Today there is a friendly mix of different religions: Islam, Christians & Buddhism live in harmony and peace next to each other. Why can’t this be in the Arab countries, too?

Here Muslim women wave you a ‘Hello’ with a great smile, as if this is the most normal in their religion. This night I even heard a supposed to be female voice doing prayers at the Mosque.

And this will obviously continue throughout Indonesia.

Dan, Shirley and John ‘chasing’ the racers

before pulling into lunch. Their faces speak for themselves how they like todays ride.