2014-08-30

Photos of Stage 11

Seblat to Bengkulu – Sumatra

Stage 11: Sumatra

Seblat to  Bengkulu
Date: 30-08-2014 Time: 05:49 h Σ Time: 65:10 h
Distance: 125 km Σ km: 1371 km Temp: 23/38 °C
Up: 1130 m Σ Up: 13583 m Calories: 3255 kcal
Down: 1135 m Σ Down: 13515 m Σ kcal: 31318 kcal
Conditions: The rolling hills continued. Ups and downs all day long. Again a very hot day. Enough opportunities to stop and refresh.

Somehow the ride felt harder than yesterday. This could be due to the facts, that it was the 6th long riding day in a row, there was no warm-up, as  the rollers started immediately after camp and the cooler morning temperatures were soon gone by the hot sun rising into a clear sky. Today we cruised along the coastline most of the day. Only a few short deviations into the fields of rubber trees and again palm oil plantations. Empty and fully loaded trucks we passing us all day long. Still, most of the drivers are very careful, when passing us. Only a few maniacs couldn’t wait a few seconds for a safe passage and squeezed themselves through the traffic.   Lunch was setup nicely at the beach, and fresh coconuts were served, which let me forget that there were again no mangoes … unfortunately, it is not the right season for my favorite fruit.

The black-red-golden banners vanished today, because we left West Sumatra. Bengkulu is the name of South-West Sumatra province, we entered today and also the name of the province capital city.  The Splash Hotel in Bengkulu is great, with the well deserved comfort after a tough week of cycling.

 

stage-11

Fries!!

First thing to find in rest day towns:

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School is out

Just rode through a village when the school kids had a break. I stopped at the road side and they all came running down the hill. No way to stop them.

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So it was time for a counting lesson:
satu, dua, tiga …

I made their day and they made mine

Message in a Bottle

2nd generation message system. If you ever get lost in the digital age. You still can bottle your text nessages and drop it into the sea the traditional way.

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Riding the Van

Finally I am on the van. Good feeling to ride in comfort with A/C and filtered air.

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No worries, we are all fine and in good mood. Just using the shuttle to breakfast which is a few km away from camp and back from where we came yesterday. 123 km today, Hotel at the beach, all comfort, tidal pool … yeah, back to civilization!