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

One thought on “Stage 11: Sumatra”

  1. You seem to merit a nice long bath and some mango-cocktail! All the best from all of us!

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