Distance cycled: 70km from Labuanbajo to Dempol, Flores, Indonesia.
Average speed: 15km/h
Moving Time: 4h37m
Elevation Ascended: 1525m
Burned Calories: 3009kcal
Burned Fat: 390g
Total Distance on Current trip: 5184km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 14,566km
Money spent: $8, plus $25 for the visa extension.
View 10FEB14 - 500 in a larger map
The Lonely Planet guide suggests that only people with Tour de France levels of strength, endurance and stamina have been able to traverse across the island on the trans-Flores highway.. But I am here to prove this silly guide book wrong.
After spending the night with Illja I didn't rest as well as I would do normally but I had to leave and not make up any excuses to stay in the town, so after Illja and I picked up our now extended visas we said our farewells as she set off across the island on a scooter she hired, meanwhile I started climbing quite a difficult ascent towards Ruteng inthe same directoon which was 130km away.
I knew I wasn't going to make it there in one day and I knew there were going to be some hectic climbs so I paced myself in the effort to avoid exerting myself.
To be honest I have cycled steeper terrain elsewhere and if the locals are to be believed the pass I reached today apparently being one of the more difficult ascents, I shouldn't have any difficulties getting to Maumere where I get a ship to yet another Indonesian island.
Obviously the hairpin-turn highway took me though, around and over some great views of the island but the best part of the road (like always) were the descents, although having said that there were some sketchy turns with incoming traffic that could have ended in my immediate death but I survived unscathed... I WILL fix my brakes tomorrow.
It's always nice to be on a new island to see the differences in the people, here is a mixed bag, people that are friendly and welcoming are very much so which is fantastic however i did meet some unusual characters today along with children who would chase after me and attempt to take my belongings.
One woman at a restaurant, who spoke English very well, at first tried to rip me off on the meal, was annoyed by the fact that I didn't follow a religion (why does it matter?), continued to belittle her own daughter by calling her ugly and stupid and when i refused to give her my kangaroo she wanted she then said that she hated me??? She was one crazy and strange woman.
On a better note, right now as I write this I am staying in a home (a very nice one at that) with a man (Raph) and his family who invited me into his home after I met him in the street for no more than 3 minutes.
I was just shattered after today's cycle and after an Indonesian lesson with Raph (he is an English teacher), a shower and eating his wife's delicious food I was happy to crash out on the bed that was offered to me.
Raph, his wife Betty and their children were wonderfully hospitable and very loving towards one another, it was an incredibly pleasant scenario.
A farewell to Illja.
Climbing the hills.
Soaking up the beautiful surrounds of Flores.
No comments:
Post a Comment