Sometimes it is worth to deviate from the given route and explore the neighborhood. Chelsea and Nellie were ‘sweeping’ me, when I asked them to follow me followed me on a detour along the beach. First we had to cross a kind of fragile suspension bridge before we got to the beach, where fishermen pulled in their heavy net. Unfortunately the heavy load was more jellyfish than others, but even the smallest fish was collected from the glibber mass. I asked the women on the beach, if there is another way to get back to the main road further south so we can cycle a bit on the beach. They seemed to understand my drawing in the sand and confirmed. We cycled quite a distance along the beach. The women followed us on their scooter. Finally they turned left into a village and to our surprise invited us to their home. Chelsea enjoyed the little one and the little one Chelsea’s sun glasses, until she started to cry, being scared by my camera? We soon had to leave for the final kilometers to the designated camp site.
Whereas Nellie was not aware of her nice ‘sandy’ henna tattoo that she developed during the ride on the beach.
A cool and flat start in the morning. First 20 km along the coast, the 100 km inland through palm oil plantations. Rolling up and down +/- 70m all day, accumulating to 1400m ascent. Road good, some open patches. Many bridges over brown rivers. Until 11 am the temperature was bearable. Thereafter very hot. Steep climb with 13% grade at 136 km.
Today was faster, as I was on a different mission: Don’t stop too often, get more time in camp to write up some stuff from past days. It perfectly fitted the change in the mentality of the locals. Although there is almost no meter of unoccupied land along the whole road through the plantations – you can’t make out borders between villages – there were much fewer ‘Hello Mister’ and ‘Good Morning’ calls during most of the day. This made riding quicker. Only closer to the coast the friendliness popped up again and extra time was added for stops and interaction with locals. Another basic hotel, with cartoon beddings and bucket showers.
Although Henry is doing his first Tour through Indonesia, he has already set remarkable footprints in Sumatra. In Central America it was the impressive number of TdA Shops, that marked the tour. However in Sumatra and probably all over Indonesia it is Mr. Gold himself, who plastered the roads with is name:
Throughout Sumatra you can find signs like:
My favorite and the new slogan for Cycling Adventurers and Explorers – “Do it with Henry and his exceptional Team”
Live your Freedom, go ahead with Henry
Thanks a lot Henry for offering such a unique way to explore this part of the world. Keep the good work and spirit alive. You and the TdA team are my No. 1!
A cool and flat start in the morning. First 20 km along the coast, the 100 km inland through palm oil plantations. Rolling up and down +/- 70m all day, accumulating to 1400m ascent. Road good, some open patches. Many bridges over brown rivers. Until 11 am the temperature was bearable. Thereafter very hot. Steep climb with 13% grade at 136 km.
Today was faster, as I was on a different mission: Don’t stop too often, get more time in camp to write up some stuff from past days. It perfectly fitted the change in the mentality of the locals. Although there is almost no meter of unoccupied land along the whole road through the plantations – you can’t make out borders between villages – there were much fewer ‘Hello Mister’ and ‘Good Morning’ calls during most of the day. This made riding quicker. Only closer to the coast the friendliness popped up again and extra time was added for stops and interaction with locals. Another basic hotel, with cartoon beddings and bucket showers.
9:45am, 75 km into the day. The last 55 km thru dense palm oil plantations and rolling hills. Good that the morning temp is below 30°C. I passed the halfway cemetery …
before we got to the beach, where fishermen pulled in their heavy net. Unfortunately the heavy load was more jellyfish than others, but even the smallest fish was collected from the glibber mass. I asked the women on the beach, if there is another way to get back to the main road further south so we can cycle a bit on the beach. They seemed to understand my 
drawing in the sand and confirmed. We cycled quite a distance along the beach. The women followed us on their scooter. Finally they turned left into a village and to our surprise invited us to their home. Chelsea enjoyed the little one and the little one Chelsea’s sun glasses, until she started to cry, being scared by my camera? We soon had to leave for the final kilometers to the designated camp site. 
‘sandy’ henna tattoo that she developed during the ride on the beach.
