We're just outside Bandung a major city in this area and the area looks like it would have been worth seeing. There's a strange looking tower that dominates the immediate area.
There's a thump and a crash as my box goes flying. Fortunately it stays shut, but the mounting bracket is kaput. It had survived more dicing with traffic, me getting lost (missed a junction marked by Tom), me recovering the group and a crossing of a pontoon bridge. But now it has had enough.
Alan has decided to sit out today as he's not feeling well. He's chosen to risk his life and eardrums riding in the support truck instead!
We fuel up, being served by two ladies in bright red uniforms.
It's rush hour so the roads are super busy.
It's a long climb to our first stop, a steaming sulphur pit inside a volcano crater. Sounds dangerous, but the most dangerous part was the ride there, dicing with cars and scooters, and breathing in black smoke spewed from trucks, and then the drive up to the volcano itself in an incredibly noisy minibus with open side panels. There's a slight smell of sulphur at the top and you can see the vent smoking
Rob and I recreate a pose on one of the promotional posters at the crater.
Back into the mountains we pass small villages and small holdings included terraced land and some lovely views
From across the valley we can see poly tunnel fields that look like futuristic metallic cities in the mountains.
We cross a pontoon bridge. It's a long wooden structure. Quite a novelty; of course we stop for photos.
Moving on, we stop for lunch. I notice that my top box is loose. In fact it's only held on by two of four bolts. As the mechanic is not with us until later, we do a running repair using my mini tool, with cable ties provided by Christopher. The fix seems strong and much more secure than it was - that's not coming off.... Later, it comes off...
We're bombing down a bumpy track next to a new tarmac airstrip (Christopher almost has his own Top Gun moment.
I manage to attach the bracket with some tent guy rope cord from my tool kit. The box stays secure until the whole box is replaced at the coffee stop.
Then tentatively back on the same track, taking extra care to minimise any bumps; I've put my backpack on, to reduce the load in the box itself.
It's an intense blast through dense two-way traffic, dicing once again with incoming traffic, none of the other drivers or riders seems to mind. Probably because we are rank amateurs at this, the locals carve their way through traffic much more aggressively and effectively than we do. Cary has a Gillette moment overtaking a slow moving van, and has to perform an evasive manoeuvre avoiding three kids pulling out in front of the van.
The extra delays, from me getting lost and the box falling off, mean that we have to bypass a planned volcano stop, but Charlie thinks we can add the missed volcano to our route for tomorrow.
We head directly to our lunch stop - but it's now 4pm! So we just have snacks and juices.
Some (one) is not a happy bunny and almost throws his toys out of the pram fearing the extra volcano visit would lengthen an already very long day (300+ km). But we calculate that by leaving earlier we can add the short detour which will only take 30 minutes. Much of the 300km will be on faster roads, so won't take as long as the shorter distance first day, which had to contend with Jakarta traffic.
We are arrive at the hotel which is another grand affair, yet also devoid of other guests. It has an outdoor pool, which the local frogs seem to appreciate. Our room has ac resident lizard, that we can hear making noises at odd times - I hope our little friend keeps the mosquitoes at bay.
I go for my first run in Indonesia. But it's hard work as now I have to avoid being hit by traffic as there are no proper pavements. Only 5km today, slight downhill followed by an intense steep uphill section. The rest is survival. I meet several runners coming in the opposite direction to whom I wave, and they smile.
Bed now, another early start, up at 6am.
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