Day 385 Bengkulu – Baturaja (Indonesia) / motorbike GS Dakar RTW overland adventure traveller

  • Left – 7.00am
  • 25th April 2015
  • Miles rode – 220 (352km)

Even though there was no ‘call to prayer’ this morning I still woke before the 6am alarm! When I went out to load the bike there was choir music playing, I could have been in England.

The sun was shining and I felt great again. As the coastal road was so disappointing yesterday we headed inland and passed what seemed like hundreds of small villages where most households were drying small fruits and seeds outside in the sun, this wasn’t restricted to just their house but right out into the road practically from side to side in places , I presume the passing traffic blows the unwanted leaves etc away? The same as everywhere we ride as we pass people look at us, nobody else has big motorbikes. The many smiles and ‘hello mister’ whenever we stop are most welcome.

We stopped late morning for maybe 40 minutes up a mountain and the conversation with the locals was great (they spoke English).

Every day riding with Lyndon we start early and after about 4 or 5 hours I start to get tired and lose my concentration. Lyndon on the other hand is like a machine, he just powers on and on and on. So today at about 1pm I started to feel tired and as with every other afternoon I tell myself this is the last day riding with Lyndon, I’ll rest tomorrow, this feeling stays with me until bedtime. The problem is every morning I wake up and feel great and can’t wait to start riding again. I think I’m turning into an adrenaline junky!

Today we made good progress and we stopped at 3pm, this was the first time i didn’t feel completely drained and exhausted, at 4pm it rained for the first time today. I don’t feel like stopping, I feel like making the most of riding with Lyndon.