Yes. With a little break, it’s time for another video – probably my second to last one.. Indonesia and Timor Leste are beautiful. A fantastic end to the trip before the last leg in Australia. I hope you like the video!
Posts Tagged ‘Bromo’
New Video: Cycling from Tawau (Indonesia) – Dili (Timor Leste)
Posted: July 18, 2016 in Cycling, Indonesia, Timor LesteTags: Bromo, Cycling, Ijen, Indonesia, Kelimutu, Timor Leste
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Day 380. 12km. Bromo – Cemara Lawang
Posted: June 2, 2016 in Cycling, IndonesiaTags: Bromo, Cemara Lawang, Cycling, Indonesia, Java
The alarm went at 4:45 and we joined the hoards that had arrived while we slept and saw the sunrise over the stunning volcanic landscape. Today was sun, views, super steep roads, and failing brakes. After a sojourn across the sand plains and a climb to the bellowing crater, we called it a day as the rain set in. I don’t want to die on the way down careering out of control in the rain.
Stairway down from Bromo
The alarm roused us out of our sleep to see the streams of people passing our little prayer hut, going to the viewing area to see the sunrise. The view was, indeed, spectacular. Flat, sandy plains with huge volcano craters bursting out at incredible angles. One of the craters was bellowing smoke – its clouds turned orange in the beautiful morning light. A few hours later everyone was gone, and we cooked our breakfast in peace in the bright sunshine, looking out over the plains miles below.
Bromo in the morning
Coming down from the heights to the sand plains is incredible. The road is so steep, and the views are so spectacular. We made our way to, and climbed a crater billowing out ash. Near the crest of the crater you can hear the booms of each cloud of ash being expelled into the air.
Steep mountains rising from the plains
My hydraulic brakes have given up the ghost. The oil has been leaking, and now they hardly work at all. I replaced the brake pads (again) to try to get the most of what was left, and walked my bike down the steepest parts today. As no-one can service the brakes here, I have decided to change them for normal, standard brakes, but first, I need to get down from Bromo to a bike shop on the coast. As the rain started again this afternoon, I decided it was too dangerous to go down to the coast, and am staying in the nice, cool heights for another night.
Day 379. 93km. Sidaorjo – Bromo
Posted: June 1, 2016 in Cycling, IndonesiaTags: Bromo, Cycling, Indonesia, Java, Sidaorjo
‘You shouldn’t cycle to the summit alone,’ he said.
Clement and I looked on with a puzzled look.
‘It’s spooky. Ghosts!’
Scaling the 2700m volcano from sea-level is usually a multi-day affair – or involves some night cycling to get to the top for sunrise.
Cold
The plan of attack was to cycle to Wonokitri at 2000m and stop for the evening. Then it is a further 10km steep climb in the dark to get to the summit.
Clement and I were joined by Harry – an Indonesian cyclist from Bandung. Our climb was rather adventurous. Harry’s crank snapped, and he had it welded back together several times before catching a lift to Wonokitri for more serious welding. Clement and I continued alone, and met up with him again in the evening for the final nocturnal ascent.
Clement and I were laughing at the beginning – ‘when does the steep part start?’ The road seemed like a gentle climb compared to the slopes we have been scaling on the other Indonesian islands. The climb became adventurous when the rain started and it got very cold. It was not steep (at first), but it went on and on and on. Even with the rain and cold I was on the verge of getting cramp – luckily I was spared of it, though. We huddled around a fire as the evening light faded, listening to the cold rain pouring down outside.
The last kilometres to Wonotikri were in the dark and rain with only my head torch (my bike dynamo has stopped working). My brakes also stopped working – oil had been leaking from my hydraulic brakes, and in the rain, they no longer work.
We ran into Harry again sheltering from the rain in the dark in front of the welding shop. Almost everything was closed in the village and I felt a bit miserable and cold. I found a small, cold restaurant where I downed a fried rice before returning to the shelter and snuggling in my sleeping bag before the final nocturnal ascent. Clement woke me up at 10pm and I put on my drenched, cold cycling shirt, and the three of us headed off into the night. It was super steep. Clement scooted on ahead while Harry and I pushed our bikes up the final 10km to the summit.
Pushing up the ever steeper road, I would stop to get by breathing rate down. There was silence and darkness. Absolute, emcompassing silence. As the road weaved its way up the mountain we were rewarded with the most spectacular views. Far below I saw the lights on the plain, and the shadow of a huge volcano looming behind. Stopping to absorb in the view, it was a silent, awe-inspiring experience. We finally made it to the top. There was hugging all round and then huddling in a little prayer room for dawn.
Ascent
It was good to meet Cak and his friends again in Sijoardo, just south of Surabaya. We were there for a big cycling event where cyclists came from far and wide to share cycling stories and exchange information. Clement and I gave a little talk, and I even inflicted some of my singing on the poor audience. ☺
Friends in Sidaorjo
arctic-cycler.com 