Cycle Day 11 : Salodik to Luwuk

I was a little sad starting this morning. It was our last day but as we hit the 20 km mark my foot fell asleep and since my butt has been numb for the past two days the sadness passed. We has guests riding with us today. Six fresh faced young men who could have been anywhere from 16 to 35 under the leadership of a local cycle shop owner and cycling enthusiast named interestingly enough, Wimpy.

But first breakfast. Last night's Ibu made a return performance this morning with yummy turmeric rice, hard boiled egg (or was that last night?) and a spicy tuna dish which went nicely with the rice. Watermelon melon and papaya cooled it all down. I have to admit that I'm not going to miss the powdered coffee.

It was mostly downhill this morning with some short sharp hills thrown in just to let us know where we were. 

After a little stop by a creek to cool off it was into big city traffic or at least it seemed like a big city at a population of 54,000 after being in the countryside. It was stinking hot and crowded. Wimpy had driven his group plus bikes up in a truck so I ended up following that truck through to the lunch stops but only mike and the guest riders followed suit. 

The rest trickled in over time but Bev, Chris and Louise had vanished. Various cyclist and Ucok left in pursuit and eventually they were located at the airport since that's where someone said the hotel was. We were all sipping cold young coconut water with tender flesh while this was going on. Needless the say, they were not amused but it did seem to be an authentic Indonesian type experience!

Ox tale soup and rice accompanied the cool drinks a light lunch but I'll need to temper my food intake now that the tough part is over. We said goodbyes to our local riders after lunch. They have a lovely custom here where you shake hand and touch your right hand to your heart. The younger person also bows or bends over and these kids were bending pretty low for me! I was able to say thanks and safe journey in Indonesian though which got some giggles.

The last 18 km wound through town along the ocean the it was time to turn off and head to the hotel which was, guess what? Up one of the steepest hills on the entire trip!! Thanks for that Colin! ;-)

We pretty much all walked it. Alex did the ride to gauge the steepness for "next time." There were cool drinks in the lobby, soft beds and hot water in the rooms. I could have been anywhere in the world once that door closed on that 5 star room. I did appreciate the hot shower but the bed wasn't that much more comfortable than other more modest places we stayed at.

Before dinner Bev and Chris booked a car and driver to go back into town for a walkabout. Luwuk is called the Hong Kong of Sulawesi probably due to it port. The shopping streets seemed to have everything fabric, jewelry, hardware supplies, stationary, appliance, guns! Yes, guns. These were in a shop that sold guitars and badminton rackets.

There were garbage bin cleverly made of repurposed tires.

In one shop selling vacuum cleaners I think this young woman who could have been anywhere between 14 and 30 came over and started chatting in English. When I said I was from Canada she got all dreamy eyed and said "oh, from Canada? Do you know Justin Beiber?" When I said yes I think she thought I meant personally. She then declared her love for him repeatedly and expressed her desire to marry him then she asked if she could have my watch. She seemed to want it as much as Justin Beiber. But Justin and I both disappointed her - Oh, Canada!  :-(

Here's some jauntily displayed barbed wire - laid out as if by a bower bird. I wonder if this artistic display enticed any female barbed wire purchasers.

These cool looking dudes were raving their motors looking all tough and then giggled like children when I took their pic.

Was disappointed that they were all out of Dung-Dung!

Dinner back at the hotel was tasty but as with the other western style resorts a little on the light side. Yummy satay chicken with rice plus a soup. Banana smoothies but no desert fruit. Insignificant complaints in an otherwise stellar experience!

800 kilometres, 11 days, 2 numb feet and 1 happy camper :-D

Distance: 39.16 km

Time: 2:26

Average speed: 16:04 km/hr

Maximum speed: 41:17

Elevation: -300 +/- meters