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Jakarta to Dieng Plateau Central Java
Dieng plateau on Central Java to Bali

INDONESIA

Mar
2004-09-14 16:42:50

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landslide. The easiest way is to point to two carriers to help us rather than to have 15 carriers touch your bike. On the other side of the landslide it seems the same except for the heavy digging machinery and the two minibuses to take passengers further to Garut. Difficult to explain to the carriers that on asphalt one can cycle and they carry our bicycle about 50 meters over asphalt all the way until we have passed the machinery.

We continue a steep road up, cycling in our very lowest gear. After about 7 kilometres we are more or less confronted with a wall: a steep road going straight up for about 600 meters, 16%-18% steep. Our muscles heat up and are pushed to the limits. We have learned (trial and error) to cycle just within our limits so that you can keep on going for a longer time. Alike a rotation speed gauge in a car we try to keep ourselves within the green limits. This time we also move into the orange level and we stop frequently to make sure we make it to the top without getting stiff muscles. At the top at an altitude of 750 meter we speed downwards to 280 meter to cross a river (I hate rivers). During our descent we have a very nice scenery over the sharp edged volcanic 'roots' and see Mt Papayan and Mt Cikuray (2850 meter) with its dark black coloured slope. Mt Cikuray is only in the distance but we are going in between the two volcanoes. Another climb of 500 meters and no more than 10 kilometres to Samodra from where it will be an estimated 30 kilometres flat to Garut.

After passing several smaller villages that are not on one of our maps, we ask around; "Berapa kilometer to Samodra?". We get different indications which we all take as being wrong. At 11:00 we arrive in Samodra, a small village. Again we ask around, just to be sure after so many different indications. It's not fun to cycle another 10 kilometres up and up if you are already very tired. "8 kilometres", and the restaurant owner points in the direction ...