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We had breakfast at the hotel and there were actually other foreigners, which we have not seen in ages. Today we are going to the culturally unique Torajan Area.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1806/...0ccf9f1a_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-06-21 at 15.24.18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1789/...9e31ddf9_b.jpgFILE7573 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1814/...a7980066_b.jpgFILE7577 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The first order of business for the day was to find the ATM type that works for our card and this was easy as we passed one after 5 minutes. Then to buy gas. This was easy, but they only had 88 octane “premium” and no pertomax or max turbo (92 or 95). It was ok as we have a half tank of turbo. The first 64 km to Rupang took 3 hours as it was a continuous line of traffic and was exhausting. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1789/...313369d5_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-06-21 at 15.24.34 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1796/...69a8c04d_b.jpgFILE7581 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We stopped here for a cold drink and then headed north with much less traffic and especially very few scooter maniacs. The road condition is pretty good in most places except in the towns. This is a mostly Christian area and there are a lot of churches. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/892/4...52219252_b.jpgFILE7590 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1831/...4f69bfb8_b.jpgFILE7598 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1816/...8a3536b8_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1823/...7c773dff_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1796/...9dd5c326_b.jpgFILE7615 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/917/4...39dd1866_b.jpgSulawesi-23 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We entered the Toraja region and the traffic was thicker again. We had booked into a home stay in a traditional Torajan house, but found that her google listing, her bookings listing, and maps.me are all incorrect. After 45 min of driving around very hot, tired and extremely frustrated we finally called her for instructions.
These were go south to the Catholic church and turn right and go across the bridge and then turn left and then turn past the restaurant. This was all good until the turn left… this leads down a one lane road to nowhere and then deteriorated and we turned back. Another call to the owner and a “meet us at the bridge”. She rode up on a scooter “a right turn” off the bridge. Seriously we are pissed and hot and tired. Luckily for her she is a very nice woman and the house is very cool. She must know her listings are wrong since she gave us the GPS coord some other travelers gave her, but a bit late now. That said she served us tea and sesame cookies and then we had a nap before dinner. This was a very nice home cooked meal on our patio. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/883/4...530a32c2_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1767/...b5ab2f9f_b.jpgFILE7661 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1793/...c571f66e_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1768/...89c5b27b_b.jpgIMG_2961 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/895/4...face584e_b.jpgIMG_2962 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1804/...3b98d157_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1765/...b62c8a84_b.jpgSulawesi-25 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1769/...223407cb_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/913/4...00eda201_b.jpgSulawesi-26 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/843/4...774c0631_b.jpgSulawesi-27 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1825/...35cf116e_b.jpg |
We have a lot of sights we want to see here and they are quite spread out, poorly signed, and involve a lot of walking around = do not want to deal with the bikes and the gear. We hired a driver for the whole day for about 45$ Canadian. Papa Dia arrived as we were having breakfast and then we set out for the day.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1817/...36339f89_z.jpg Our first stop was the Water Buffalo market in Bori and we had been told there was a traditional death ceremonial sacrifice today. We rode up the narrow winding back road thru the lush green rice paddies. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/924/4...3c4ecc29_b.jpg There was quite a crowd at the event, but we were the only foreigners. There are 20 or so buffalo here and they are going about spraying them with letters with a can of spray paint. After quite a lot of discussion most of the animals were led out, but 4 remained. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/915/4...27fc1af6_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/834/4...37ca99d6_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/924/4...8c48a252_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/843/4...ff3e5567_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1829/...a1661fcf_b.jpg There was a procession of 8-10 men that splashed water from a bamboo tube on the back of the animal and then a spear was tapped on the haunch. In the centre of the ring 2 men were banging in posts that looked like they were to tie the animals to. This is what did happen and one was lashed by its forefoot to the posts. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/846/4...7813dc11_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/834/4...4777ce95_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/918/4...bb54a716_b.jpg |
WARNING GRAPHIC PHOTOS!
Suddenly the man slashed his throat (not well enough) and the scene was quite graphic with spurting blood and the poor creature jumping and staggering. The job was poorly done as he trashed about and fell and then rose and fell and trashed about some more, which was impossible to watch. Families are all here to watch this even with children. I did not watch the next, but Dan said that the cut was much deeper and the animal looks to have died quite quickly. He did however have to watch his fellow suffer a few minutes before! It was actually pretty horrific. We had seen enough and left. Driving past later we saw that they were butchering all 4 animals right there. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/921/4...44facca9_b.jpgSulawesi-40 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/846/2...bcf27f25_b.jpgSulawesi-42 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1787/...086f07f1_b.jpgSulawesi-43 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
From here we drove south again to the burial caves at Londa. There was quite a traffic jam and on this narrow road a tight squeeze.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1769/...fb226dc6_b.jpgSulawesi-63 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1763/...ef22eca3_b.jpgSulawesi-89 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Here you can see the cliff face from the viewpoint and then when you get close you can see the coffins and bones. There are also quite a few effigies. The caves itself have ancient and new (2 months old) burials. We had a lot of people that wanted a picture with us...seems a bit strange. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1804/...5088f741_b.jpgSulawesi-64 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/840/4...69960788_b.jpgSulawesi-65 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/4...5bc7aa0b_b.jpgSulawesi-66 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1823/...8e87c215_b.jpgSulawesi-67 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/923/4...f8b79e5a_b.jpgSulawesi-68 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/841/4...5112d53c_b.jpgSulawesi-69 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/843/4...29098fd7_b.jpgSulawesi-70 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1763/...f4ac0a2f_b.jpgSulawesi-71 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/837/4...42099129_b.jpgSulawesi-72 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/916/4...d1eedf5c_b.jpgSulawesi-73 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1788/...3895c41b_b.jpgSulawesi-74 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/841/4...bb5c0342_b.jpgSulawesi-75 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
The next stop was at Leno where they have a lot of cliff burial and a huge number of effigy.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1805/...e5bb0671_b.jpgSulawesi-76 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1786/...5e69b85e_b.jpgSulawesi-77 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/846/4...9c733c63_b.jpgSulawesi-78 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1768/...f12a0be7_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1807/...7234e62f_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1825/...4a63915e_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1822/...4b2dbe94_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/918/4...05bede07_b.jpgSulawesi-84 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
From here we drove almost back to Makale and then up the mountain to the Jesus Blessing statue. The traffic was mayhem and people were parked on both sides of the narrow road up the tight switch backs and some were double parked. There are a huge number of people here at the mountain top with the massive Jesus Christos on top. They seemed more interested in us as many came running up and asked us is they could take a photo with us. We also had a very nice school group that wanted to practice there English with us (they did very well).
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/917/4...b746e1c3_b.jpgSulawesi-86 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/841/4...eee3be17_b.jpgSulawesi-87 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1802/...62b2e044_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1770/...a73754e6_b.jpgSulawesi-97 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1826/...1fa52bc0_b.jpgSulawesi-98 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Back at the car Dan and I had to block traffic in both direction mostly for the unruly scooter kids and other drivers so that our driver could turn his car around. We headed back down the mountain and then up into the village of Kambira to see the ancient baby graves in the tree trunks.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/921/4...e91422b5_b.jpgSulawesi-90 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1810/...2a449dcd_b.jpgSulawesi-91 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/835/4...c847c993_b.jpgSulawesi-92 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/844/2...a503c4f1_b.jpgSulawesi-101 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr It is now after 4 and we are pretty tired and so we skipped the last stop on my agenda and headed home. This still took and hour to go 18 km on the narrow back road as we were slowed by cars parked on the verge inhibiting the flow of the 2 way traffic on the 1 lane road, the scooters, and the pretty poor road condition. This did give us lots of opportunity to hop out for photos though. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/846/4...96ca6949_b.jpgSulawesi-93 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1785/...db5e76c3_b.jpgSulawesi-95 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/846/4...2edeb3e8_b.jpgSulawesi-96 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/844/2...f4694fd3_b.jpgSulawesi-103 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1801/...364f5df2_b.jpgSulawesi-102 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1824/...b546a76e_b.jpgSulawesi-99 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
It is Monday today and we confirmed today with Aditya that the ferry from Pula to Balikpopan on Borneo does go twice a week on Tuesday and Saturday at 2200 h and it takes 22 hours (oh Joy). Pula or the ferry dock just north is 567 km from here and at our pace of 200 km per day taking 7 hours this is 3-4 days, which puts us there Friday June 22 (6 year anniversary of our trip and 21 of our wedding).
The plan today was to ride about 1/3 of the way to the ferry and this would be about 200 km. Based on where we can get accommodation this would be 190 km in Tomoni where there is 1 Hotel Sikumbang. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/896/4...2f1a1df7_b.jpg Setting out from our Torajan house at 830 we had about 2 km to back track down the 1 lane back road thru the rice fields and then across the bridge. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/888/2...31f4c4de_b.jpgFILE7681 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1823/...e7baf007_b.jpgFILE7689 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr This dumps you on the main road, which is a steady stream of traffic in both directions. This is made worse by several buses, slow trucks, the usual people parked on the road, and washed out pavement sections. Luckily we only have about 8 km of this to get thru the town of Rante Pao and turn towards Palopo. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1774/...b5de2448_b.jpgFILE7696 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Once we were away from the city there was less and less traffic all day.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/879/4...191cc499_b.jpgFILE7707 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1833/...2e49648d_b.jpgFILE7716 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The first section rises up over the mountains and we were not impeded on the way up as we had passed several slow moving lines and a particularly slow truck and this gave us smooth sailing ahead. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1770/...10f48de3_b.jpgFILE7750 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr This lasted until about 15 km from Palopo when we ran into a few difficult to pass vehicles on the down side. One especially unfriendly bus driver purposefully would block the lane when there was a place we could pass. Dan eventually got by and then basically stopped on the road so the bus would have to let me by on the corner! Once we arrived to Palopo we made the left turn and the road was wide sweeping turns or basically straight. The traffic began to really thin especially the number of scooters. We had taken 90 minutes to go the first 65 km to Palopo, but once passed here we got up some speed and even spent time over 80! I have not been in 6 th gear since I arrived to Indonesia. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/844/2...9422dac1_b.jpgSulawesi-104 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We made great time and arrived to our destination at Tomoni at 1330. It a pretty hot humid day and we decided to push on the 2 hours and 77 km to Pindolo on the lake. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1794/...9487ef93_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-06-21 at 15.27.35 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr This means another mountain to cross, but also some cooler temperatures. The road up is steep and switchbacks with a lot of disrupted and heaved up pavement on some of the hair pins, which were a challenge at times. We managed to pass a number of trucks and cars and then one final long line of vehicles following a very big slow truck and then we basically had a free run the rest of the way. It started to rain about half way and at the 1 hour mark and this did slow us down a bit especially on the dirty corners. The sun was out on the far side and there is about 20 km of new road to the town of Pindolo. Here there is one hotel on the lake and we are the only guests. It is still the holiday week and most Muslims will be home with family and the hotels are empty. There are 2 small beds with foam mats, cold shower only and a bucket flush toilet. No sink oddly enough! They did however make us some sate for dinner. We were exhausted and asleep by just after 9. Dan was awake at 2 am reading and I was awoken by the torrential rain. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1782/...dd25057b_b.jpgFILE7756 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1794/...01a0d629_b.jpgFILE7779 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1777/...831ed599_b.jpgFILE7788 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1817/...0e719b55_b.jpgFILE7819 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/833/2...4f4ca70a_b.jpgSulawesi-105 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Not sure how far we can make it today. The weather forecast is not that good and Pula is a 7 hour trip on google! There are a few hotel in Tolai in 213 km.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1838/...bf3f2db3_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-06-21 at 15.32.54 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We woke up after a 10 hour sleep to cloudy skies. Our breakfast was “crepes” which were ok but not that filling. We headed out of town north again and there is almost no traffic. The initial terrain is flat along the lake and then it climbs over the first of the ranges. We had few vehicles to deal with passing on the curvy road. We had a brief 15 min of heavy rain, but welcomes the soaking as then we had some air cooling. In the rain shadow on the down side it was sunny and we stopped in Ratodena at the far end of the lake for gas and to check the oil. The bikes have been burning oil lately and we are having to top them up. Dan however had found a trick to deal with his valve issue. If he rocks the bike before he starts it it fires right up. Yeah its not the starter! This 106 KM took us 2 hours. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1798/...db2b6b07_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-06-21 at 15.27.55 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1769/...11d99c8d_b.jpgFILE7837 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1780/...b7872223_b.jpgFILE7839 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1821/...4cfab069_b.jpgFILE7844 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1814/...7724eb16_b.jpgFILE7855 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1784/...8eb72b20_b.jpgFILE7899 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1837/...5c035a6d_b.jpgFILE7918 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1819/...5970d6f7_b.jpgFILE7922 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Leaving town you have to head back towards the black rain cloud an this time we donned the rain jackets as it was very heavy for about 20 minutes. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/887/4...eb8cef09_b.jpgFILE7942 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The road turns north again along the big northern Sulawesi peninsula. Here we again had almost no traffic, but we did have some vehicles to pass on the next mountain section, but at least it was dry. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1775/...0296921d_b.jpgFILE7945 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/834/2...73cc5a7f_b.jpgSulawesi-106 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1790/...ef8e405a_b.jpgFILE7965 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We made for Poso at the coast and found a Warung to have some lunch of spicy chicken, vegetable soup, curried fish and rice (4.50$). Lunch what a novel concept, but after the crepes we would need a real meal breakfast bars and Pocky like yesterday would not do. We had 130 km to go at 1230 after lunch and was a hot, but easy ride as there was still few other vehicles except scooters. The road is windy, but wider and more high speed. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1819/...ab8bdbde_b.jpgFILE7971 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1777/...d079a1c7_b.jpgFILE7975 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Arriving to Tolai we checked out the hotel we had seen on Google and it was simple, but comfortable. |
Today we finally make for Palu in 114 km , the town where the ferry will leave in 2 days time.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/892/4...0ae18038_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-06-21 at 15.31.26 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1835/...00ff02b1_b.jpgFILE7985 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The forecast was for it to be pouring by 10. When we set out it was sunny, but it was actually still raining on us from some cloud near by. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/875/2...34db39c5_b.jpgFILE7988 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1765/...0b4176b8_b.jpgFILE7991 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The road goes up the coast for 46 km until Toboli and is 4 lane divided for a while. It then turns west over the mountains. We were very lucky as we passed 6-7 very slow (12 km/hr) moving big trucks near then beginning, which were not too difficult to pass and then we had just a few cars the rest of the 43 km. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/895/2...7e695892_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1784/...3fe1201d_b.jpgFILE8000 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1806/...9e713c9b_b.jpgFILE8019 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1767/...1364ded2_b.jpgFILE8027 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1793/...95582c0b_b.jpgFILE8036 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr At the cross road we turned north to where the port was listed on Google. We “chatted” to the guys there and then one drove up on a scooter who spoke some English. He said we needed to go “towards the city 9 km and turn left before the bridge”. Well at least we got the 9 km back part. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1820/...ed9425fc_b.jpgFILE8088 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1786/...69203d8c_b.jpgFILE8094 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We actually crossed the bridge and at the next light we stopped on the side of the road. A minute later a man who was actually a port customs agent pulled up and asked what we were looking for. When we said the Balikpapan ferry he said to go back and then lead us there! He also went into the ticket office to help Dan get information. We confirmed the ferry leaves in 2 day on June 23 and they say at 1900. We have to be there at 1400! I think it loads at 1900 and leaves at 2200. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/875/4...3be2d2ea_b.jpgFILE8102 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/921/4...9a865f3d_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-06-25 at 22.43.38 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flick https://farm1.staticflickr.com/837/4...a22fd7f0_b.jpgSulawesi-107 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Then we made for the city and they only decent hotel we could find to spend out anniversary The Best Western. Well it is nice to have a western standard hotel.
It is super hot here and we did not venture too far from the hotel. We dropped the laundry just up the street. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1765/...b92f26de_b.jpgIMG_2975 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr On the way there was a small kiosk with a line up and several GRAB moto taxi guys waiting to delivery from the Banana Bim. These are deep fried banana fritters covered in various sauces! We chose chocolate and peanuts. WOW amazing. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1764/...80821fb9_b.jpgIMG_2979 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1821/...629e157f_b.jpgIMG_2976 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/924/2...b04800ea_b.jpgIMG_2978 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1802/...e8bf34cc_b.jpgIMG_2981 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Also near by was this restaurant with good food some very friendly staff. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/918/4...481ce8ae_b.jpgIMG_2983 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We also found a Yamaha shop near by to but some oil for the bikes. Both have been burning some recently, but the 650 is a real issue especially when it it really hot out. |
Today we are leaving Sulawesi and headed to Borneo better known as Kalimantan. The ferry dock is 18 km north and takes about 30 minutes.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/916/2...b8e9520a_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-13 at 21.36.19 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/923/2...c3f9f80b_b.jpgFILE8108 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/921/4...78f6470c_b.jpgFILE8116 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We arrived to the ASDP dock at 2. You have to stop at the port authority booth and pay 40,000R per person for the port fee. Then you pull forward to the ferry office to buy your ticket. The tickets were 1/2 what we expected at 400,000 R per bike. This is for a 24 hour ferry ride and meals (rice and a boiled egg or rice and a chicken finger or rice and sautéed cabbage)! https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1783/...41f95f67_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-06-25 at 22.43.28 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Parking we drew quite a crowd and everyone wanted a photo! Lots of people had questions and luckily here was also another rider from Palu who spoke English well and we chatted about Indonesia and our trip thru him. |
There was a very tragic ferry sinking on a deep volcanic lake on Sumatra this week on a passenger ferry with at least 200 people and dozens of motorcycles on a boat that is supposed to have 50 passengers only. This is probably why they are being some careful to see your ID and your vehicle registration today.
We made friends with one of the terminal agents who spoke English well. He suggested we eat at the sketchy looking kiosk inside and actually the food was pretty good. So we got some packets of rice and noodle to go for dinner. (we did not yet know that the ticket included “meals”. He also says the ferry will leave at about 7 ish. About 3 Dan went on board to see if he could get one of the crew to rent us their cabin….no luck, but they did let us have first dibs on the nonsmoking bunk room. They also let us board the ship at 4 while they were still unloading all the banana trucks. This meant we could tuck in beside the front loader at the rear. We could tie down to it and to the hold on the deck. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1826/...963582c4_b.jpgSulawesi-116 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/4...497e1d66_b.jpgSulawesi-117 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The bananas are being unloaded from the trucks and stacked on both sides of the deck (filling the 2 emergency exits at the rear). There was also stacks of boxes of mangos and cabbages. Then they loaded on 4 big trucks and lashed them to the ceiling. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1782/...f3d0e861_b.jpgSulawesi-108 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1781/...326fa34e_b.jpgSulawesi-109 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/914/4...25b0d70f_b.jpgSulawesi-110 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1828/...1dd9bf34_b.jpgSulawesi-111 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1829/...a9f9c1ec_b.jpgSulawesi-112 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/921/4...efb730d1_b.jpgSulawesi-113 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/847/4...2493ffa9_b.jpgSulawesi-114 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/847/4...f7bc7426_b.jpgSulawesi-115 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr There were also about 6 cars and 2 smaller trucks one filled with goat and one with cows. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/847/4...389286fe_b.jpgSulawesi-120 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1765/...221c7dc5_b.jpgSulawesi-121 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The last to load were about 20 scooters. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/4...412fa1c4_b.jpgSulawesi-119 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Inside the nonsmoking bunk room we got the 2 upper bunks in front of the tiny air con unit on the side the farthest from the bathroom. This saved us literally. This is a 1000 sq foot room with 44 bunks most with more than 1 person. This seemed ok when we boarded at 4 and not so much by 6 when we left. There were about 30 screaming kids, several people with blue tooth speakers (that boom boomed all night long, and several kids with gaming systems (bling bling). Ear plugs and Gravol saved me.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1810/...a145c5ac_b.jpgSulawesi-118 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/844/4...4bd7aca9_b.jpgSulawesi-122 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/834/4...28c9b819_b.jpgSulawesi-123 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/921/4...2aaa3734_b.jpg7F35282E-D8A3-482B-938F-B4AF65C9E8CF by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1767/...793d64a5_b.jpg61188F51-2AF6-41F2-BF82-5466E3BDA2EC by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We finally got to sleep after 10 when most of the crying kids were asleep. We managed to get some rest on and off until just after 6 when the sun was up. Now we still have 12 hours to go. It is incredible how people can behave so badly. Let me tell you it was a challenge. It is amazing when there is such wide spread lack respect for others and the environment. They drop their garbage on the floor or throw it into the sea, play their own music at high volume day or night, and leave garbage in the bathroom drain so that the water is flooding. People are “showering” with the water from the squat toilet cistern for 10 minutes in the only toilet for 60 in our section. |
We were surprised to find out that our tickets also included meals such as they are.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1829/...5ae1046c_b.jpgSulawesi-124 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr This is our last long Indonesian ferry and we are so happy. We finally could see Borneo about 3.30, but we are moving so slowly and the dock is way around the bay that we did not dock until after 6. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/919/4...89d6db40_b.jpgIMG_2997 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/915/4...dc4d1406_b.jpgSulawesi-125 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/917/4...126a75a4_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1769/...307f4cb2_b.jpgFILE8127 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We had reserved at a hotel in town about 11 km away. The cars are pretty ok, but the scooter drivers here are quite aggressive and a bit suicidal. The traffic is bumper to bumper all the way. Wow do we smell and need a shower! We checked in and did not leave the room. |
Just noticed a sticker of you guys here in Tajikistan :D
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How cool! are you going west or east?? SP |
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We set out at 930 the 11 km back to the ferry dock we landed at last night.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/833/4...16563be6_b.jpgFILE8135 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The ferry across the mouth of the inlet to Panajam also leaves from here. This is an hour trip and saves a massive ride around. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1787/...d217659a_b.jpgFILE8142 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We pulled up to the ticket booth (40,000R) and were told the next ferry was just loading. Good timing! https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1821/...00a03709_b.jpg We pulled into the line and then were directed to board. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1770/...7ea9ddda_b.jpgFILE8174 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr They checked our ticket on the dock and then we loaded on the side of the cars. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/843/4...5917fa06_b.jpgFILE8187 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1783/...b1ec230f_b.jpgFILE8197 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1790/...16da2cf8_b.jpgFILE8209 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We again created a stir and several people wanted photos with us. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/919/2...d8b85164_b.jpgSulawesi-128 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1761/...ff4728b5_b.jpgSulawesi-127 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We unloaded and were happy to find a much more calm and orderly driving pattern here and there is very little traffic.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1766/...1983bce8_b.jpgFILE8223 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1783/...57baf365_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1762/...aa1b8663_b.jpgFILE8243 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We are trying to get 261 km (Google said 6 hr) to Mabuun, but it is already 1130 so we shall have to see. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/837/2...658bb4de_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-06-25 at 22.45.09 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1781/...2c043ab9_b.jpgFILE8254 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The terrain varies from curvy mountain roads to flatter and more straight roads. There is some traffic, but it is much better than we expected. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/4...909acf23_b.jpgFILE8268 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1825/...4fbfc96e_b.jpgFILE8279 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We had an about 20 min down pour and got soaked. When it got worse we took shelter with some other riders in a roadside shelter.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1781/...f2f24009_b.jpgFILE8327 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/923/2...57e0f5e1_b.jpgFILE8411 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr When we set out again it was still sprinkling , but soon it was sunny again and then 5 min later we had another short heavy rain and hid out at a store. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/922/4...2006b299_b.jpgFILE8738 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1830/...00170a05_b.jpgFILE8756 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/921/4...7ca0c8f0_b.jpgFILE8554 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr About half way today we also got maps back since the Malaysia maps tiles overlap here! When it started to rain again we donned our suits and then it really started to pour! https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1763/...ca3fba93_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1785/...4c7613ff_b.jpgFILE0022 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Then of course 20 minute later it stopped. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1827/...49ba2e1a_b.jpgFILE0036 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1770/...b9fd1fcc_b.jpgFILE0233 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/922/4...c498a25d_b.jpgFILE0620 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The next town with services is 37 km away and so we headed for it! We were cold and tired and wet from our first soaking without the over suits. We managed to find a nice western style hotel =hot shower comfy bed 4 pillows! It is the small things in life that make us so happy. It has now stopped raining, but we elected to have a burger in the hotel. It was nice to have some food from home that tasted like it was from home! Also Sara thinks one of the sneezing coughing crying rug rats on the ferry gave her their disease as she is not feeling well. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1790/...13f68f9e_b.jpgBorneo by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Today we have a big km day for riding in Indonesia, but Goolge says we can make the 324 km in 7 hours to Palangka Raya!!
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1827/...3d07976e_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-06-27 at 15.24.46 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Sara is feeling terrible with a head cold coming on. Setting out the sky was dark and cloudy, but they are very high clouds and for the most part today we were dry. Leaving the city the road is curvy and narrow and there is a fair amount of traffic and so slow going. It is also Durrian season and most of the villages have stalls selling the and so it smelly like stinky feet everywhere. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/920/4...e4db3938_b.jpgFILE0399 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1826/...09dda98e_b.jpgFILE0402 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We gassed up as they had Petromax (92) and were trapped there by a number of people wanting photos! It is getting a bit tiresome as they can be very demanding, want 10 different shots, and we are dying in the heat and humidity. This is a tiny taste of what famous people have to deal with and I see why they go nuts.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1766/...1de0ba1f_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1790/...31943696_b.jpgFILE0423 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Snack shop! https://farm1.staticflickr.com/927/4...4127f1a1_b.jpgFILE0446 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
The first 150 hr to Buntok took us 3 hours (there is also a time change for central Kalimantan), but we got lucky with almost no other vehicles, straight good road, and very little rain for the last 172 km as we did that in 2 hours.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1783/...cfc62963_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-06-26 at 17.14.03 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1790/...ec51be00_b.jpgBorneo-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Good thing as Sara was barely hanging on. There are no services on the last stretch of 172 km except the occasional lean to shack selling gas in plastic pop bottles to the scooter riders and pop and chips. This road is here to serve the mining camps in the region. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/844/2...fd5ff54f_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-06-27 at 15.24.12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1788/...c5d769a2_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1765/...9e4f4876_b.jpgFILE0482 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1802/...0b7fac89_b.jpgFILE0488 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1804/...4117fea5_b.jpgFILE0490 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1823/...d87bc6f0_b.jpgFILE0497 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The temperature was much better today with the clouds at 26-27 until after 1300 and for the last hour it was 34.We did stop half way to check the oil and unlike yesterday the 650 still read FULL!!!! YEAH. We did get an about 3 min of a massive down pour, but this was a good soaking to keep us cool as the sun was out right after. Poor Sara was in bad shape when we found the hotel and dragged herself directly to bed. |
Today we have planned a short 222 km day (4 hours) since it is that to Sampit or do the entire 455 km ( 9 hours) to Pangkalanbuun. No way in Indonesia even on a good day.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1763/...d5bab686_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-06-27 at 15.25.23 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Was a good thing as Sara barely made it that far. We had cloudy and sun and it was a cooler 28. There is a bit more traffic here with quite a few trucks, but the drivers are courteous and signal for you to pass. We checked the oil at the gas station in town and both were full and also when we checked 2 hours later. PHEW! There is not much traffic in town as it is a national holiday today. The hotel is just past the town on the main road going on to Pangkalanbunn and so we will have an easy exit tomorrow.…. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/835/2...59a19fa4_b.jpgFILE0510 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Well Sara did not leave the room for 36 hours and was quite ill with cough and very high fever. The hotel staff was super nice they even sent her up a fruit platter and bottles of water in the afternoon to make sure she ate something. The first night here was very rough and she was unable to get up to leave. We booked in here another night and the hotel we had booked in Pangkalanbunn moved our reservation. We had booked ahead as we wanted a place where we could leave the bikes for 3 days when we go on a houseboat trip to see the Orangutans. |
Sara finally today is a little better at least well enough to ride and we set out for the 235 km (almost 5 hour) trip to Pangkalanbunn.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1803/...62bd8b59_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-06-27 at 15.25.54 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We got gas and checked the oil (still good) and hit the road. It seemed like a long day with the traffic and stopping several times to put on /take off rain gear or hide out a downpour. We had to put the rain jackets back on with 50 km to go, but it only rained for about half of it. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/927/4...cd2d9b53_b.jpgBorneo-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1807/...36eccd5e_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1782/...48a783b9_b.jpgFILE0548 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Arriving at the hotel Sara hit the bed. The hotel arranged for a travel agent to come to us so we could discuss options for going into the national park to see the Orangutang. The boats leave from nearby Kumai port and usually the trips are 2-3 days. We chose a 2 night 3 day trip on a traditional wooden klotok which is about 15 metres long. The forecast is a bit dismal, but this is the rain forest right. |
We were picked up at 10 am by car and delivered to the boat launch in Kumai. The crew of 4 will take care of us including our guide Anwar, Captain Ali, his mate and the cook.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1821/...827a7d77_b.jpgBorneo-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1802/...a92c48e8_b.jpgBorneo-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The boat has a western style toilet and an on demand hot water shower. We will sleep on the deck on a queen sized bed that they set up with a mosquito net at night. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1821/...ca03f5df_b.jpgBorneo-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/923/2...3dd03c01_b.jpgIMG_3034 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
When the rain threatens they guys scramble to lower the rain covers until the brief downpour has passed. Day 1 I think they went up and down a dozen times.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/923/2...e048b75d_b.jpgIMG_3008 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1782/...f3e71a31_b.jpgBorneo-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr It was lovely motoring up river with the jungle views. We came across tropes of proboscis monkeys and even a wild orangutang. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1790/...45b5d71c_b.jpgBorneo-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1822/...769c6e23_b.jpgBorneo-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1787/...725c454f_b.jpgBorneo-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/925/4...fddc7379_b.jpgBorneo-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1803/...ff716339_b.jpgBorneo-19 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/916/2...908bf4d0_b.jpgBorneo-30 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Our first stop was at Tanjung Harapan just before 3. Here you walk a short distance thru the jungle on a dirt path to the feeding area. They supplement the food of the orangutan in the National Park for the previously captive, born wild, and wild as well.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1809/...09fd23aa_b.jpgBorneo-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1765/...0dc2f6c2_b.jpgBorneo-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1785/...5b54875f_b.jpgBorneo-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We will moor on the docks near here tonight and go for a trek in the jungle to see scorpions, tarantulas, and birds nesting. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1822/...18496375_b.jpgBorneo-24 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1826/...c55cd32c_b.jpgBorneo-25 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/847/4...e045ef25_b.jpgBorneo-23 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1823/...352dbfc2_b.jpgBorneo-26 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
For day 2 we are up early and headed further up stream to Pondok Tanggui for their 9 am feeding.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1802/...273af049_b.jpgBorneo-28 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/927/4...6560c771_b.jpgBorneo-29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1767/...2151da8b_b.jpgBorneo-31 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/927/4...0048f8e5_b.jpgBorneo-32 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/840/4...fdacd21c_b.jpgBorneo-34 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1788/...ec45de7c_b.jpgBorneo-35 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
After lunch it was up stream further to Camp Leaky for 2 pm. There were orangutan here, but also the hard to see Gibbon ape and the not so rare wild pig.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1784/...02c113a5_b.jpgBorneo-38 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1787/...7295d35d_b.jpgBorneo-52 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/834/2...691877d1_b.jpgBorneo-40 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1770/...210d31d2_b.jpgBorneo-42 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1765/...3025c238_b.jpgBorneo-43 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/840/2...26e7688a_b.jpgBorneo-44 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1770/...32967d52_b.jpgBorneo-45 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1783/...7c407893_b.jpgBorneo-46 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/924/2...af086b40_b.jpgBorneo-48 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/925/4...ac373f8d_b.jpgBorneo-51 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The rare pitcher plant https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1768/...11d55d72_b.jpgBorneo-39 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/4...e8624d17_b.jpgBorneo-53 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
The return trip down stream is much quicker and we stopped at a reforestation site to plant some trees.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1763/...8b9a098c_b.jpgBorneo-54 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/2...76da0871_b.jpgBorneo-55 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/918/2...c63b8e40_b.jpgBorneo-56 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1809/...b965aaac_b.jpgBorneo-57 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1824/...1b6c4119_b.jpgBorneo-58 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1768/...f3e671bd_b.jpgBorneo-59 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/924/2...7427ddf7_b.jpgBorneo-62 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We made it back to Kumai by 2 pm and they dropped us to the hotel.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/917/4...c33da0b5_b.jpgIMG_3033 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We had agreed to go with Anwar to his old English school tonight to practice conversational English with the students at the Genius academy. What a fun night and the students were very enthusiastic. They even treated us to sate yam. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1770/...2fe91991_b.jpgIMG_3048 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/835/2...e138558e_b.jpgIMG_3046 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1802/...8d9f30d8_b.jpgIMG_3044 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1807/...c6393d0b_b.jpgIMG_3043 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/838/2...aa73f390_b.jpgIMG_3041 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1781/...d077daf0_b.jpgIMG_3049 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1803/...0040a9d3_b.jpgIMG_3053 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Spoiler alert
We left Leipzig on our bikes May 2017 and we arrive back to Frankfurt on Saturday... and then on to Montreal.... What a ride. We had a lot of help along the way and so THANK YOU for that! https://farm1.staticflickr.com/924/2...bf57124c_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-19 at 19.27.22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We are on a mission now to get to the Malaysian border in 678 km (12 1/2 hours on Google) The locals say it takes 10 hours by car.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1765/...94660137_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-13 at 17.19.51 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We set out under cloudy skies, but actually this was the best day we have had on Borneo and we did not have even a drop of rain. We planned to go about 1/3 of the way to the border, but because of lack of services we had to be flexible. We were also not sure just how long it would take. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1763/...b86fb388_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-04 at 18.21.17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/833/4...263420cd_b.jpgFILE0559 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The traffic is pretty minimal and the road in good condition. The curves and arched perfectly for high speed cornering and we could keep an average of 70 km/h. This means we made it to Penginapan Louis in 295 km at 1330. It was super hot and humid and this town is tragic. There are a couple of very sketchy places to stay. We had stopped at a kiosk and bought some ramen noodle soups. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1827/...25e7301d_b.jpgFILE0569 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/841/4...885128b0_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/839/4...961e50bb_b.jpgBorneo-63 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/844/4...973e886d_b.jpgBorneo-64 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1822/...ed1a34f1_b.jpgBorneo-65 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We decided to press on and make the miles as our next destination is 2 hours from here. There is literally no tourist infrastructure here at all and the next town with hotels is 151 km away in Belai Berkuak.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1803/...77114bfd_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-04 at 18.21.44 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The scenery all day is just palm tree from the palm oil plantations. The gas stations are also very far apart we saw one at the junction with the main road when we left this morning and finally found one after 200 km. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1782/...215eb927_b.jpgFILE0596 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1806/...b38c7621_b.jpgFILE0597 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We arrived to town and checked out the “hotel the Virgo” at the far end. This may only be 20$, but with no window and the smell like a wet basement I had to pass. It may also have been the lack of a shower except the bucket full of water to flush the toilet or the general grimness. Plus the guy who showed me the room seemed totally disinterested. We rode back to the other place we had seen on arrival. It was actually cheaper, but no prize either. The attendant was at least keener. The lobby like many Indonesian hotels of this class has a large TV always blaring some annoying program at MAX volume that can be heard through the place and this was no exception. They will usually turn it down at least briefly if you ask. I have had it by 10 pm most nights and usually can get them to turn it off for the night or 6 am at least. The room is tiny and grimy with a squat toilet and a cold tap shower. They do not put sinks in the room and brushing into the squat toilet is just …. Looking forward to civilization again. At least the air con worked and with the tiny thin blankets they gave us we managed to get a decent sleep. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1764/...8488d41c_b.jpgBorneo-66 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
It poured all night, but was just misting when we left to gas up across the road. By the time we had gone 50 km it was almost sunny. The 235 km to the border went quickly and we made it in 3 1/2 hours.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/926/2...74e93037_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-20 at 16.21.41 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1785/...eee88c81_b.jpgFILE0605 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/920/4...d2890362_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/833/2...9810cdae_b.jpgFILE0644 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1804/...f02e250f_b.jpgFILE0645 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/844/4...fe62ce7e_b.jpgFILE0650 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We spent our last Rupee on gas and then hit the border zone. When you arrive to the Indonesian side there is no signage and no one stopped us. We decided to park just before the kiosks and then when to the right side kiosk to ask where to go.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/921/4...d26f28df_b.jpgBorneo-67 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/926/4...9cb580a1_b.jpgFILE0664 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr He directed us to the left side kiosk where the customs agent completed out carnets. He came out to check the VIN and then stamped the forms. You then have to go inside the large immigration building. (It is brand new a carbon copy of the brand new one we went thru in Timor). You have to put your jacket thru the X-ray machine, but not all our luggage??? Then you walk over to the Immigration officers. The signage is digital and comes up in English. Sara was stamped out asap, but Daniel’s agent was all in a fluff about why we had Indonesian visas. Back to the story about the land crossing and no visa on arrival….. finally he let him go. You show your passport with the exit stamp to the guard and then drive thru to the Malaysian side. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1782/...3d5aefed_b.jpgFILE0667 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/926/4...6694e0ec_b.jpgFILE0668 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1803/...7993fa2b_b.jpgFILE0672 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1808/...219a6d70_b.jpgFILE0674 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Here on the Malaysian side is it a bit more obvious and there is a guard to direct you to pull up to the row of kiosks under the cover.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/836/2...c0f5dd62_b.jpgFILE0677 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1768/...72c7cff0_b.jpgFILE0680 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/913/4...00bcf970_b.jpgFILE0686 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We made it to the agent and had our passport entry stamp just before 2 busses arrived. Phew! Then you ride around this area by the road to the left and park just before baggage inspection. Here on the right at the end is the customs office and they processed the carnets for us. The last thing to do is go to the police office located a few doors back. Here they will issue you with a permit to drive in Malaysia. Then it was 41 km on perfect road to Serian. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/917/2...24afcc54_b.jpgBorneo-68 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1762/...49234313_b.jpgFILE0688 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We had found a transit inn in the city, which was clean and cheap. There was also a laundry next door! This is not fancy, but the Hilton compared to last night. So nice to be back in Malaysia where it is civilized. The drivers are polite and follow the rules even the scooters. There are more cars than scooters here and of a better quality and standard. There is not garbage all over the place. Many people speak some English here so life is a lot easier. The food is so much better and not so spicy. We are pretty bagged after the last few days and rested up by going to sleep early. |
Today we had to wait until 9 anyway for the laundry and so we could sleep in as well. Since we can not face another Asian breakfast we just had iced coffees with condensed milk! We are headed to Sibu in 341 km.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1783/...cec7366e_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-06 at 20.26.29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr It is hot and cloudy so humid and this does wear you down. The entire way is a construction zone and there is essentially nothing else along the road. The towns are not even on it, but 5-10 km off the main road. There was a small collection of kiosks after 200 km and we stopped for a snack and a cold drink. There was finally a gas station at 250 km. After leaving Serian at 915 we finally arrived to Sibu at 230. It is very hot and it was a long day. The bikes are filthy and chance would have it there is a car wash just beside the hotel. We pigged out on a big Chinese meal at the Ark cafe just down the street and then did not need dinner. This guest at the hotel was looking very cool! https://farm1.staticflickr.com/917/4...3b7a0903_b.jpgBorneo-69 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We have a very big 405 km day today to Miri. This puts us near the Brunei border and there is essentially nothing else before that. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1801/...b63d867c_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-06 at 20.26.53 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr It was again a construction zone the whole way with the first 160 km taking 4 hours. We stopped for some cold drinks and fuel and to top up the oil. The last 255 km did go faster as there was less roadwork stoppage of traffic. We managed to get that done in another 4 hours. The hotel we booked has a very popular cafe just across the road. This is a western style sports bar complete with a massive beer selection and very good food. We spent a fair amount of time here this afternoon and then returned to watch the world cup and the place was mobbed. |
Today we are setting out only 158 km, but this will put us in our 84 th and last country of the trip Brunei.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/846/2...8c89cae1_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-06 at 20.27.22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Leaving town you follow the signs to Immigration and this leads you on the back roads to the border zone. You have to cross a toll bridge to access the border (1Ringet for a moto). https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/4...3fbbab8f_b.jpgFILE0707 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr You then have to follow the signage to the border drive thru kiosks. Here they stamp your passport with a Malaysian exit stamp, but you do not need to deal with the carnet. We were out in under 5 minutes. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1826/...7f8c4d27_b.jpgFILE0741 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1788/...503320f1_b.jpgFILE0744 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/4...3b80134e_b.jpgFILE0747 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1805/...dcd5d2c7_b.jpgFILE0753 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr You then follow a circuitous route about a km to the Brunei border area. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/840/2...7f2a9359_b.jpgFILE0773 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/919/4...0046ab40_b.jpgFILE0775 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/927/2...a367275b_b.jpgFILE0779 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1786/...d850424f_b.jpgFILE0794 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Here there are again kiosks are drive thru and they stamped out passport and we were again out in 5 minutes. You then drive to the customs kiosk, where they had been searching cars, but they just asked us where we were going and said have a nice trip. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1789/...cb2d93cd_b.jpgFILE0803 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1787/...84515ed9_b.jpgBrunei by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/839/4...e73d95fe_b.jpgBrunei-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1768/...9e78f57a_b.jpgFILE0808 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/923/4...e82caa26_b.jpgBrunei-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/839/2...266f6346_b.jpgBrunei by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
You then leave on a two lane road, but within 25 km there is a toll booth (1 B dollar = 3 Ringette) and the rest of the way is a 4 lane divided road. There is nothing to see along the way.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/914/4...b4ecd3cf_b.jpgFILE0826 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1769/...51a0a3c2_b.jpgFILE0831 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We are headed to the capital Bandar Seri Begawan or BSB. Brunei is not what we expected really. The capital is eerily deserted and slightly grubby. There are a number of huge buildings that all look abandoned. We had booked in here two nights since we wanted to arrive to Sabah on Monday to get the shipping sorted. It is pretty hot here and you really can only be outside in the evening. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1774/...c3444c84_b.jpgIMG_3114 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/838/2...4e712b60_b.jpgBrunei-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/913/4...b0b63484_b.jpgBrunei-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/843/2...12738f46_b.jpgBrunei-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/924/4...a9a24781_b.jpgBrunei-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/845/4...0e207da7_b.jpgBrunei-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/846/2...45eab83d_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/919/2...cc829446_b.jpgBrunei-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/915/2...cd0064e9_b.jpgBrunei-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
There are 2 ways to get to Kota Kinabalu which is by ferry (you need to take 2) or ride.... Ride of course.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/915/2...f02ec84c_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-06 at 20.29.36 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/837/4...68e6d18d_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-21 at 10.54.32 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Today we have 321 km to go to Kota Kinabalu, but we have 4 border crossings to navigate. We have to exit Brunei, enter Malaysian Sarawak again, enter the Brunei enclave, enter Sarawak a third time, and then enter Malaysian Sabah. This means in total we have 10 passport stamps in the last 3 days. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1770/...75f62a8b_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-13 at 17.46.19 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
The borders here are easy and are drive thru kiosk style.
Step one is drive 27 km to the Brunei border. Here we did not have a departure card as we did not get one on entry, but they just waved us thru to passport control. There we got our exit stamp. They do not care about the carnet. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/921/2...b7f82250_b.jpgFILE0852 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/843/2...7a3b432c_b.jpgFILE0862 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr You then ride 200 m to the Malaysian crossing for a quick entry stamp. Here also they ignore the carnet issue. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/914/2...05df454c_b.jpgFILE0869 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1767/...628bcf7f_b.jpgFILE0876 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1768/...4de81018_b.jpgFILE0880 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
You then ride 59 km across this small piece of Malaysia that divides Brunei and past the town of Limbang. Where stopped for something to eat at a roadside kiosk. The next border is for the exit from Sarawak Malaysia and into the Brunei enclave.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/840/2...09aa746b_b.jpgFILE0887 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/919/2...16b23028_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/844/2...6b354871_b.jpgFILE0896 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Then there is a 500 m ride to the next station for the entry to the Brunei enclave and here they stamped us in and handed us tourist cars to fill in. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1789/...0851dcb9_b.jpgFILE0916 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1829/...a125c941_b.jpgFILE0920 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1801/...922e90e7_b.jpgFILE0925 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Next is to ride the 28 km across the enclave to the next border with Malaysia. Here we handed in the exit card and got an exit stamp from Brunei again.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/927/2...7e98008c_b.jpgFILE0937 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1828/...1217f880_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1764/...15d51610_b.jpgFILE0954 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/833/2...c871850d_b.jpgFILE0957 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The you ride a km to the Malaysian Sarawak crossing for another entry stamp. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/923/4...6f4ce471_b.jpgFILE0966 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1805/...3b503c81_b.jpgFILE0980 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1828/...a8c32b9c_b.jpgFILE0983 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Then we headed north to Kota Kinabalu, but has to stop after 58 km at the Sabah Malaysia crossing for our final exit from Sarawak Malaysia and entry to Sabah Malaysia stamp. Each state here has internal borders, except the peninsula which is the federal zone.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/836/4...97b5dbd4_b.jpgFILE0994 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1765/...589c86e6_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/2...1f46b9ff_b.jpgFILE1022 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1821/...da5c1fae_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/916/4...8a5786c1_b.jpgSabah Border by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
It is super hot and humid today in Brunei and Malaysia and may be the worst we have had recently. It makes you pretty irritable when you are riding all suited up and with all the borders.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/917/2...0e035f64_b.jpgFILE1085 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We pushed on the 151 km to Kota Kinabalu and had little traffic until the last 25 km. We made for BMW as they said they have a shipping service. As usual all talk no action. They use a service that “no longer uses air” and the boat by container takes 2 weeks. They also do not have palates as the bikes come from KL on an airline skid and are not crated. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/845/2...42013d1c_b.jpgFILE1093 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We then headed back to the airport and to MASkargo. We had contacted then over a month ago and they had said just to show up here about this date and they would ship the bikes…real story is the boss screwed up and did not make the booking and the flights are now all full and the next plane for us to KL is in 3 weeks time. The receptionist was helpful enough to give us some other names. We called another cargo air service at Raya Air and headed over there. They arranged for a shipping agent from Capricorn airfreight to meet with us. Super helpful ladies. They are trying hard to get us sorted. This means sourcing or fabricating palates if we want the bikes to go to KLIA and on from there and putting us on the wait list for cargo. They also said that if they reserve an entire air cargo palate space we can get the bikes on the plane at the earliest in 10 days time! This means we have to call around and try to get palates, but this is unlikely as you do not need a palate to and from KL, but we think we need the bikes on palates since they can not leave KL without one. Shipping is such a horror. After much negotiating the new plan is in place. The bikes fly domestically and to the Subang cargo airport 60 km from Kl international. The issue of clearing the carnet, which we had wanted done here will have to be done in KL. The issue of the palates, which will need to be fabricated we will leave for KL as well. The usual shipping of bikes from Borneo to KL is roll on so crates and palates are impossible to come by. In the end we have decided to roll on and send the bikes domestically to Subang airport and pick the bikes up and ride them to KLIA. So done this way it seems they will fly in 6 days time to KL. This all took about 24 hours to sort out and we can now can drop the bikes off tomorrow at Raya Air (without storage charges) and then we need to find something to do for the next week. We are happy we use HSBC for banking and that there is a branch 1 block away from our hotel. This way we could get the encashment we need for the shipping without spending a day or 2 trying to get money from the ATM with its daily limit. The bank transfer only took about 2 hours to arrange. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/939/4...2c877310_b.jpgKK Borneo Malaysia by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We finally had a break in the rain just as we left the back so we could ride the 7 km over to KKIA 2 and to Raya air and drop the bikes at the shipping warehouse. Here we sorted our some of the gear we wanted to ship, removed any liquids and aerosols, and secured the gear. The agent Christine met us there, drove us back to the city, and even bought us lunch. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/850/4...92e9e714_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-28 at 16.49.14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
It is very hot here and we are a bit burnt out mentally and physically so instead of organizing excursions or a big adventure by air or 6 hour bus to see more wildlife we hung out in the air con in the mall and went out to explore only after dark. Got to like a Gin and Tonic like this! Is any alcohol Halal???
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1816/...aa962b09_b.jpgIMG_3117 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1791/...fb20d598_b.jpgIMG_3122 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We did take a GRAB over to the Low Kawi Wildlife park to see the pygmy elephants on one day as well. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1832/...74dd0778_b.jpgKK Borneo Malaysia-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We tried out a few local places for food, but the next place was a real Italian restaurant 2 blocks form the hotel. The night markets are packed with people. There are a huge number of seafood places and one night we went all out at “Welcome”. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1776/...1591da7e_b.jpgIMG_0972 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1773/...7341236b_b.jpgKK Borneo Malaysia-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1818/...2cc95fcf_b.jpgIMG_3130 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1811/...5c91dc83_b.jpgKK Borneo Malaysia-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/936/2...b4251594_b.jpgKK Borneo Malaysia-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1796/...c80812bb_b.jpgKK Borneo Malaysia-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/862/4...b77062f8_b.jpgKK Borneo Malaysia-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1776/...d4a151c7_b.jpgKK Borneo Malaysia-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1794/...c315fd64_b.jpgIMG_3131 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
The shipping saga continues…Air China quote is Pivot rate and is 24,000 $ for 2 bikes KL to JFK…no. Next was 18,000 $ if we ride them to Singapore (plus its 400 each for TVIP and insurance)….no. Back to Maskargo that will ship them to Frankfurt for 25 Ringet a kg. Then we need to pick them up and ride them to Air Canada (this means getting a green card and help from MotoCamp Bulgaria again = 200$). Ac has a flat rate to ship to Montreal.
The plan now is that we will fly from KK to KLIA July 17 and the bikes fly the same day to Subang 60 km away, but actually nearer to KL city. We will be able to pick them up July 18. We are booked into a hotel at KLIA near the cargo terminal. We will drop the bikes at Maskarco July 19. Orvar used them this week and all went easily. They strapped the bike to a metal air cargo sheet, “measured” it very loosely and very much in his favor for the rate to Amsterdam. We will fly to Frankfurt July 21. The bikes will fly from KlIA to Amsterdam July 20 and then they are trucked to Swiss air cargo (same price as fly only to Amsterdam according to MAs) and arrive July 22 at 5 am. The say we can pick them up here after customs clearance formalities and then we will either ride them the 10 km to Air Canada cargo to drop them off or we will have some time on our hands in Germany until we have a flight for the bikes to Montreal. Either way we luckily have Ivo from Motocamp Bulgaria to help us out. He bought our green card insurance today for us. We have no choice but to spend the 120 Euros for the minimum coverage as we don’t have a flight and even if we did the fees for an agent to bond the bikes and truck them the 10 km is actually more expensive. This way we have the safety net incase for Air Canada flights we have a delay. We have sent in the shipping request and the request to the company that issues the dangerous goods certificate, but have had no reply after 4 days! (Later we found she mistook our request for a date at the end of September and when we called she immediately gave us the date we requested). https://farm1.staticflickr.com/930/4...419d3757_b.jpgIMG_3154 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Finally after killing a week its July 17 and the bikes fly from KK to Subang KL. We had a photo from the shipping agent of the bikes lashed to the cargo palate…It looks like they could withstand a crash! https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/4...f7d98a42_b.jpgIMG-20180712-WA00050011 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1784/...030657a1_b.jpgIMG-20180712-WA00030011 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We got a GRAB to the KK airport for the 2.5 hour flight. This was a bit turbulent, but otherwise uneventful.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/932/2...33c4104e_b.jpgKK Borneo Malaysia-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1786/...9b84c151_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-21 at 10.56.13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We arrived to KLIA 2 and walked to the nearby TUNE 2 hotel where was had some lunch and then got the shuttle to TUNE acropolis at the cargo terminal (1/3 the price of the first Tune). We are booked here 3 night and then will swap to TUNE 2 at the terminal 2 as we have to be at the airport terminal 1 at 6 am on July 21. We confirmed the bikes arrived in Subang today and we can pick them up tomorrow morning. This is a 50 km trip (65Ringette) to Subang from KLIA. The first step today was to walk 200 m over to the Day Pass office to get a pass for the secure customs and shipping area. We are doing this now so we do not have to do it later all suited up in the heat. You have to hand in your drivers license and get a wrist band and a plastic card on a lanyard. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1815/...e7783056_b.jpgKL Malaysia by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr From here we got a GRAB for the ride 50 km to Raya air at Subang Airport. This was a bit of a challenge as all the drivers are at the main KLIA terminal, which as the crow flies is not far, but takes about 20 min to get from there to us around the secure zone. The first driver said “ he had 2 flat tires” after we had waited 20 min for him. He wanted us to cancel him, but if we did that it would be very hard to get another driver. He eventually cancelled on us and we had to wait 20 more minutes for another ride. So far the day is not going that well. When you get to Raya you report to security, hand over your passport, and get a day pass to allow access to the secure site. We were directed to walk 150 m over to the warehouse and report to “24 hour” pick up doorway. Here thru the cage we could see the bikes on a palate on a dolly. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/942/2...c2aa0344_b.jpgKL Malaysia-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The guys here were very nice and set the palate and dolly up with a ramp. They un-lashed the huge number of straps and helped us wheel the bikes off. We just had to unstrap the suitcase with the riding gear and helmets and change. By then they had done all the paperwork and had time for a photo op. We were in and out in about 45 min. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1776/...dc39944a_b.jpgKL Malaysia-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1797/...71785310_b.jpgKL Malaysia-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
From here we retraced our route 50 km back to the cargo terminal with a stop for 3 l of gas each. This way we have enough to get back, ride the few km in Germany and get out of the airport in Montreal.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1885/...0c573c6f_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-30 at 22.21.53 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We arrived to the customs security gate at KLIA and said we were going to Maskargo (no one asked for our pass :) ) The first step here is to go to the customs office ahead and to the left. You park here and then walk over to the 6 story building to the right. We of course arrived at 1230 and they are closed 12-2 for lunch…. At 2 we went up to the 6 th floor (there is no signage in English and multiple offices are along a long hallway). When you exit the elevator turn down the hall and the office you want is the first on the right. The counter is about half way down the room and the desk has a “Carnet” sign above it and you speak to the officer here. They look at your carnet, copy your passport, and give you a huge ledger book. You take this back to the customs office across the parking lot for a carnet stamp and “vehicle visual inspection”. They signed and stamped the carnet, but did not even come out to look at the bikes. In fact they could not even see we had bikes from their office! https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1796/...13619028_b.jpgIMG_3146 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/848/4...cf4e45ba_b.jpgIMG_3140 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1833/...d770d6ae_b.jpgIMG_3151 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/930/4...dfa40ff2_b.jpgIMG_3149 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Then it was back to the 6 th floor. The officer here then takes the ledger and carnet to the first floor for another stamp. All that took nearly 2 hours. From here you ride 500 m to enter another secure area for the cargo docks where Mas is located.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/862/4...21ed1772_b.jpgIMG_3148 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1773/...23ff38d4_b.jpgIMG_3150 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1797/...63c283e4_b.jpgIMG_3153 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We rode to the Maskargo export acceptance office, which is thru security down to the very end of the road turn right, ride to then end again and go right again and then go 200 m to the Core 1 door. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1834/...4b8d2ed0_b.jpgIMG_3159 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Just inside here is the office you want. Long story short this was a 2 hour nightmare. First the office guy says “by the way did they tell you that the bike has to be crated to Frankfurt for the truck”. Recap we had explicitly discussed this with Maskargo sales re price and options and were assured that price was the same to Frankfurt and that no crate was needed. Orvar went last week and this was the case so we were feeling confident. He had a very loose measurement of the bike and the cost was 6050R. Here they measured and told us it would be 9000R for the 800 and 7000R for the 650 plus 1000R per bike to crate! Long discussion about all the issues including their mistake on quote and the fact that Orvar’s bike, which is bigger than Sara’s went for 6050. Much discussion among the staff…bottom line take panniers off and wind screens, crate here for 750 R each…total 14000 R. Still more than our quote, but we have no choice now. It is now almost 5 pm and we have had the crate guys over to look at the bikes. They will store them in their warehouse overnight as they can not leave this zone off carnet. They were nice enough to give us a ride back tot he hotel as well. Tomorrow we have to meet them at 2 for the set up and strapping. |
Well of course we show up at the warehouse at 145 and no one else does until 230. The assistant then tells us the boss is on the phone for us and wants us to ride the bikes back to Maskargo so they can do the packing there (of course). The truck with the palates arrived and we followed him over the 500 m to Mas. Here we parked and then waited until 315 when the guy finally arrived with a second helper. That said the palates were amazing.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1795/...8e9c5daf_b.jpgKL Malaysia-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/934/2...77706567_b.jpg They riveted the hold points on where Dan wanted and then strapped the bikes, helped us wrap the baggage and then they wrapped the bike, covered it in plastic sheet and then wrapped it again. They look shrink wrapped. He had decided to give us a 25 % discount on his packing service and that was very nice. We then went into the Maskargo office while the bikes were sent to the scales. Final bill was 1000 R less than the quote per bike YEAH! https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1772/...b82c7824_b.jpgKL Malaysia-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/852/4...e7634d59_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1840/...f49d1b0b_b.jpgKL Malaysia-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/848/2...26a76684_b.jpgKL Malaysia-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/932/2...a284ccf7_b.jpgKL Malaysia-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1799/...80247393_b.jpgKL Malaysia-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1833/...40134ce4_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1798/...6f4496bd_b.jpgKL Malaysia-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/852/2...355cc7f4_b.jpgKL Malaysia-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We were finally out of there just after 530 and walked the km back to the hotel. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/852/4...cb713b8b_b.jpgIMG_3208 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Today is Thursday and the bikes will fly tomorrow after noon at 3 to Baku Azerbaijan and then onto Amsterdam by the late afternoon Saturday. They are then transferred to a truck for the 456 km drive to Swiss Air cargo in Frankfurt by 5 am Sunday. We will be able to pick them up there (pay the port fees) and unwrap the mummies.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/850/4...7a221813_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-21 at 10.58.40 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/932/4...5f78befe_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-21 at 10.58.08 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1764/...905733e3_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-21 at 11.00.08 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr It is only 10 km ride to the Air Canada Cargo. Our friend Wolfgang shipped his bike from there Today! He says it was easy and under an hour. Just ride up, push the bike onto a palate, take off luggage for xray while team straps bike, put luggage back on, pay and leave! |
Our SPOT since May 1, 2017!
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/924/2...bf57124c_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-19 at 19.27.22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Tonight we are meeting another Malaysian friend that we met first in Ushuaia in 2014! Madie Saad and he kindly drove a long way out the our hotel to get us. He brought along fellow riders Ayuni and Nurul for dinner as well. They kindly treated us to a massive seafood feast on the sea at Bagan Lalang. We were bagged and in bed by 11 for our 5 am wake up.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1771/...d985e2db_b.jpgIMG_8404 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1796/...92ebe490_b.jpgKL Malaysia-18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1776/...f32cc0d3_b.jpgKL Malaysia-20 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1798/...babe7b22_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/857/4...be47560d_b.jpgIMG_2828 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1774/...34466b82_b.jpgKL Malaysia-22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
As I said up at 5 am, walk over to KLIA 2 terminal, take the train (you can pre purchase tickets as we did yesterday and is 2R per person) to KLIA / M terminal, check in to Thai air flight to Bangkok, pass thru primary baggage X-ray, take the train to C terminal, check in at gate, take the bus out to the plane, and then a bumpy ride for 2 hours = in Bangkok .
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1768/...57e1be9f2a.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-21 at 10.56.38 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Then we had just a 2.5 hour layover before our 11 hour flight to Frankfurt. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1828/...eda13bb2_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-21 at 10.57.03 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Arriving to the Schengen immigration there were hundreds of people lined up for 4 agent and it took almost an hour to get thru. We were barely able to drag ourselves over to the hotel shuttle area where we had a 25 min wait for the bus. At the hotel they unloaded an entire bus load of 60 plus people to check in… WOW we are tired it has been 20 hours since we left the hotel in KL.
We are following the tracking of the bikes and they did arrive to Amsterdam this evening. They were supposed to be trucked here and arrive by 5 am tomorrow, but they did not get here until 10 am. Swiss Port said to call back at noon, but when we did that the guys said “ the truck just arrived and we have lots of cargo so call back tonight” We told him we know the truck did not just arrive and that we are supposed to have the bikes to Air Canada by 6 pm…he said you might get hem in the morning tomorrow! Luckily we have a spare day on our hands. We have jet lag and after getting to sleep at 8 pm we were up at 4 am. The hotel in in the middle of no where, but they have a shuttle to the terminal and there is a huge mall there. Back in the land of good treats! https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1833/...6a8356de_b.jpgIMG_3214 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/932/4...4835e122_b.jpgIMG_3212 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/929/4...7d089245_b.jpgIMG_3213 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We walked the 1.8 km over to Swissport Cargo Services and arrived at 7 am and checked in at the import desk. This is inside the “airport zone”. The guy at the desk processed our request, but told us we needed to go to customs and this is a 2.3 km walk as no bus passed us on our route (we did figure out its route for the return). We were stoked to find the Swissport fee for handling was a mere 25 E each!!!
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1773/...f9fb6b13_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-12 at 19.51.06 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Back story here is that we should not need to go to customs as these are Canadian registered bikes entering the EU. We should be just able to drive away with our green card insurance with no question same as when we arrived to Madrid. What can you do thought as they have the bikes and insist we see customs. There is an airport staff bus on a loop, but we did not see one on the 25 min walk to customs. We arrived to the Zoll and immediately knew we were going to have a problem. Daniel usually starts these kind of discussions in foreign countries with “ i’m sorry I only speak English.” Today he forgot and when he said instead to the agent “Hello we were sent here from Swissport as we have arrived from Malaysia with 2 motorcycles” The guy got his back up immediately and angrily said how rude he was not to ask first if he even spoke English”. Well that did not start well. Then there was much discussion about the bikes and their arrival to Germany, why had we not hired a professional to do this, why are we trying to do this with no car in an airport a big as Frankfurt, why we might need to pay the import tax and duty on the bikes…. That this was an unusual situation…. Basically he had no idea what he was talking about. There should just be a rubber stamp for us on the paperwork and off we go. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1795/...f0c467b8_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-12 at 19.53.47 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The fact that he did not know what he was talking about caused a massive cascade of problems and that wasted 3 hours of our time. He decided on this first visit that we should go back to Swissport and ask them to sign a transfer pass. He said private persons do not have the authority to move cargo inside the airport and Swissport will probably not agree to this. I will point out that (he agreed as well) that if we just arrived for a holiday and picked up the bikes we could just ride away. So how does this make any sense!!!??? How is this different from us picking up the bikes and riding 8 km over to the north cargo terminal??? |
We managed to sort out the bus route and could take this directly back to Swissport. Here we handed over the transit request. After some confusion and a few phone calls our only option they say now that we can not ride the bikes is that we pay for a truck to take the bikes to Air Canada. Nothing we can do as we have a flight to make tomorrow. This is especially frustrating since there should be no customs issues here at all!
After another 45 min with and a lot of work by the Swissport agent he managed to be the voice of reason with the customs guy. The story now is we can ride the bikes to AC, but we have to go back to Customs for some paperwork. The Swissport agent was so apologetic and he fixed the massive problem the customs guy caused. Well at least we know the bus route now. Back at customs the guy put on a big show about how he was not overstepping his authority, but stretching it to allow us to do this. How we have to promise only to ride on the airport roads or we will get arrested if we go on the highway (not true as we have green cards). He told a few tall tales and tried to blame Swissport for the problems to cover the fact that he screwed up big time. Well at least he decided to fix his mistake even if he would not admit it. He then made a big deal to tell us we had to go over to north customs and report immediately to customs there. (We are not sure why as there should be no reason). We are told they close at 330 and it is now noon). So with said paper in hand we managed to get back on the same bus on its loop past us again. At Swissport they handed over the release papers for the bikes and we walked over to the import office. Here there was a super nice guy who knew we did not speak German, so he communicated in Italian with us. That worked pretty well. He is also a biker with a 1200 GS. He directed us around the side of the warehouse and said he would meet us there. Here the door opened and he drove out the forklift with a bike on a palate. While we set to the unwrapping of the bikes he had one of the warehouse workers deliver us two hot coffee and 2 bottles of cold sparkling water! We had to unwrap and unstrap the bikes, connect the batteries, and replace the windscreens. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1820/...39ea02eb_b.jpgFrankfurt by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Then we were off the 8 km on the internal airport roads to the other side of the airport to the North Cargo Terminal. Here you enter at gate 26 and check in with the security kiosk just to the right before the gates. They will then let you in thru the security gates.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/935/4...b62c9d95_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-12 at 19.58.47 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1774/...eedb2a18_b.jpgFILE1101 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Just after we rode in we finally saw the Air Canada Cargo office!!! Just past here and to the left we saw the customs/Zoll building. Daniel went in and spoke to them and was there for quite a while. They were confused about why we were even there as “there is no reason” for importation. They did however kindly do the papers we needed to do after the visit to Air Canada so that we did not need to come back. While Sara was waiting outside she was chatting with a few of the customs and DHL agents who were out smoking. One of the agents went in and came back out to offer her bottles of cold water and some “New Zealand apples”! Super kind! FINALLY we arrived to Air Canada Cargo after a long and frustrating day. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/857/2...039c42cf_b.jpgFILE1108 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/936/4...c6ef2dea_b.jpgFrankfurt-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1771/...959e546c_b.jpgFrankfurt-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
They warmly greeted us and the service was totally smooth and super organized. You go into the office and sign some papers and then ride around to the back and into the warehouse.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1797/...87209502_b.jpgFILE1114 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1820/...194b3c60_b.jpgFILE1122 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Here they have set up 2 metal airline palates for the bikes. The agent fills in a security/safety check. This includes checking the bike for hazardous goods and damage. They require that the bags are searched or xrayed. Xray is much easier of course and they are pretty thorough. The whole thing took about 45 min from start to finish. Best experience with shipping agent ever! https://farm1.staticflickr.com/859/2...5928232d_b.jpg |
The airport staff bus arrived just as we left and so we could get back to terminal 1 where we could get the hotel shuttle. It is now 330 and the day we thought we had for sightseeing is half over. After cleaning up at the hotel we did get the shuttle back to the airport and then took the metro to the city in the Aldtstad or old town. So nice to wander the streets, sit and watch the people while enjoying a beer, and eating some local fare. We are still pretty jet lagged and by 8 we had to head back to the hotel and to bed.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/941/4...6922301b_b.jpgFrankfurt-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/940/4...c28e7202_b.jpgFrankfurt-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We left Canada last May 1 2017 and we are headed back finally today July 24, 2018. The flight from Frankfurt to Toronto left over an hour late.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1820/...8be1c653_b.jpgIMG_3215 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/857/2...17340c0a_b.jpg We then had to circle the Toronto airport for 45 minutes during a storm surge that stopped the take offs and landings. When we did land it was at the remote terminal 5. We had 35 min until out flight to Montreal boarded. Here just after unloading we had a passport check and then had to get on a bus for transfer 2 km to the main terminal. Here of course there was a formal passport check. There were a lot of self serve kiosks, but of course only one of the passport would scan and we still had to see an agent. This was fairly quick and we were on our way to “connecting flights” and the West Jet agent took our boarding passes and said yes you guys are good, just go out this door and thru security! So we went out the door and found a massive line up snaking to the security check. After 40 min we finally made it thru and to a screen to check for our gate number. Our flight as well as several others had been cancelled because of the storm delay. That meant hundreds of passengers in line ups to get re-booked. By the time we got to the front of the line we had landed 2 hours ago. The Condor agents had automatically re-booked us without our knowledge for the 630 am flight the next day. This is great and sucks as it is now after 8 pm and “2 am for us), we have a paid hotel in Montreal, and now we have no baggage and no place to stay. We were told to go get our bags at “domestic” arrivals as they would be transferred there since the flight was cancelled. After another hour of waiting for them the agent said that it could be hours and did we really need them. He said he tagged them for our 630 flight and we headed to the Airport hotel = $$$. Not much else we can do at 10 pm when we have to get up at 430. We slept well and thought we had the plan well in hand. Fly to Montreal, taxi to Air Canada cargo, discharge carnet at customs, ride to USA border and then to Max BMW after 500 km. Our friends Rich and Karlene were to pick us up there and take us back to their place for a couple of days while the bikes have their service. We had boarding passes and there was a pretty short security line and we made the gate well before boarding. They assured us our bags were on the plane. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/858/4...2e014937_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-28 at 17.03.24 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
It was a bit of a bumpy ride to Montreal and when we landed we had to wait 15 min as our gate was occupied. We arrived to the baggage carousel and waited and waited, but no bags arrived. The agent assured us that he would locate the bags and come over and get us, but that it could take a few hours. After 2 hours and 2 more Toronto flights arrived and our bags did not we rechecked with him. He said “ oh yeah they never called back” OMG! it has been 2.5 hours.
He called someone else told them the whole story, and they said they would go look for the bags. It is amazing that with the luggage tags they have absolutely no idea where the bags are! At noon after another 45 minutes we had good news that they had found the bags, but that they would not arrive until the 1430 flight. We had called Air Canada this morning and they said they probably would not charge us to store the bikes as long as we picked them up today. We left messages for our friends that were picking us up at BMW at 4 pm today that it would be 4 pm tomorrow! Last we had to talk to Max BMW as the bikes were to be dropped off today before 5 for service tomorrow and this will totally screw this up and they may now not be able to do the work and finish by Saturday end of day and then we will not be done until Tuesday. It is just that easy another week behind schedule. We grabbed a cab the 10 km to the north cargo terminal and Air Canada. They were really nice and helpful. You have to line up and then pay your airport handling fee 90$ per bike, then go upstairs to Canadian Customs for a rubber stamp for “import”, and then we also had them discharge our Carnet de Passage so we can send it back to the Swiss Motoring agency to get our bond money back. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1800/...1ba045c5_b.jpgIMG_3229 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Then you go to the warehouse and the fork lift driver fetched our bikes. They did the unwrap and unstrap and then we just put on the mirrors and sorted our bags. It was raining again now and at least we have our rain gear if not our riding gear. The hotel is only 5 km away and we just arrived there when it really started to pour. The luggage finally arrived at 830 pm!!! https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1771/...4f81d2e8_b.jpgMontreal-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/849/4...0a2f9bf4_b.jpgMontreal-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/855/4...cb4f35e9_b.jpgMontreal by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
It has been pouring all night, but at 8 am it was dry out finally. We are trying to get 500 km to Max BMW in New Hampshire before they close at 6 pm today. That way they will have the bikes for first thing Friday for the valves.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/930/2...77f7c666_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-07-28 at 15.45.53 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The first step is to get the 89 km to the USA border. This is usually not a busy border and should only take a few minutes, but we are a bit concerned that they will make a huge deal out of our Iran visas. We have a riding friend that was detained 4 hours when he landed in the USA after riding thru Iran. We made good time to the border and in fact there was only a 15 min wait. Dan was up first and the first question was where are you going “Ben and Jerry’s headquarters of course”. The agent then asked Dan right away about why we had Iran visas, but was totally reasonable and was interested in the trip. He did spend 10 minutes asking him questions. The only question he asked me was what flavour I was going to get. We then set off on the interstate south, but decided to take the time to go on the back roads to Waterbury Vermont via Stowe. This is a curvy road thru to the ski village. The rain started shortly after this. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1797/...e8849999_b.jpgNew England by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/850/2...96547ca5_b.jpgNew England-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We arrived to B&J after 221 km and almost 3 1/2 hours because it started to rain heavily again. The place was packed and we had to line up for our ice cream treats!
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1780/...67725883_b.jpgNew England-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1819/...837722f3_b.jpgNew England-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1813/...780b0b43_b.jpgNew England-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1791/...de0dd3a1_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/933/3...9208e17b_b.jpgNew England-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Welcome to America, after that great trip around the world :thumbup1: I hope you two still intend on traveling since your my go-to lunch time read.
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Well we have to get these bikes home to BC, but then we need a rest. We plan to take a break for 12-18 months. Time to spend some time with our families after 6 1/2 years. Next adventure TBD! Sara |
It is now raining harder and we headed for the Interstate again. We hit several back ups for construction, but finally pulled into Max at 415 after 501 km. They were super welcoming and immediately went over the list Dan had emailed and discussed our other concerns. The 650 had had no issues with oil since we left the severe heat in Borneo.
In fact they had Lulu up on the lift and had started the work before 5. We are getting the fluids all changed, new tires, valve check (will be terrible), battery check and likely change, brake pads and plugs, new rear sprockets, and also replacing all the screws we are now missing. The guys at Motowerks Technica in Kuala Lumpur said they did the valve check and we paid for it, but they did not. I am surprised we made it here with out blowing up an engine. We also found out later just how many things they messed up on. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1791/...8f70b05c_b.jpgNew England-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We have been lucky to be invited to the home of Rich and Karlene the pedal bikers we met in Costa Rica in 2012 and in New Zealand in 2018. They live an hour from Max and came to pick us up. We are so happy to have a few down days and to be so relaxed with our friends. The 800 has a broken cam shaft end cap (Motowerks again) and the part did not arrive from Fedex on Saturday and so we are imposing on our friends for a few more days until they reopen on Tuesday. We managed to get a lot of rest, get in a big hike, spend an afternoon in Concord, and shared a lot of tales of adventure.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1797/...7861792d_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1779/...c68ea42f_b.jpgNew England-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1836/...aff8fcef_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/848/4...c59935da_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1839/...4b0a38a3_b.jpgNew England-18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1815/...d6872a5c_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1838/...bbd6826a_b.jpgNew England-21 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/929/4...c7904816_b.jpgNew England-22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Finally it is Tuesday and we headed back to the coast via car for a tour of the Hamptons, eat some great seafood for lunch, and then they dropped us at BMW. We had a few last minute items to deal with for the bikes and then the bill! They threw in some t shirts, stickers, and some fuel line cleaner.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1814/...cc87aaaa_b.jpgNew England-25 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We set out west on the 101 and then on the toll 95 to get back to Concord in a hurry. From here we rode north on the 3, which winds thru small NH towns. We managed to get as far as Plymouth by 630 and found a small family run motel for the night. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/849/2...b78037a1_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-03 at 18.38.47 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1811/...3794f808_b.jpgIMG_3237 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Today we have a route that includes 3 of "the best motorcycle roads in NH”.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1816/...56c0eb49_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-03 at 19.12.05 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We headed first into Plymouth town and to UPS to get our cancelled Carnets sent back to the Swiss Motoring Association so we can get our bond funds back! Then to the car wash for a quick spruce up. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1833/...c705ae18_b.jpgFILE1126 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We rode west on the 25/ 118 to Warren and then onto Lincoln. This is a cute town with several souvenir shops and an old general store. We then did a detour north on the 93 to the Old Man of the Mountain historic site (the natural “face” has apparently eroded and fallen off said mountainside) . https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1835/...bc929869_b.jpgFILE1138 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We backtracked on the 93 and then hit the famous Kancamagus highway. This is a windy swerving road thru the White Mountain Forrest. There is another motorcycling side road on the Bear Notch pass to Bartlett.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1799/...fb4cd756_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1779/...7d51d33f_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/850/4...9befbeb0_b.jpgFILE1180 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
This means another back track to Passaconway and across the Alton covered bridge to the Passaconway road.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1775/...e7ab6a8d_b.jpgNew England-26 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr This is a small narrow back road with no traffic. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1814/...888199cf_b.jpgFILE1192 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1772/...9edc5e6f_b.jpgFILE1197 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1833/...917a2f95_b.jpgFILE1198 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1779/...abe211f0_b.jpgFILE1206 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Here we ended up north of Conway and then rode onto Intervale. The road east from here is the narrow steep curvy Hurricane Mountain Road.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1799/...f2744550_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1838/...f55910db_b.jpgFILE1238 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/848/2...bb5fce6a_b.jpg Now we were back to the secondary roads to Freyburg and then we made our way south east to Portland and onto Cape Elizabeth. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1775/...cae60d2b_b.jpgIMG_3240 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1800/...715ab1fe_b.jpgFILE1258 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1815/...05dae9ab_b.jpgFILE1260 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/936/2...1e9b17ed_b.jpgFILE1263 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/934/3...91d23be6_b.jpgFILE1275 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We are staying tonight at the home of Peter who had messaged us from our ADV RR. He was kind enough to offer us a place to stay, but also to have a few things shipped to his house. He is a super nice guy who is a newer rider , but a keen ADV member! It was great to share some stories with him and to listen to his adventure plans.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1818/...6aa2c763_b.jpgNew England-29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/940/4...ed660e9a_b.jpgNew England-27 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1773/...786f675f_b.jpgNew England-28 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
It poured rain all night, but the sun was out in the morning. We are headed today to the Maine cottage of some friends we met on the Camino in 2016. We set out from Peter's the 4 miles to the famous Fort William lighthouse.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1814/...0983c9e1_b.jpgFILE1283 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1798/...357fdd2e_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1820/...b7be671e_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1839/...fc201357_b.jpgNew England-31 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Then the plan was to go north on the 1 to Camden and then loop up to Embden.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1836/...c014057f_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-03 at 18.48.14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We abandoned this by Wiscasset as the “coastal route” is a 4 lane road and not ON the coast. We stopped in Farmingdale at the Hi-Hat Pancake house and drive in for a good old hearty American lunch and then made our way on the back roads to arrive at the camp on Embden Pond by 3 pm. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1797/...a2713496_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1791/...7f8e6224_b.jpgFILE1332 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1811/...4237ecac_b.jpgFILE1338 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1776/...17bbc01e_b.jpgFILE1339 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
This was just in time for a swim and cocktails on the dock. We had a great time meeting old friends Bart and Lisa and new friends Sarah, Hillary, Jim, and Larry.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1792/...a118f5e1_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1779/...8a8b76d5_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/942/4...ec3301a0_b.jpgNew England-32 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1774/...f9184077_b.jpgNew England-33 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1799/...4af494e4_b.jpg |
The forecast for today is cloudy and cooler and so we had an hours drive 9 miles past Monson to the trail head and then a hike up Borestone mountain for a panoramic view.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1836/...4d177c1f_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/937/4...b66a2b84_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1819/...466cca9f_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/932/4...62f50796_b.jpgIMG_3289 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1776/...efbfb0e3_b.jpgIMG_3293 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Back in Monson is the home of Spring Creek BBQ. We had to wait for the fresh batch of ribs and brisket and then we devoured it! The forecast is for it to pour rain and it stared just as we arrived back to the cottage and continued heavily all night. We have just over 800 km from here to our friends cottage on PEI and we have to be there in 3 days time.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/859/4...8b3dcbe0_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/928/4...5e903ef9_b.jpgIMG_5535 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1795/...e264ff06_b.jpgIMG_3299 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/859/4...cbb4e9aa_b.jpgIMG_3298 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/939/4...4892bbe5_b.jpgIMG_6103 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
It is still horrific outside, but we all have to leave today as Bart and Lisa have rented out their cabin for a week starting today. We decided to just head an hour away to the capital of Augusta and wait out the storm.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1820/...c341cf80fd.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-04 at 21.05.54 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr There is a hurricane warning in Massachusetts so we need to get inside. We hid out in a hotel and by 4 pm the rain had stopped. By 7 it was blue sky and this is the forecast for tomorrow as well. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1792/...7dfd1375_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-10 at 23.00.54 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Today we will make for the coast of Maine at Camden in 66 km via the secondary roads. There is very little traffic even though it is Sunday. Camden is a quaint village on the sea famous for their wooden tall ships and boat building. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1811/...a34120d1_b.jpgFILE1348 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/938/4...f5cce6b7_b.jpgFILE1360 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1799/...efae5816_b.jpgNew England-37 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1778/...81c77731_b.jpg |
From here we mostly stayed on the 1 north which passes thru scenic green hillsides and small towns, but we did take a few detours on some country lanes. One was to see the lighthouse at Lincolnville. Here there is a nice harbor where we got some lunch to enjoy with a view of the sea.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/930/3...c2afbd29_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1836/...819a1fbe_b.jpgFILE1387 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/942/4...35bc2cea_b.jpgFILE1389 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/850/4...7318d1a2_b.jpgNew England-40 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr This route is true New England with the seaside town and the wooden houses. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1837/...8a8c9714_b.jpgFILE1393 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/937/4...5f670d4b_b.jpgFILE1394 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/936/4...cab7b2a1_b.jpgFILE1398 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
On the way north from here we again tried to get off the main road and stick closer to the coast.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1774/...e4a4a3cf_b.jpgIMG_3319 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1811/...43b6fca4_b.jpgFILE1400 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1840/...f6bc3a52_b.jpgFILE1402 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1838/...b7b9b72a_b.jpgFILE1407 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1814/...a3e2f803_b.jpgFILE1410 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We arrived to Ellsworth and hit the Mc D to use their wifi to find a place for the night in the town of Bar Harbour. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/938/4...66e9545e_b.jpgFILE1420 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1840/...bd3a1feb_b.jpgFILE1428 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
This is a super picturesque village on the sea that is full of tourists and LOBSTER! We checked into the inn and headed into the village harbor. The place is mobbed with people and so we walked up the side streets to find a place for a drink and some shrimps for happy hour. We had also reserved a table at a classic lobster place with a view for later.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1778/...7890a0ec_b.jpgNew England-41 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1834/...891cb3ef_b.jpgNew England-42 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1865/...b80f08a9_b.jpgIMG_3328 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1858/...29cc2871_b.jpgIMG_3329 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1798/...82638ee7_b.jpgNew England-43 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1818/...ae9ac78e_b.jpgNew England-44 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1780/...d7ccc094_b.jpgNew England-45 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr New England-46 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/938/4...54fcc388_b.jpgNew England-47 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1778/...0e8db6bc_b.jpg |
The plan for the day is to tour a bit around the Acadia park peninsula and then try to get as far as we can. In the next 2 days we have to ride 685 km to Pleasant View on the west coast of PEI in 2 days time.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/930/3...449ab760_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-10 at 23.05.11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We set out from Bar Harbor south on the 3 and tried to stay along the shore road to Seal harbor. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/848/4...7036f0c9_b.jpgFILE1444 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/935/2...2d700235_b.jpgFILE1449 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1774/...0ce8089b_b.jpgNew England-51 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1771/...72b67bf2_b.jpgFILE1471 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
From here we backtracked on the 102 and the 3 north to the Highway 1, then turned east to Whiting, and then north to the border at Saint Steven. We had a nice sunny, but warm day. The border crossing was just a 15 minute line up and then a few questions and we were back in Canada! First stop pita pit!
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1777/...2efb9202_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-10 at 23.03.29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1814/...b94c3c81_b.jpgFILE1483 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1793/...ed18f88a_b.jpgFILE1490 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/934/3...c41d07d6_b.jpgFILE1493 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1840/...10cf2b75_b.jpgIMG_3324 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We still have 55 km to go to get to Moncton New Brunswick. We did try to stick to some of the coast roads on the Bay of Fundy after St John.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/941/2...3c9f440b_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/934/2...03c34202_b.jpgFILE1524 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1838/...5243d91c_b.jpgFILE1528 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1774/...2911bcbb_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1778/...d9a9db70_b.jpgPEI-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1799/...95fc34c7_b.jpgPEI by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The highway driving is draining and we finally arrived to the hotel at 645 pm. We walked 2 km back up the road to the Swiss Chalet for the biggest salad you have ever seen. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1839/...7cace289_b.jpgIMG_3326 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We headed out at 9 for the 214 km to Pleasant View on the west coast of PEI, but stopped at Canadian tire for a few needed items (chain lube, micro fiber cloths, and some oil).
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/942/4...8aec0a91_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-10 at 23.06.45 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1780/...44bf8d9d_b.jpgPEI-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We had a cloudy and cooler day today and rain was threatened. There was almost no traffic on the main roads, but we did some side tracking to the secondary roads as well. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1778/...f218c62e_b.jpgFILE1553 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1833/...b5f8d50e_b.jpgFILE1559 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1771/...87fc5a36_b.jpgFILE1566 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The Confederation bridge to PEI is 13 km long and a return fare is 18.75$ for a motorcycle, which you pay when leaving. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1792/...330f95a7_b.jpgFILE1576 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We decided to stick to the main highway to get to our friends place earlier in the day, but stopped in Summerside at the Liquor store for some wine and bubbles. This island is SO green it is incredible. There are fields full of produce everywhere and of course a lot of potatoes.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1815/...32df21fd_b.jpgFILE1590 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1832/...48df51f1_b.jpgFILE1591 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/849/4...395476d0_b.jpgFILE1592 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/936/4...5e07667d_b.jpgFILE1610 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr It was so great to see Ed and Janice again and hang out at the cottage on the sea. They got a call at 4 pm that the YMCA camp their 10 year old was dropped off at 2 days ago was closing because of a Norwalk virus outbreak and they had to leave ASAP for the 4 hour drive to get him near St John and then drive back. We had the cabin to ourselves for the night. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1837/...4d502ab3_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1772/...f9b43888_b.jpgPEI-20 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Since the gang arrived back at 1 am we just lazed about all day today. It was hot and sunny so we managed to get laundry washed and hung to dry. The water temperature here is very warm and so a swim was in order as well. The water is incredibly warm here, which is astonishing for Canada.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1832/...7ab304ee_b.jpg Ed used his new pizza oven for dinner and Janice served up her famous "Dark and Stormy". https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1794/...5210d194_b.jpgPEI-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1780/...2a428769_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1833/...69abac54_b.jpgPEI-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1771/...e99eb6e0_b.jpgPEI-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1835/...6dca84a4_b.jpgPEI-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Today is a rainy day and we were trapped inside for most of it, but we did ride out to the Skinner's Pond Harbor to see the lobster boats being loaded for the first day of the season tomorrow.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1835/...132ae01c_b.jpgPEI-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1819/...52bcd80c_b.jpgPEI-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1834/...8df943a1_b.jpgPEI-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1798/...cfa81d70_b.jpgPEI-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1798/...2749fe70_b.jpgPEI-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1791/...99425165_b.jpgPEI-17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1777/...7dee972b_b.jpgPEI-19 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1779/...9d6dca25_b.jpgPEI-21 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Ed and Janice had to leave us again to get back to Charlottetown tonight so we have the place to ourselves again. We will meet them there tomorrow.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1780/...120492c9_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-10 at 23.09.21 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We woke to a sunny and beautiful day for the ride south to West Point and then onto Victoria harbors to see the first of the lobsters arriving. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1792/...f0b137c0_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/941/3...68eb5dca_b.jpgFILE1642 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/940/3...924881e1_b.jpgFILE1644 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1814/...c5e15d0d_b.jpgFILE1649 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We continued on the back roads to Abrams and then Summerside for a lunch of seafood chowder and lobster rolls.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/849/3...87192486_b.jpgFILE1662 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1772/...94cece9c_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1772/...7a758fba_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1780/...e34dc585_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1798/...2c4ee02a_b.jpgFILE1718 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1899/...1c5028f0_b.jpgIMG_3331 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1879/...b3a99e08_b.jpgIMG_3332 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1862/...b8d77491_b.jpgIMG_3333 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Here we went on the 2 again north east until we hit the 6 and could head to the coast again. There are so few people here in PEI they only need 3 characters on the plates!
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1836/...8393eb90_b.jpgFILE1721 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1794/...bf10fa52_b.jpgFILE1726 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1791/...09d1ff03_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1836/...2b78f759_b.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/936/3...2073ee86_b.jpgFILE1765 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/934/2...cf1f7ae4_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1819/...6c03506e_b.jpg |
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