2013 Tour de Bali - Stage 2

Abang to Tulamben

From the volcano to the sea

This is the biggest stage of the tour: The Queen's stage. We woke to a white out in Kintamani; it looked like our hotel windows had ben white-washed during the night. It soon burned off and we were on the road to our start point. We started on undulating bitumen before gently descending 3 kilometres on jeep track. My riding partner managed to stack while waving good morning - Selamat pagi - to a group of construction workers. Much hilarity ensued. We descended on a finger of land; either side of which has been eroded to expose the chocolate-cake soil. The farmers can't really put a foot wrong here; anything will grow in these volcanic soils. They grow a variety of vegetables and fruits, and they cut fodder for their cows. Sometimes while riding, you will be confronted by what appears to be a large green bush moving along the track, only to find it is a mountain of fodder strapped to a motorbike making its way to the cow barn.

We lost height quickly, but as any mountain biker knows there is usually a pay-off. We climbed up and over ridges before heading north towards the coast. A smooth euro-style road climb delivered us to the lunch stop, and our ever reliable soigner Made waiting for us.

After lunch we descended down the bitumen road in a brake burning frenzy before hitting the single track again. Now we were riding on the northern shoulder of Gunung Agung - the mighty volcano in the north east of Bali. Rising 3142m directly from the sea in places, it dominates the landscape. As we contoured around and then bombed down rough jeep tracks, we were treated to groves of flowering cashew, stark lava flows, and local farmyards. Belligerent dogs and skittish chickens were scattered in our wake. School children, always up for a "Halloo mista" watched and laughed as we bounced and skidded our way through their village or front yard.

When we reached the coast road we had a smooth twenty minute ride to our digs for the next two nights - Ocean View in Tulamben.

Once again we found ourselves in the lap of luxury; our own private villa with a bathroom I have named 'the vast room'. It is about a quarter of the size of my house. After checking in and supping the complimentary watermelon juice, we bade farewell to Ketut and Made 'till Friday.

Now to the priority list: ocean swim, pool swim, massage, shower, beer and sate - sorted.

For those playing at home we rode 45k in 3:07, ascending 636m and descending 1948m

https://www.strava.com/activities/67705836