We prepay our hills

If you are cycling uphill for about an hour and you think you're near the top, then you realise you are looking at a truck arrester bed, then you know what it is to be depressed.

We've been there and done that but it's been so long since the last full post that all of the emotional ups and downs have become indistinct. Many things have now happened that we could never have expected and each of these are worthy of a real retelling. The reality is, However, that when something worth telling happens you are not usually in the position or the mood to talk about it on a blog. When we are back you can hear these stories in full.

The first thing to relate is that we were in a car accident; it was a rainy day and two people on a scooter ran into our car as we were crossing an intersection. The driver of the scooter broke a wrist and lost some teeth but there was a long time when we thought it was more serious than that. We all jumped out when it happened and the crowd that gathered round were torn in interest between the crash itself and top-cat who was standing in the rain in his underpants. Three of the crew took the men to the hospital and negotiated with the family while we were left at the scene. In the end the owner of a restaurant we ate at let us stay in his house for the night. In the morning we got out of there as soon as it was light enough to see. 

We also climbed another mountain. Interesting aspects of this were the guides, one of whom did the climb barefoot until he chanced upon a pair of shoes along the way and neither of whom did any guiding whatsoever.

Today we spoke at a high school. Intan's dad was already scheduled to do the same and he invited us along. We said some things about self belief and perseverance, took photos for a newspaper and had a meal with the staff. Many thanks to the staff and studnts of SMA San Joseph.

For now we are in a city that people call Solo, preparing for the last stage of the trip. Mostly it will be long flat rides from here to Bali with a mountain thrown in for fun as well. If it turns out to be easier from here it's because we've done the hard yards already; we never go down a hill without climbing it first.

 If it turns out to be hard then that's ok too because that's what we're here for.

Until we all meet again. 

Ian "two-beat" Patullo