No !

Bill. I'll miss your comments when this journal expires in a week or two. And I remember that, weeks ago, I thought that I had offended you!

Rapidly fading.

Vitus, I am pleased that you're enjoying my blog, and thanks for your fine story. I'm normally happy not knowing what's up ahead and now you have just ruined it for me!! I look forward to the horrible 400 km after Jambi.

Bill, you're a star!

Florence, no, I didn't want plantains. These are a perfect scoffing banana.

Those are probably plantains Ian which you cook in curries or coconut cream.

Having locals run after you to donate money shows how good you are at fundraising.

Indigo’s promotion campaign must be working a treat.

Thanks for this very fine journal . I myself was cycling from Dumai to Jambi and then on to Bukittingi some 8 years ago. Between Pekanbaru and Jambi ( nonstop rolling hills and this 400 km ) a motorcyclist dropped out of a gasoline station, followed me and then drove into my front pannier. When I was catching my bicycle he already extracted my mobile out of my shorts and off he drove. But to my big surprise two truck drivers blocked the street a couple of hundreds meters down , the thief had to stop and they talked to him and when I drove by he handed me my mobile with his fingertips back and drove off again direction gasoline station. That was my little adventure in Sumatra , overall I felt quite secure despite this occurrence. Wish you strong legs, especially for this horrible 400 kms after Jambi!!

Not as invasive as it was

Jackie, I'm afraid that I disagree. Animals in cages are nothing and does it really matter if they go in the pot? It might reduce their suffering. If I can't see an animal in the wild then I don't want to see it. Ian

Graham, I think that you're dead right. Someone always finds another 10 % to clobber you with.

Graham, the SCABB peloton bought fuel directly from a tanker parked outside a fuel station in Uzbekistan.

Thanks Florence, I'm powering on and look forward to seeing you soon. I'm pleased that you're enjoying the blog. Ian

Keep going Ian you are nearly there and we look forward to seeing you back in Canberra soon! The food in Singapore should help makeup for the food in Indonesia! We’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading your daily posts and the pictures have been amazing! Take care and travel safely for the remainder of the trip.