Thanks Joel, pleased that you appreciate my effort.

As always an evocative summary of your day's adventures. It somehow feels wrong to be liking the photos that have such significance for the Timor Leste people, not because they aren't good photos but rsther that pressing a little heart seems to be a facile reaction. Thanks for sharing.

Superb diarising/blogging/journaling Ian. Thanks for the effort. The depth of the countryside and the stories of the locals need your perspective.
Superb riding BTW. Doing good distance in tough country. Your ability to sniff out the most worthwhile accommodation is second to none. All the best for the Indonesian leg.

I think you might have to write an article for publication somewhere, at least in the indigo foundation journal, on your visit to Timor Leste

Ian’s it’s goal clarification. Helping you aim for substantial areas of land with rideable roads. We can’t have you risking those venerable cycling shoes hopping on miniscule, roadless rocks and atolls across the Savu Sea. That wouldn’t be cricket.

(BTW excellent Friday ride here yesterday. 5°C with WNW winds gusting to 40 km/hr)

Victa - always nice to get a comment like yours. Unfortunately. I'm leaving Timor Leste behind tomorrow.

Ian,
Really enjoying your journal, especially your pespective on Timor Leste. Keep pedalling, keep writing.

Ian- well spotted. I crossed the Loes and have a photo. I will insert it!

I note that the Loes River is one of the few perennial rivers in the north, presumably not this one. (I looked it up because I was puzzled by the border markings for that and, it seems other estuaries.) — Douglas

Ian I’m delighted to read that Tamworth’s musical culture has osmosed your blog. Willy Nelson’s “On the Road Again” is a perfect anthem for cycle touring.

Slightly more seriously, given the tragedy of recent history in the Dili region, a Slim Dusty song (written by his recently departed wife Joy McKean) seems more appropriate. “Looking Forward, Looking Back”.
Amazing how resilient the East Timorese are. Their acknowledging the horrible past, but being able to energetically move on and shape a better future is very impressive.

Graham: that's called "moving the stumps is it not"?

Ok. I’m adding another criterion. The island (or island-continent) has to have at least a day of rideable road. As in an Ian day; so at least a 100km+.
No atoll hopping. :)

Graham It was quite the operation. He sensibly gave the tapes to someone else - a Dutch woman, to get out of the country. This probably explains why they were broadcast first on Dutch TV.

Well done Max. Shows how important telling the story is, especially if powerful images are included.

Thanks Joel. Messages like this make a big difference when the tide is a bit low!