e2e.bike

Cycling adventures across Britain and beyond

Menu
  • End to Ends
    • Britain
    • Ireland
    • France
    • Belgium
    • Spain
    • Poland
    • Slovakia
    • Isle of Man
    • Faroes
    • Cuba
    • Sri Lanka
    • Taiwan
  • Coast to Coasts
  • Yorkshire Ridings
  • Others
  • Writings
Menu
← PreviousNext →

Sri Lanka 7: Balangoda to Haputale

Posted on 20 January 20152 April 2021 by Rob Ainsley


A short distance today – just 30 miles, whatever that is in km – but very strenuous ones, into Hill Country. There was around 1500m of climb, whatever that is in feet. But the dawn start from Balangoda was a delight, cycling through sunrise rice paddies to the sound of birdsong. Lots of steady climbing, and several downhills that were exhilarating but lost all that height-gain. Though with views like this, I didn’t mind too much. (pic).


We’re in tea country here, a Sri Lankan speciality of course. One plantation had a cafe where you can try their product, factory-fresh (pic). It was stronger and more tannic than we’re used to in England; I liked it very much. Tea-factory bike tours of Sri Lanka could rival distillery bike tours of Scotland, and you wouldn’t have to worry about how much you were drinking.


On and on uphill went the road (pic), with lovely vistas over the lower-lying valleys and distant hills. They’re so unused to seeing tourists here that all the stallholders selling me water, cold drinks and curries forgot to overcharge me.

I rolled up at my destination, the hilltop town of Haputale, not long after noon (pic). I checked into a hotel, where they are used to seeing tourists.

They’re clearly sticklers for accuracy here, giving the elevation of the place to the nearest millimetre (pic).

Miles today: 29
Total miles: 164
Miles since Dondra Head: 126

Previous
←   Sri Lanka 6: Udawalawe to Balangoda
Next
Sri Lanka 8: Haputale →

You are here

e2e.bike > End to Ends > Sri Lanka > Sri Lanka 7: Balangoda to Haputale

Random Posts

  • P2G 1: Poole to Bath3 July 2010
    Set off from Poole at 9.30ish, having taken a ludicrously early train …
  • Canterbury 2: Margate and Otty Bottom22 May 2018
    More route research, round the Kent coast from Canterbury.
  • Kidderminster 3: Canal plus15 November 2021
    It was tempting, having finished most of my research, to take the …

Recent Posts

  • Morley: Gone for a Beryl Burton 28 June 2022
  • King Alfred Way 5: Marlborough to Reading 21 June 2022
  • King Alfred Way 4: Amesbury to Marlborough 20 June 2022

Search e2e.bike

Find me

        
Facebook • Twitter • Linked In • Email
© 2022 e2e.bike | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme