Last night, I got the restaurant down the road to make me an omelette and rice, takeaway, so I could get going at a decent time. I had 100kms to the next reasonably sized town, Lak Sao which is a convenient 36kms from the Laos – Vietnam border.
I said goodbye to the friendly group of 4wd’ers who also stayed at the Eco Lodge. When they rolled in late yesterday and pulled out speakers and crates of beer, I was expecting the worst. Thankfully, there were no karaoke machines in sight. Then I saw all of their kids and I knew I’d sleep well tonight 😁 (John’s theory 175 – parents of young kids fall asleep after 2 drinks). Of course they were up and eating breakfast before 6:45, but so was I. Yes, you read that correctly – up and eating before 6:45am.
They invited me for breakfast too. I had a chat with one guy. He said he drives 4WDs, motorbikes and jetskis but no bicycles ! We are the same age too.
The first 40kms were spent retracing the ride in to Kong Lor on Friday. I expected this to be frustrating, but it was absolutely fantastic. The colours and the striking landscape made for a beautiful ride, and on Sunday morning, everyone was happy, smiling and waving. It was just that damn headwind from the 25km mark that added some difficulty.
After retracing my steps, Komoot took me through some backstreets and really rough roads before I joined up to the main road again. Some kids have me directions, but it would be the way they went from their homes and not the quickest way to the highway. I gave up and went back as the road was so rocky to be limited to walking speed. Finally back on the main road, it wasn’t long before the climb started.
It was steeper than most, but the views were great and I could see where I’d come from earlier in the day.
This is my last full day in Laos, barring catastrophe, and I had an earworm today which was a version of a Sound of Music song – Falang, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye etc. I’m sure if I knew the Lao word for Goodbye, my brain would have used it. It was torture and I couldn’t get rid of it.
Peter Kay used to be my favourite comedian. Anyone who has seen his ‘mis heard lyrics’ video will understand. https://youtu.be/7my5baoCVv8
Unfortunately, most days on this trip include a rendition of “I’m beggin’ you for birdseed …”, And I can’t have a shower without “Wash yer back, …”.
I’d love to do without all of them, but they keep coming back 😁 I hold Peter Kay personally responsible, and I’m hoping a future class action will compensate all innocent victims like me. 😂
When I see something on the road, I play “Stick or snake”, and I’ve never got within 15 metres and not called correctly. Until today. I got within a couple of metres and it tried to get off the road but I ran over it – I had no choice, as I was going downhill pretty quickly.
It went like this :
– that’s a stick
– yeah, definitely a stick
– yeah, it’s a Ssssssss
– bloody hell, it’s a S N A K E !!! Aaaaggghhhh
– kdunk
– kdunk
It was less than a metre and very skinny, but I have no idea what sort it was. I was lucky as there was plenty of fresh snake roadkill today, and they were all bigger than the one I hit.
After the climb, the rest of the ride was really pleasant. I stopped for some lunch at a nice restaurant and continued until 3km from Lak Sao where another Cafe Amazon appeared. It was clearly time for a fresh coffee and smoothie in the aircon. Outside, sat 3 boys who looked like schoolmates, but one was a monk. It looked like they were just catching up before taking their mate back to the monastery.
I’m at the Souliya Hotel in the heart of this nice small town. The owner is a great guy, who printed my Vietnam Visa that I’ll need tomorrow. The hot shower was brilliant and the room is fine and good value for 100k kip which is just under 10AUD.
Dinner was at the busiest restaurant around before heading back and working on this blog 😁
