Oh The Humiliation!

Daily Stats

Distance: 119kms

Time: 7 hours 45 mins

Elevation: 2967 meters

Speed: 15.4 kph

Accumulated Distance: 1142 kms

Daily Disasters

I heard a beeping but ignored it, battery completely drained on Di2
Totally underestimating the elevation

I was feeling pretty chipper this morning, days rest, clothes laundered, bike washed, chain waxed. Perfect timing for the ferry across the mighty Mekong River.

The riding is so much better. There is minimal traffic on the road. This road ends at the ferry which only services up to small vans so none of the lorries come this way. As a consequence the road surface is almost totally intact. Minimal dust.

I was a chipper bunny as I rode along at the start. I knew there were some proper mountain climbs. But I was enamoured by the beauty of the scenery. Oh how naive I was. There were 3 big climbs 1200m, 1400m, and 1300m. And in-between there was a sawtooth profile, and every up was at 15 %.

After a bit I was reduced to walking up each climb, I hung my head in shame as the motorbikes went past. And I nearly cried when Martje from Italy stopped for a chat. She had ridden from South to North in Thailand. We warned each other of the road elevation ahead, she rode on to find a camp spot. My legs were so wobbly I could hardly move. My heels were rubbing to blisters. And it was so hot, very little shade, i drank all my water. This route has had limited drink supply shops. Luckily I passed through a small village, I devoured 2 orange Fantas and decanted a bottle of water into my bottles.

My route took me straight to a guesthouse. I checked in before I fully assessed the impact of a Lao wedding. They love the music to distortion levels and beyond.