Freedom Bridge No. 4

Daily Stats

Distance: 82 kms

Time: 4 hours 1 min

Elevation: 787 meters

Speed: 20.6 kph

Accumulated Distance: 1310kms

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Daily Disasters

1. I have pulled something in my hip/side its real painful when breathing deeply. And some movements 😫

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There is a right of passage amongst Laos/Thailand cycle tourists to actually ride across the Freedon Bridge. It is disallowed, no one quite knows why, you are supposed to put tge bike in a bus. I got to the border at about 7.30am there were quite a few travellers already there, Laos exit control was a fast simple procedure. The bus driver looked at me and pointed to the hold of the bus, I shook my head and firmly said no. The driver just shrugged and walked away. I hopped on the bike and rode across the empty bridge. I thought the Thai visa was $40 but it seems it’s free. I’m now in Thailand.

I had not eaten, I didn’t have any money and didn’t have any data. I needed to transfer money from one account to another to then be able to take the money from an 🏧.  I pootled up the road and loitering outside banks/ guesthouses/7Elevens hoping for a free WiFi spot. Eventually. So i did my transactions, got money out bought food and got on my way.

Already Thailand is more sophisticated than either Vietnam or Laos. Bigger better roads. More shops/banks/hotels/restaurants everything. Of course this is a good and bad thing.

But also more temples

My ride today was hot and mainly flat with one climb in the center. I stopped in a small hotel (600THB about £14.30 ) I like that price. Went out for lunch and then did a little maintenance on tge bike.