Daily Stats
Distance: 68kms
Time: 4 hours 59 mins
Elevation: 2305 meters yep that’s true 🥵
Speed: 13.8 kph
Accumulated Elevation: 32405 meters
Accumulated Distance: 2048 kms
Daily Disasters
I really have no where to go, 2 days ago I said Brutal, yesterday I said The Only Way is Up today was most certainly tougher than either. Possibly one of my hardest days on a bike. Harder than L’Angliru, definitely harder than the Zoncolon. The gradient really wasn’t so bad, yes it was 15, 16, 20% but it was the fact that it was practically constant for 30kms. Yes of course there were some 8% stretches that really did feel flat.
The day started with a long chat with Andrew from the Netherlands. Over breakfast. He too was cycling around Thailand.
I was reluctant to leave as the fog was so dense we could hardly see the end of the property. Eventually we mustered the energy to leave.
And maybe a kilometer later the road started to rise and just didn’t stop.
I wish I could say how beautiful the scenery was either side, or how much I enjoyed the first 20kilometers, but it was foggy and I was just concentrating on moving forward.
At 9kms to go is the police checkpoint and sort of marks the start of the climb, despite the devastating 20 kms you had already done. There is a ticket to buy THB300. I asked if I could leave my bags there they were so pleasant and I dropped the bags off. And really no point in hanging around I set off.
It’s just a matter of putting all your effort into churning the cranks. I know I usually pedal at 90-100 rpm but this was less than 40 rpm. And it just went on and on. I had to stop a few times, I used the excuse I wanted a drink but really I just couldn’t carry on. 9kms it’s only 9kms surely it can’t be that hard. Each time I did my rest stop my legs nearly collapsed. After a good hour + of riding I saw the 3kms to go. It was at this point joy starts to fill the head and that gradient just dropped a little bit. Way earlier I noticed a cyclist behind me and I was riding in fear of being overtaken and if Kaj had not stopped for a drink she probably would have caught me.
She was on a tour of Thailand also. I took some photos for her. Cyclists are not allowed to cycle down. So you have to get a taxi truck to take you down or hitch. We were offered the taxi for THB 1000. We both thought this was a bit steep so we waited 5 mins and asked a pickup driver if he would take us down to the police checkpoint. He readily agreed and wouldn’t take any cash.
After the police station we rode down to a resturant. Then went our separate ways. Kaj is a German medical student with near perfect English, I am humble by her vocabulary. But I really enjoyed her company.
I eventually got to my guesthouse. Showered then went out and had my worst meal in Thailand. There are no pictures, I had to eat lots of peanuts to take away the taste.
A Couple of Days Ride Outta....... 