Continuing south through Laos

Tuesday December 2, 2014, 135 miles (217 km) – Total so far: 6,766 miles (10,889 km)

Tuesday December 2, 2014 Three days 135 miles We have arrived in the very touristy town of Luang Prabang from Oudomxay, Laos. We usually try to avoid towns like this but after hearing the praises from so many cyclists about the Mekong River cruises we wanted to explore the Mekong River. The Mekong River boats go north or south and originally we wanted to head south to Vientiane, Laos which is a border city with Thailand for our next country entry. But due to low water levels the boats are not cruising south this season. So we will backtrack and head northwest to the border city of Houei Sai and enter Thailand there. The Mekong cruise takes two days to cover around 500km and includes a one night guest house stay on the river in the town of Pak Beng. We will then enter Thailand and ride south to Bangkok.

The last several days we have met many touring cyclists from around the world. It has been fun comparing notes and trips. Yesterday we rode with five others so we had a group of seven until we turned off for a lunch spot. We had a regular peloton going as we cruised up and down the hilly road towards Luang Prabang. Soon after lunch we were passed by 15 roadies on a supported bicycle tour of Laos. We can go for weeks without seeing other cyclists so this is a real treat for us. Several of the roadies “slowed down” and talked with Jocelyn. All that I got was a “hi”.

One evening we were looking for a camping spot when I spotted a truck with two tents atop it near a river. We investigated and found a family of four from New Caledonia (a South Pacific island north of New Zealand) that have spent the last 10 years driving a Toyota Land Cruiser around the world. They invited us to camp near them and we swapped stories of our tours between a truck and bicycles as we all have the common goal of exploring the world. Thanks Greg, Magali, Natasha, and Anastasia for sharing your campsite with us and for the delicious popcorn. What a nice visit!

Their website is: http://nomadsroad.com

Here are websites of other cyclists we have met recently:

Chris Pountney (UK): https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/directory/?user=chris__p

Dino (New Zealand) and Suzy (England): https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?doc_id=12976

Delphine and Sebastien (Switzerland): http://enrouesverslest.blogspot.com/

Gail and Charl (South Africa) http://freewheelingtwo.com/

Hiroshi Alzawa (Japan): https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?doc_id=14864

Robin Olf (Germany) http://robin-unterwegs.com

Jocelyn's good deed for the day. We have been carrying cooked sausages to feed hungry dogs. This one looks starving. We see this all through Asia. Female dogs always seem pregnant.
Jocelyn’s good deed for the day. We have been carrying cooked sausages to feed hungry dogs. This one looks starving. We see this all through Asia. Female dogs always seem pregnant.
A roadside temple.
A roadside temple.
A beautiful mural and door. Pictures just don't do it justice.
A beautiful mural and door. Pictures just don’t do it justice.
We met a family of four from New Caledonia traveling the world in this Land Cruiser. They have been out 10 years and have many more to go. They bought the vehicle then built a collapsible platform for two tents. Plus there is solar power in between. It takes 5 minutes to deploy and 15 to stow. And like cyclists they have punctures. The sides are solid and Greg can change out the tube quickly just like us. What nice people. http://nomadsroad.com
We met a family of four from New Caledonia traveling the world in this Land Cruiser. They have been out 10 years and have many more to go. They bought the vehicle then built a collapsible platform for two tents. Plus there is solar power in between. It takes 5 minutes to deploy and 15 to stow. And like cyclists they have punctures. The sides are solid and Greg can change out the tube quickly just like us. What nice people. http://nomadsroad.com
They invited us to share camp with them.
They invited us to share camp with them.
Sunset. It gets black dark at 6 pm.
Sunset. It gets black dark at 6 pm.
Another roadside temple.
Another roadside temple.
Interesting art on the roof. I'm sure this means something.
Interesting art on the roof. I’m sure this means something.
Everyone calls out, "Sabaidi" (hello in Lao)as we ride by, especially the kids.
Everyone calls out, “Sabaidi” (hello in Lao)as we ride by, especially the kids.
A beautiful valley. Sometimes the sun isn't just right though and it appears washed out in pictures.
A beautiful valley. Sometimes the sun isn’t just right though and it appears washed out in pictures.
Our Monday morning commute.
Our Monday morning commute.
Local roadside shrines.
Local roadside shrines.
Riding along another river.
Riding along another river.
"Sabaidi!" The Lao people are so nice.
“Sabaidi!” The Lao people are so nice.

P1070350__1280x510_

Cool guard.
Cool guard.

P1070357__1280x1018_

Two of the cyclists we met going our way...
Two of the cyclists we met going our way…
for a total of five.
for a total of five.
So many temples and Buddhas.
So many temples and Buddhas.

P1070366__1280x691_

P1070368__1280x942_

P1070369__1043x1280_

A young monk who is following the Buddhist life. Normally they don't like to be photographed but he agreed.
A young monk who is following the Buddhist life. Normally they don’t like to be photographed but he agreed.
From our lunch spot.
From our lunch spot.

P1070375__1280x759_

We see people selling a few things on the roadside frequetly. She is also sewing.
We see people selling a few things on the roadside frequetly. She is also sewing.
My mirror is surviving with duct tape.
My mirror is surviving with duct tape.
Business must be slow.
Business must be slow.
A local fountain.
A local fountain.
More temples.
More temples.

P1070389__769x1280_

What a door!
What a door!
She is washing her hair.
She is washing her hair.

P1070393__1190x1280_

Narrow boats along the Mekong River. We will take one of these northwest on Thursday. A bit of backtracking but boats don't travel south down the river due to the low water level. We are really looking forward to sitting on the boat and watching the shoreline go by for two days. This trip is about 500 km with one overnight stop.
Narrow boats along the Mekong River. We will take one of these northwest on Thursday. A bit of backtracking but boats don’t travel south down the river due to the low water level. We are really looking forward to sitting on the boat and watching the shoreline go by for two days. This trip is about 500 km with one overnight stop.

P1070398__1280x960_

Very artsy doors.
Very artsy doors.

2 thoughts on “Continuing south through Laos

  1. Dear Mike and Jocelyn,
    I am delighted by these pictures and feel so blessed to be a part of this journey. Your love and attention, especially on my birthday, is very much appreciated. I really appreciate the arts and cultural aspects of this experience. I would never have thought that you could be so far away and traveled mostly by bicycle. WOW!!! Enjoy the boat ride today and keep us posted…..
    Love always, Andee momster

  2. It will be nice finishing up your trip with the camaraderie of all those other cyclists that you have run across in Laos. You have had quite a memorable journey and the pictures have been great.

    Bruce and Judy

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *