It's another early start, Dons heading of on his own today and I'm calling it a day my poor old body has had enough and I really have punished my damaged hand to far. After some breakfast Don heads of and I'm left there thinking about the last couple of weeks, it's been amazing but has certainly taken it's toll on me, my thumb although getting X rays in Thailand is still giving me problems and my big toe nail has just fell of, I'm reminded of this trip everyday of the week.

After a breakfast and a shower I'm feeling much better I still have another 10 days in Asia should I head to Thailand and grab some R&R? Or stay in Laos. I start looking through my waypoints in my trustee GPS, jeez there is so much I haven't seen yet.

Damn it's only 8.30 am I'm feeling great big change of plan I'm going to ride another day, I just don't know when to stop

I decide a quick hop down to Attapue to see the Sam missiles, stay there overnight and see what happens in the morning....

It's a beautiful morning in Pakse and this looks like an easy day with lots of tarmac, how wrong I was

Here is the route in black



Suns shining



I head south for a about 50k's then it's a quick left onto the 18a, it's not long before I've encounter the worst road I've ever ridden, broken tarmac, thick dust and great big craters, the dust is like fog and there is a lot of traffic.

A little further up the traffic clears and the forest starts as does the water crossings.



Not much to worry about here I've had 2 weeks training on the Hochi Minh trail, it starts to get more remote but I'm still up beat. Lots of little villages but I'm not stopping today I want to get to my destination quickly and have a relaxing evening with a few s, it's at this point that the day changes.



This is deep fast and super slippery and the ferryboat is not there

I walked it and decided it was to much, the rocks where like ice the water up to my jewels in places with a really strong current I could not do this on my own, one slip and I'm in real trouble. Contemplating my future a guy comes over and says he will show me the way, so I watch him walk it and remember his route, that's him in the middle, my turn

I ask a couple of kids to walk either side at the back and help the guide was upfront showing me the way, in we go and its got a few things puckering up.





I made it, gave the kids a few kip, the guide would take no money so I pressed on





Onwards up the trail and more water.



I have to wait until the tractors pass, the slop is so slippery I have to help them push, in return one of the guys walks back across showing me which way to go, this is one is the deepest with the water half way up the barrel, power it trough praying I make it, then it's up the slope sliding all over the place.... made it

View from the other side





Further up the trail and the mud is like poured concrete, I'm getting stuck and it's tough going, I'm covered in mud and having a ball, but it's hard



And more water



Then I get stuck big time, it's like glue, I have to lay the bike down here and plan my escape, the bike will not move....



It would take me 30 mins to wrestle the bike out, I had drunk all my water and was really hot next village I would have to re supply. It's getting harder and the fatigue is coming back, I'm thinking I should have stayed in Pakse.



I carry on and then hit a deep river, I cannot cross here and there is nobody here to help, before I even think about taking a picture I decide to turn back, I know what to expect, so the plans changed both sides of the travelling alone coin in a instance.

The first village I get to I stock up, once again the village turns out to see the Ting Tong Falang.









At was at this point I checked my phone, I had got 2 messages, 1st from Don at 9am saying 'get outta bed and ride', if only he knew, 2nd was from Sam he was still in Pakse and wondered what I was doing, he did not bother going down to Kong island with the others and had relaxed for a few days, so here we go again with a plan change....

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Keep up...!!

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3mountainsadventure

Thanks Zandesiro..

The new plan was to go back to Pakse dump the bike and head back up to Vientiane on the overnight bus with Sam. The bike would follow me the next day on the top of the bus for $30, I didn't fancy 500ks of tarmac and the bus had beds on it, great.

I slept all the way and we arrived about 8am and headed for a Hotel, Don had phoned and said his bike had broken and that he was making the same trip up as me, he also sorted out some confusion with my bike and ensured it would be with me soon.



Not much damage considering I fell on this side at least 15 times. Brilliant bike no problems not even a puncture in 2487 K'ms, other than check the oil daily and kick the tyres I did nothing to the bike. Great service from remote Asia (Jim) who's bikes are maintained by Fuark to high standards.



So that's it for me on the bike, time to stop and fix my broken body, it's been the hardest thing I have ever done, travelling alone on the first bit was awesome it really challenged me and being honest I don't really remember so much about it other than it was very remote and some times scary, I tried to enjoy those moments rather than panic.

Back in Vientiane the troops where reassembling, all the other aussies where headed back as well as Don, time for some fun without bikes.



Sam and I headed for the war Museums.






The inside was closed? so I wandered round the back.



Lots to see





We met up with all the other guys and hung out for a few days until we all shipped out, I went to to Thailand to visit the folks then onto Chaing Mia and finally a beach in Hau Hin.

What a trip, made some good friends scared the poo out myself and a whole new world was opened up to me, Laos is a stunning place with such friendly people, a forgotten place in many ways that has played such a big part in our western life's today, yet most people have never heard of the place.


Craig and I where left gobsmacked about Laos, so much so that we wanted to go back, so we are quitting the Jobs and heading out to Laos in November for 6 months to try and aid some good causes, more details on the website.

I can bang on forever about Laos but I have to wind this story up so another can unfold, thanks for all the comments and views I will be sure to use HU once we get back on the trails.

Riding the trails of Laos for Charity | Horizons Unlimited


Cheers

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great report !!!

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R 1200 GS '08 en G 650 X Challenge '08

Thanks Rone, I just read it back myself and I'm going to re-visit some of them places......and take my time...

Hope to see you in January...

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