Chiang Khan to Sangkom

105 km! Tandem and legs behaved but we were really pleased to find accommodation by the Mekong albeit the bamboo hut was basic (we didn't mind) and dirty (we did).. But it's quiet and the view peaceful. 

Well, it was peaceful until loudspeakers blasted some kind of thumping music all afternoon (right behind our hut). We found out it was market day for Lao people

Chilis 

Fried crickets and larvaes 

Chiang Khan

Two delightful couple of days in this picturesque little town (overrun by Thai tourists taking selfies - but saw only one foreigner!), romantic (and very basic!) stay in fisherman's hut, the most beautiful spot in Chiang Khan for 300 Bahts (£6)

John slaved away

I relaxed...

Dan Sai to Chiang Khan

Said good bye to the lovely two ladies who looked after us

And had an easy ride, flattish road

And tandem behaved all the way to one of the rivers that throws itself into the Mekong

Stayed the night at Ban Pak Huai and had pic-Nixon room

Then started towards Chiang Khan, only 55km away but so tiring with many teep ups and downs. Arrived in Chiang Khan exhausted

Rain

We have been stuck in Dan Sai for 2 days, prisoners of the rain and cold and the wretched tandem with its broken front derailer cable..

Met Tharee at the local restaurant, who is a 72 yr old Bangkok lady who has come here to look at her land. She taught us a few useful Thai words (mainly food..)

Tandem is now working as well as it will, still jumping a few gears but at least the 3 chains are working. Unfortunately despite many attempts we couldn't put the protective little cap on the shifter.. But we know much about gear cables and chain and derailer adjustment!

The sun has made a short appearance and we have decided to go across the mountains on route 2114 towards the  Mekong, regardless of the weather...

Frozen

Have reached Dan Sai, Mountain Green Resort 

We were supposed to stay in tent (for economy), one of the small blue ones,but splashed out on a room instead

Weather forecast said rain rain cold cold and our front detailler cable broke halfway here!

So we are spending two days trying to figure out how to repair it (mercifully john had packed a spare one) 

And trying to keep warm!

Nakkon Thai

Here we are in the mountains after 90 km of hilly terrain. Mercifully weather was cool (in fact it is positively cold now and we hadron snuggle up in our sleeping bags to keep warm) and we survived!

After we left Sukhothai and the lovely At Home guesthouse we spent a night in very cheap but clean guesthouse by Phitsanulok bus terminal 2. We took ages to find it because nothing was written in English!

It is good to be back on the road, but we find traffic terribly fast and much worse than 10 years ago..

This was during s quiet moment on the road to Phitsanulok, so far we have always a spare lane to cycle in. A godsend with these fast drivers!

Sukhothai

Arrived here a couple of days ago, by train to Phitsanulok and 66km leaving at 3pm.

It is still very hot. Apparently it can reach 43degrees...

Sukhothai (the rising of happiness)'s kingdom flourished from mid 13th to late 13th century, the golden age of Thai civilisation. The Sukhothai dynasty expanded its kingdom to include an area even larger than present day Thailand.

We cycled to the historical park, one of Thailand most impressive World Heritage Sites: the remains of 21 sites and 4 large ponds within the old walls. It was lovely cycling under the shade of beautiful acacia and mango trees

Breathtakingly beautiful Buddhas