New Year's Resolution

[Digger]

The bike and trailer travelled comfortably in the baggage hold of the bus to Thakhet. Trev and I swapped bikes when he left. This bike is new so I found a new use for pool noodles. The bus was fully loaded with fat arsed western tourists. They even had them sitting in the aisles



A village graveyard. I guess they have to bury them somewhere. No headstones...just painted signs

[Digger]

Oops, repeated post.

[Digger]

I’m off the main roads again...limited tonnages across these bridges. That means no heavy vehicles. Winner, winner. I walked the bike across because of missing planks and exposed nails


A Cock Fighting ‘stadium’. The sport is banned in all of Asia but difficult to police in rural areas. Two shall enter; only one will leave (alive). The Cocks are left out in the sun before a fight to make them more pissed off and angry

I can not enter Vietnam until the 28th so have time on my side.
Happy Australia Day Slackers.

[Bozo]

Digger
Very appropriate that you should be flying the boxing kangaroo flag in Asia on Australia Day.

My uncle was involved in the Bond Syndicate flag creation and I was aware of the history of the image dating back to World War 2.

The person credited with creating the design, Warrant Officer Lineth Frank (Gus) Bluett, put it on the side of Wirraway aircraft when he was based at Sembawang, Singapore.

Warrant Officer Bluett was a fitter armourer who also had skills as a draftsman. He had left Perth in July 1940 serving for 20 months in Asia before being evacuated from Singapore in March 1942. He also served for a brief time at Potshot (Exmouth).

Born in Goulburn in 1913 he lived until 1989, long enough to see his design used in the America's Cup in 1983.

Happy Australia Day.

Bozo

[Swampy]

Digger, That bridge over the river looks like an old Bailey Bridge am I correct?

Swampy

[Digger]

Digger, That bridge over the river looks like an old Bailey Bridge am I correct?

Swampy

I thought the same thing...if my memory serves me well I think it is a ‘double double’(?).

[Swampy]

Thanks mate I thought so and great bridges and last forever bar whatever decking they put on them!!

Swampy

[Digger]

Digger
Very appropriate that you should be flying the boxing kangaroo flag in Asia

Bozo

I flew the Australian flag on my first visit overseas but still had to explain what country I was from. There is no mistaking the kangaroo. Besides, I don’t want to be mistaken for an American, or worse still, a Kiwi. I lost one flag in Thailand years ago and it was like losing my identity.

[Digger]

Heading East(ish) toward the Border and distances are dictated by guesthouse distance apart. Today (Sunday) was 40km. Tomorrow will be 80km. The highway is in good shape partly due to joint venture between Laos and Japan (surprisingly). The map I have still shows part of the highway to be unsealed which is not the case. Strong headwind today which will continue.



Heading East...still 2-3 days from the Border into Vietnam.


Military pillbox dating back to who knows when. Possibly a throwback to the war for independence from the French. Laos was also heavily bombed during the Vietnam war because of the Ho Chi Minh Trail which crosses into Laos.

[Digger]

Markings on the road (straight, flat, good surface) which is usually the signs of a fatality here. These markings always make me nervous


Strong headwind today...that is likely to continue for the next three days (according to my research).

Distance cycled to date - 428km.

SPOT Link is here;
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa

[pspencer]

Great reports Digger, please keep it up and fly the kangaroo. Not too many kangaroos across the Nullarbor this time and also only saw one crazy bicyclist head down fully loaded into a stiff breeze- not much fun there!

[Digger]

and also only saw one crazy bicyclist head down fully loaded into a stiff breeze- not much fun there!

I have seen many cyclists in my travels throughout australia (including Great Central Road and Gunbarrel Highway) and I just shake my head in disbelief. Having said that, I get similar looks from the locals around these parts as well

[Digger]

A sugar refinery in rural Laos...the sugar is exported to Thailand. From what I’ve seen, all the cane is harvested by hand. A big job



The paper map I’m using still indicated that part of the road to the Border is unsealed. That is not the case. The road has been sealed by Japan as a gift to Laos. I’m a little confused as to why



There are still a couple of bridges to be completed...

[Digger]

Good, flat and with a wide shoulder...but not so interesting for many km



My last night in Laos was spent in a small town named Sepon on Route 9 near what use to be the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The original location of Sepon village was 6km away and was flattened by the US bombing campaign during the War. I didn’t bother having a look. I reckon the locals would have salvaged everything usable


A good way to start the day...a huge soup. Hydrates at the same time as it fills your guts. It also helps when you can identify most (but not all) the ingredients

[Digger]

Border crossings are always an interesting experience. This one was no different. I had to organise a visa for Vietnam before leaving Australia. You can’t apply for a ‘visa on arrival’ at some of these border crossings. That is a good thing. It means you are less likely to be exposed to corrupt immigration officials because no money has to change hands


Crossing into Vietnam at the Lao Bao crossing Today (Wednesday).


Not travelling far tomorrow but it could still be a workout

Looking forward to the change in culture, currency and heading for the coast (sort of).

Total so far - 606 km

SPOT Link is here;
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa