And now for something completely different...

[Bozo]

Digger

I would not be a Mongrel Dog production without some large "offs".

Happy you are OK.

Bozo

[Cookie]

Hello Digger, that gives a whole new meaning to being Rail roaded???? Happy you are okay

[theape]

Them Poms sure knew how to build a narrow gauge railway. 'If we build it they will come".
Guess someone forgot to tell them to leave a clear space on each side for the Trains to get past, or the poms just left in a hurry without leaving clear and strict instructions..

[old betsy]

Hi Steve

You trip to Hell Fire Pass today and Bridge over the river Khwae and the Death railway. Its certainly a moving place when you see what they dug thru and Built.
It certainly is itched on my mine from when I was there.

Keep those wheels rolling

AHAB

[Digger]

Hi Steve

You trip to Hell Fire Pass today and Bridge over the river Khwae and the Death railway. Its certainly a moving place when you see what they dug thru and Built.
It certainly is itched on my mine from when I was there.

Keep those wheels rolling

AHAB

I'll post later tonight...

[Digger]

Burmas version of a Road Safety Program...signs on the side of the road warning of the dangers of not wearing helmets. Effective? Probably not. Those that do wear helmets don't do up the straps. Case in point...the woman lying dead in the bottom right; the one with helmet next to the body (which may be out of shot).



The road (track) leading to the border was not cycle friendly and could not be done in a day. Camping is illegal in the country so I took a ute for the 150km, bone jarring journey. The border crossing (this one) is remote but served a purpose. The track was more suited to a DR650 and not 4WD's

[Digger]

Maps.Me comes with cycling option when measuring distance. It includes a cross section of the terrain. I knew once I crossed into Thailand I had a 2km climb ahead of me just to get the blood pumping but it should be plain sailing from there (bottom of screen shot).



Nice introduction to a new country. Good sealed road, downhill, little traffic. By the time I left Burma I was happy for the change. Burma was challenging at times and recently opened to foreign tourists. It's unlikely I'll go back on a bicycle (motorbike perhaps).

[Digger]

Another town; another War Graves Cemetary. This time at Kanchanaburi which was the 'start' of the Thai / Burma Railway.



No caption required.

[Digger]

I am a first generation Australian from Dutch heritage. Dutch soldiers were also taken as PoW's (from the Dutch East Indies) and were put to work (and died) on the Death Railway. These Dutch brothers died on the same day.
RIP.



The Bridge over the River Kwai. This was constructed using PoW's and was bombed often during the last two years of the war. The last time using the first 'smart bombs' developed by the US which rendered the bridge unusable for the duration of the war.

[Digger]

Hellfire Pass...about 80 km NW of Kanchanaburi. About 600 metres long and 25 metres deep at its maximum depth. All cut by hand using basic tools while doing 18 hour shifts. It got its name by the eerie glow of lanterns used to illuminate the site at night while digging continued.



The Pass was only reclaimed from the jungle in the 1990's. There is a very good Museum on site doing the Diggers proud...all funded by the Australian Government.

[Digger]

ANZAC Day services are conducted on this site annually.



A view from a platform on a track once used by the Diggers to access the site back in the day.

I am a two day ride west of Bangkok...I should be there on Thursday.
Distance cycled to date - 1,250km.
SPOT Link is here.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa

[Robbo]

Steve, it looks like a very interesting and challenging trip so far. Keep the blogs coming it's great to read them.

Robbo.

[Digger]

When home, I cycle around Lake Joondalup most days....a 21 km circuit that would take about an hour. When I see a sign like this (Bangkok) I figure "twice around the Lake" to give me some perspective. Should take me two hours without the trailer.



Who would've thought such a thing existed. I bet their Graduation after party's are a real hoot!

[Digger]

Turnpikes and switchbacks of a different kind. If you take the wrong one, whether you're on a bike or in the car, it can be a real mess tryin' to backtrack. The detail on the Apps is sometimes not sufficient to be of real help.



Democracy Monument...circa 1930's. When first built, they gave the local landowners 60 days to get your stuff and get out. Very unpopular at the time. So much for Democracy. It is a site often used when people want to make a 'point'.

[Digger]

Khao San Road...backpacker central. Full of ferals and fallouts. The closest you'll get to a human sewer.



There is a Website in the cycling community called 'Warmshowers.org'. A global network (1,000's) of 'hosts' who will provide free accomodation and other support to touring cyclists. They are not permitted to charge a fee. Bangkok Bed And Bike is one of those hosts so the first night was free. I signed up as a host 12 months ago. They agreed to secure my bike in their foyer overnight. It said that it gave them some 'street cred'. I agreed.