I'll be off the grid for a while...

[Digger]

What tour group are you doing this with? Webpage?

Patrick

No group tour for me on this one...just doin my own thing and setting my own pace. I am doing Thailand with my eldest son but he will fly out from Bangkok and I will continue on to Cambodia. I'll try and post some photos if I can remember how when I reach an Internet cafe when having a day off.

[Digger]

G'Day slackers, well after 848km and 11 consecutive days of riding, Trevor and I have arrived in Bangkok. Both our bodies and the bikes are still in good shape and now it is time to fatten up before Trevor returns to Australia and I head for the Cambodian border. Google maps has provided us with some interesting routes along the way; one including crossing a farmer's paddock much to the amusement of the locals. Will try and update a little more in the next day or so if I can find an Internet cafe...updating by smartphone is a PITA.

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa

[Digger]

G'day slackers,
Currently at Pattaya, a Party Town similar to Kuta. It wasn't always like that. It use to be a tiny fishing village until the US built a B52 Bomber Airbase here during the Vietnam War. That attracted all the pimps, hookers and other sleazeoids. From there it has just ballooned into a circus typical of so many tourist hot spots where the locals try and scam, cheat and ripoff the tourist as best they can. Then there are the Ladyboys. Better looking than most of the Thai women but there big feet are a dead giveaway.
Should cross the border into Cambodia around 9th Feb.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa

[KoosWA]

G'day slackers,
"Then there are the Ladyboys. Better looking than most of the Thai women"

...been on the road a bit long?

Thanks for the news reports and enjoy the trip.

[Robbo]

Hey Steve,
How's things going?
I've just looked at your spot tracker, you look like you've done a lot of Ks in a short time since Bangkok.
Hope your still enjoying it.
Robbo.

[Digger]

Been following the coast where I can and try and avoid the arterial roads where I can. I have come across a couple of 'Kwinana strips' and have to go inland to avoid them. I usually end up doing more km than I sjould but id rather enjoy the scenery (near the coastline) then try and do a lot of km and not enjoy it. I may catch some local transport in the next few days...I'm meeting Jacki in Phnom Pehn on Friday 13th.

[Digger]

I have covered some ground in the last 48 hours. On Sunday, I rode 70 km and reached my destination for the day by 11am. I was going to catch a bus the following day to the border (90km) but a 'bus' (read ute thingy) was about to leave so I jumped on board with the rest of the locals. Crossed the border this morning (Monday) and caught a 'real' bus, albeit 1970's vintage to the Cambodian 'gold coast' (which is crappy by oz standards). The stretch today was always gunna be by bus...130 km of mountainous terrain, no villages and too far between rest stops. I am suppose to be on holiday!!! Will probably catch another bus to PP to meet Jacki on Friday...too far to ride now. Not enough time. Cycled 1,377km to date.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa

[profoundly_disturbed]

I am suppose to be on holiday!!! Cycled 1,377km to date.

Kudos Mate, but that's not my idea of a holiday!

Have a pleasant weekend, my regards to Jackie, but don't tire yourself out. Vietnam awaits - still more k's to cover!

Keep those cranks spinning.

[Digger]

Kudos Mate, but that's not my idea of a holiday!
Keep those cranks spinning.

Yeah, i'm hearin ya. My problem is i cant sit still. I gotta do things that make me realise i'm alive....and the noise, traffic, chaos and idea of seeing a new culture at a snails pace makes me realise i'm alive. On the subject of cranks, when i stepped off the bus today in Phnom Penh, there was a Giant bike dealer next door (huge amount of stock...almost swapped my old girl for a newer model). Anyway, my cranks been creaking when 'under load' so had them check it out. At least it's not my Final Drive!!!
Will spend a few days in and around PP and maybe catch a bus to Siem Reap. By then i will itching to get back into the saddle....probably head toward the Mekong Delta and into Vietnam.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa

[profoundly_disturbed]

Anyway, my cranks been creaking when 'under load'.

By then i will itching to get back into the saddle

1. Are you sure its the cranks creaking and not you?

2. Find a pharmacy and get something to put on the itching before it becomes infected.

Sounds like a terrific trip so far and looks like it's going to get better!

You probably already know, but just in case . . . Enduro Rego opens 17th February.

[jls]

Steve
How are the temps treating you looks like ,thanks to google in the 30,s and high humidity
Looks like a bonus getting the bike refurbished money well spent
Looking forward to the next instalment

[Digger]

The weather is stifling...I am a pool of sweat from the time I climb in the saddle to the time I climb off. I drink litres of fluid every day but still struggle to remain hydrated. I knew that before I signed up for the trip and am conscious of the need to remain hydrated. We leave for Siem Reap tomorrow (by bus) and will do the Ankor Wat thing for a day or two before returning to Phnom Penh. We have spent the last couple of days visiting the converted high school used for torturing prisoners and then visited the killing fields today. Very sobering stuff. We have of course spent some time doing more pleasurable stuff such as sightseeing and time by the poolside. It sucks to be me!!!

[Digger]

G'Day Slackers...and Happy New (Chinese) Year,
Jacki and i have spent the last 48 hours at Siem Reap...the home of the World Heritage listed Ankor Wat and many other temples. We return by bus to PP tomorrow (Thursday)...the trip takes about 6 hours on some of the worst 'national highway' i have ever ridden / driven on. From there, Jacki flys out on Saturday and i'll probably get back in the saddle from Sunday morning. Feelin' quite fat after havin a week off. I could use the exercise. I'll probably head for the Vietnam border at one of the lesser used crossings and then head for Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).

https://www.google.com.kh/maps/dir/Kron ... 230989!3e0

Cambodia has been a country of extremes...in one hand you have the museums and hallow ground dedicated to those victims of the Killing Fields (2 Million people were killed) and in the other hand you have remnants (or whole temples (wats)) of stuff dated back to the 10th century or ealier. Truly a remarkable experience.

Anyway, get back to work!!!!
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa

[Paddy7]

Hi Steve,
Good to see you doing it tough.
I guess we will all get to see the Mongrel dog production on your return or at least a slide night?:-)

Keep enjoying

Patrick

[Digger]

Crossed the border into Vietnam today (Tuesday 24th). I had heard a lot of stories about corrupt immigration officials at the land crossings I have used but I didn't encounter any problems. Maybe they were intimidated by a towering westerner who looks like he's under the weather after cycling in these conditions. Anyway, so far so good. Will take my time heading for HCMC.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... UCtYLNPufa