Survived the first leg...

5 days of cycling down...and holding strong.



No sunburn yet. Some great sock tan lines, though.





Day 3: Left Khuraburi around 7:30 am and rode on. Then Josh snapped his chain. After about a 20 minute break th chain was back together and we were covered in grease and sweat. Unfortunately his rear derailer also bent...giving him access to only some of his gears. Continued riding until Kapoe (at 38 miles) and had another great leisurely lunch. We continued on planning to stay in Nam Sai for the night...but somehow missed it...or it was so small we didn't realize we were riding through it. We continued to Ranong at 73 miles...a long day in this heat! Ranong...quite a busy town. Very few foreignors...mostly Thais. Had some dinner, a few beers, caught a Thai version of Puff the Magic Dragon by two guys with guitars. Then bedtime...

Day 4: Quite an exciting day. Started off at the bikeshop in Ranong to get Josh's bike fixed. After about an hour of hammers, hacksaws, etc. the bike was good as new. While waiting we we spend the time talking with a bunch of the local cyclists who were proud to show off racing trophies and pictures. Cool bike shop...some strange bikes. After the repairs were done, the shop would not take any money for them! They insisted on photos in front of the shop and send us on our way with a bag of peanuts "for protein!!". We left Ranong around 10 am or so. Much later than our usual start time and it was already hot. Turns out this was to be a day full of non stop hills. We thought the hilly day was going the be the next day...we were wrong. After about 20 miles we found a packed little restaurant for lunch. We parked our bikes and took the only available table. The place was full of Thai police...at least 10-12 of them in uniform. After ordering some food one of the officers let's us know that we have crashed a private party...someone has just been promoted to captain and they are celebrating. They welcome us to join the party, pour us some drinks, pay for our meals and we are on our way. Finally, at 38 miles, we reach Kra Buri...short day but lots of hills! We find a couple of bungalows to stay in and go on a tour on a motorbike taxi. First to the waterfall...which is really just a trickle of water down some rocks. I hope it is more impressive in the rainy season. Then to the pier so we can watch the sunset over Myanmar (Burma)...which is about 100 yards away across the river. We have a beer and watch some blackmarket goods trade hands...

Day 5: We thought today would be the hilly day...but instead it is the easiest one yet. Leaving Kra Buri at 8am...we ride 40 miles to Chumpon on the east coast of Thailand.

The gameplan has changed a bit. In order to have more time in Cambodia and Vietnam, we are catching the train north from Chumpon to Hua Hin and taking a rest day on the beach. Then we take the train again to north of Bangkok and ride to Ho Chi Minh from there through Cambodia. Apparently the road from Chumpon north to Bangkok is a busy highway that is not fun on a bike and Josh has driven this stretch numerous times...so we can buy ourselves a few extra days in Cambodia and Vietnam by using the train.

So far...
Days: 5
Miles: 270
Broken Chains: 1
Flat tires: 0
Number of times someone has tried to get Josh to marry a daughter/friend: 2.
(I guess being a successful white man who speaks Thai has its advantages)