Luang Prabang to Vientiane

For the last week or so Hawk and I have been slogging it out through some of the most beautiful countryside imaginable. Straight out of Luang Prabang we hit the mountains with spectacular views, little villages and demanding climbs.

The whole journey we have ridden into villages full of happy kids who chase after us, giving us 'High Five' and trying to race us along the road. The climbs have been really tough at times, and while the sweat is pouring off us and the speed has been low, it has been difficult to stop and pull the camera out. So while the scenery has been fabulous, I have been more intent on finishing each day, rather than gathering a collection of photos.

The Mathematics

While riding you are constantly 'doing the numbers'. Working out time done, kilometers to go, average speeds etc - It's a way to maintain your sanity, or possibly a way to encourage it.

The Exponential Climb

The other Day I started out on the final climb of the day. At may average speed for the day it was going to take another two hours to complete the ride. After 1 hour I checked my speed and he number of kilometers remaining. My speed had dropped away to a point where, after an hour of riding I still had 2 hours to go. An hour later I did the numbers again, only to find that I had slowed to a point where I had 3 hours to go. After three hours of riding I did the numbers again - four more hours- So I got off the bike and did the remaining kilometers in the back of a pick-up and it was over in 20 minutes, including a stop for some cucumbers.

Nutritian

While we were up in the hills we had to rely on small stalls in villages on the side of the road to provide us with food. Unfortunately, apart from an occasional Banana Stall, there is very little in the way of decent food. Many of the stalls only sell soft drink and potato chips, while in the villages when we have stopped at the end of each day the only food on offer has been 'Foe', rice noodle soup with a few vegetables. This soup fills you up but gives you no energy, and when you have it 4 meals in a row there is very little energy in the tank for some of the big climbs. This has probably been the hardest aspect of the trip - replacing the calories.