Chiang Rai to Mae Chedi: coffee ride curry ride coffee ride pork chicken rice fruit sleep


Map
Loading...
Statistics for today
Distance 105.00 kms 65.24 miles
Ride time (hours) 4.82 -
Avg speed 21.8 kph -
Statistics for trip to date
Distance 3,443.60 kms 2,140.00 miles
Ride time (hours) 180.03 -
On this page

Thursday, January 19th, 2017

The Thailand rythm: hot cycling broken up by coffees and food. Not a difficult life. I could sleepwalk through these days, only the names of the places and the faces change.

I'm not getting an early start this morning. When I finally do check out after my leisurely coffee in the courtyard I'm startled at how cheap the bill is: 4 nights plus laundry and a bunch of coffees for 850 baht (about 24 dollars). I feel like I could live off of the interest on my checking account in this country.

Click for a larger version of the picture
Lots of people hanging around this wat complex with this statue. Nice setting with the mountains for backdrop.

Well it's hot and flat for the first 40k. Then it's hot and less flat. I wander around on some back roads until it looks like I have no other option than to get onto a major road. A Thai guy on a road bike comes up behind me. We exchange misunderstandings in English for a while. When he moves on I get motivated to try and follow him; I can't really keep up but the effort gives me a strong pace to make up for this morning's lackadaisical meanderings.

Click for a larger version of the picture
Click for a larger version of the picture
This is a righteously good cup of coffee just at some random roadside stand.
Click for a larger version of the picture
In the hills
Click for a larger version of the picture
Click for a larger version of the picture
Working the fields.

Tonight's accomodations will be a roadside hotel, very nicely appointed, next to a junction of two major roads. At night I have dinner at a restaurant close to the hotel: fried crispy pork with rice (40 baht). Not quite satisfied. I ride a couple of kilometers in the other direction where there is a market and a Tesco. The market supplies grilled chicken, the Tesco pears and potato chips.

594 meters of climbing according to Strava.