Day 36 - a short ride to Pakse and a photo-essay culminating in a sunset. - Trial by fire: new bike, first tour, first time in Asia

November 30, 2024

Day 36 - a short ride to Pakse and a photo-essay culminating in a sunset.

We've done almost 900 km in the past nine days. Thus, cycling 70 km to Pakse and hopefully having the afternoon off seemed like a good plan.

Winston said that he's feeling fatigued from those 900 kms but was still in Pakse by lunch.

We kicked off with breakfast, where I ate last night, as the next lot of flat chickens and other things on skewers were prepared.

It was close to eight when we got on the road. Conditions were almost perfect - a good surface, little traffic, good scenery and the lightest of tailwinds.

I took a few photos along the way but today's entry is essentially a photo-essay of Pakse, culminating in sunset on the Mekong.

It's nice to see some hills after some distance without.

Eucalypts - most probably E. camaldulensis, river red gum

Early today I saw a large group of people - young and old, men and women, each with a sickle, walking along the road.

Crossing Xe Don close to its confluence with the Mekong. There are plenty of watercraft for a trip down the Mekong.

I found a guesthouse (after not finding a non-existent one) and spent a while rehydrating. One of the highlights of the day was getting some laundry done.

It was then time for a wander. I headed to Delta Café, where I enjoyed a very good coffee. Along the way I snapped photos of all manner of things that caught the eye - the "Delta series".

A negative or positive investment property

Plush hotel? No, it's the Laos Development Bank, with ATMs that often work and low transaction fees.

Time was getting on so I headed towards Sunset Beach to meet Winston and watch the day close over the Mekong. My walk took me through some old streets and through a Wat to the Xe Don, which I followed to the Mekong. There's absolutely no beach but there is a point, a perfectly fine place to watch a sunset. This is the "towards the Mekong series".

This fellow knows how to tie a load; a master of the truckie's hitch. Look at that rear overhang.

Don't be fooled! It's not a Honda Cub but instead a Lifan Vintage, a Chinese machine quite possibly manufactured in 2024.

Floral tributes made from marigolds and banana leaves

It was then time for the "sunset series" - a time sequence.

The navigation lights marking the Xe Don are illuminated.

We crossed the road from the Mekong and had a well earned beer, before heading to an Indian restaurant that appeared open and was open until 9 but was inexplicably closed! We doubled back and had a fine meal on Highway 13 or is it AH 11?

Today's ride: 70 km (43 miles)
Total: 2,013 km (1,250 miles)

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