Si Thep

November 13, 2024

We had a late start this morning, about an hour and a half later than yesterday, because we had a very short day planned. However, due to my inattention, a few things conspired to ensure we cycled more than twice our planned distance.

A few kilometers out if town I realised I had forgotten to bring water with us, having left it in the fridge back at our digs. It was pretty hot already but we knew that we would pass a shop along the way so we weren't concerned. At about this point we should have turned off the 2275 onto an even quieter road that would have given us the shortest ride to Si Thep. But missing the turnoff would only add about four kilometers to the distance so it wasn't a big deal.

Over the past few days we have enjoyed the birds in the flooded paddies. Three species of Egret in this picture. Mostly Intermediate but also a few Little and a Great.

Our target for today was a small resort near the entrance to the Si Thep Historical Park which lies about ten kilometers east of modern day Si Thep town. Even though it was only ten o'clock we decided to book in and then visit Khao Khlang Nok, one of the largest known ancient Dvaravati structures from around the 7th–8th century which lies about four kilaway from the main part of the park. It was while checking in that I realised that I was almost out of cash. The nearest ATM was in Si Thep town. I was pretty grumpy with myself for having forced an extra twenty odd kilometers onto the day's distance but my grumpiness was quickly replaced with joy on the discovery of an enormous Asian Openbill breeding colony half way to the town.

For a few hundred meters along the roadside the trees were full of breeding Openbills. There must have been well over a thousand of them.

This tree also has some Little Cormorants.

There are probably a number of reasons why large birds often bask like this. They vary from parasite control to thermoregulation and feather maintenance.

The sky was full of adult birds flying overhead. The fledglings here have yet to start flying and are still being fed by their parents. The parents do a little ritual when handing over baby sitting duties which, unfortunately, I didn't get to photograph.

The breeding colony was a great surprise. Sometimes when you think life is giving you lemons you discover you were actually served lemonade.

After drawing cash we lunch in town and did some shopping so by the time we got back to our digs it was too hot to consider visiting Khao Klang Nok.

Being out in the sticks meant finding food was a bit of a challenge. By the time I went out to look for a takeaway supper, all the restaurants close by had shut for the evening. Thankfully when I did find some food a few kilometers down the road the portions were large enough that we could keep some over for tomorrow night.

Today's ride: 55 km (34 miles)
Total: 2,139 km (1,328 miles)

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