Vientiane to Ban Na Keum
Distance - 99.9km
Average - 18.8km/h
To head out of Vientiane we decided to go up the less busy route 10, rather than the main road of route 13. We were happy with our choice as the road was in great condition, yet had very little traffic. We would go for a few kms before seeing another vehicle. Also the scenery was really nice and it was a really enjoyable ride. It was such a change to riding on the expressways in Thailand with zooming trucks and buses.
In the last 20km or so, we hit our first big hills. These were quite a challenge after already riding about 70km. Nick also had a really sore knee, which he thought could be a ligament problem. So we had to take these hills very slowly. The last 5km or so was so steep that Natalie had to push her bike up the hill.
When we got to our destination of Ban Na Keum, it was stunning. It is a very small town on the south of a man-made lake. The lake was really mystical with little islands scattered in the centre. We found a guesthouse for 50,000 kip ($7nzd) which had a great view of the lake.
We met this older Lao man who spoke excellent English, who ran one of the local restaurants. We ate there for the next three meals, and he was great to catch to about issues in Lao. On our last meal he gave us these woven braclets as a good luck symbol. His present was really touching. Looking back on it, we have both concluded that so many experiences such as this one, would have never happened if we were not on bike. If were were on a bus we would have never stopped in this town and never met these amazing people.
The one other person at the guesthouse was a Spanish cyclist heading south, so it was great to get tips on the roads further north.
Day 2:
Ban Na Keum to Tha Heua
Distance - 85km
Average - 17.1km/h
The next days ride was quite flat with a few little hills. Our riding average was a bit lower as we were both a bit tired from the day before. Nicks knee seemed to get better over night which was a god-send as that could have ruined our whole trip. He had the odd pain after that, but no where near as bad.
Tha Heua was a town on the north of the same lake, yet not as beautiful as the southern town. As the guesthouse we befriended this very cute little boy who helped up with our laundry.
Day 3:
Tha Heau to Vang Vieng
Distance - 28km
Average - 17.2km/h
The ride the next day was nice and short to Vang Vieng. Most other cyclists we have spoken to did the same ride we did in two days in one day. We could have done this but we didnt want to arrive in Vang Vieng really exhausted and we have a few days to spare to take things slow.
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