10 day dirt trail riding in north east Laos PART 3

[KTMphil]

10 day dirt trail riding in north east Laos PART 3

Some more stories of out Laos trail riding trip last week

Don looking more chirpy in the settlement after the effects of the Laos Khow wore off.

Traditional house in the settlement

Don on the suspension bridge east of Luang Prabang on that comes off the main dirt trail

Bigger photo of Don's GPS helmet antenna

Views south of Phanxay

Government GH in Phanxay (east of Luang Prabang by dirt trail) 40,000 kip

Rooms are ok no electricity after 4pm

Toilet was a little scary

Getting fuel in Phonxay - still a long way to Phonsavan by dirt trails

A jeep testing the river for us

Breathtaking views near Phonxay

One more amazing view

The burst canoe

The Kong Keua GH in Phonsavan, 60,000 kip

New fancy hotel in Phonsavan , the Anoluck hotel almost opposite craters 200k & 300k kip rooms, looks very nice

Russian Mig fighters planes donated to the Laos airforce, now out of commission at phonsavan airport

Machine gun shells from the Vietnam war

Beautiful trails on the way NE to Xam Neua

Sam Neua Hotel had great value rooms for 100,000 kip (nicest rooms we stayed in)

Almost feels like you're in Vietnam when you're at Xam Neua's market

The old and the new in Xam Neua

Street food in XN

More beautiful dirt trails in NE Laos

Tailor in Viang Xay

Market in Viang Xay

Caves where the locals live in Viang Xay during the Vietnam War and would farm at night

Dirt trail south from Phonsavan

Alex trying to figure out how we're going to get this up the muddy jungle track

Happy camper


Jules Vintage bike rentals in Vientiane, Laos

Jazz Brick next to Jules Vintage Bike Rentals, great bar to relax in - Vientaine, Laos.

Don collating all the route and tracks in conjunction with his new laos GPS map

If you need a Thai immigration visa in Vientaine from the Thai embassy, Mr. Seng is a very professional immigration agent, saves you a day of hell.

Once through the border at Vientaine, Laos, back into Thailand , Alex and I stayed at the King Hotel in Loei, 500 bht great value

New racy tuk tuk in Loei, Thailand on the way back

Farmers market in Loei

The Lighthouse restaurant on the lake in loei, thailand has good food,farrang & thai style.

Hill tribe lady right at the Vietnam border at a locals-only crossing

 

[Steve Canyon]

Can you go into the caves?..

I went to the restaurant in Loei, there was some crumpet in there....

 

[KTMphil]

Can you go into the caves?..

I went to the restaurant in Loei, there was some crumpet in there....

you need a guide to go into the caves at Viang Xai, they re not expensive

 

[alexuk]

only 60,000 to see the caves, open twice daily

crumpet the same

 

[alexuk]

a couple of clips here

 

[KTMphil]

face-plant in the mud south of Luang Prabang

 

[alexuk]

Some more fotos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/21921110@N04/sets/72157626709351436/
until I get to post them

a dodgy bridge

second ferry

area of sliding carts

lookout spot in the caves

local weaving village

phil tries to do it again

The village we stayed in

Don getting his shirt dried

steve styling it up

Vieng Xai schoolhouse

local bikewash

 

[KTMphil]

Routes we took

This is the route we took from Chiang Mai, Thailand to the Huai Kon Thailand/ Muan Nguen Laos border approx 470km:
R118 - R120 - R1 N - R 1021 - R1148 - R 1080



Map copyright Auke Koopmans;

This is the route taken from the Huai Kon, Thailand - Muan Nguen, Laos border crossing to Luang Prabang Laos. It is an unmade sand/ stone road that turns into a sand/ dirt road through some mountains. You have to cross 6 rivers none are more than 1/2 wheel deep out of rainy season. Approx 150km.



Copyright GT Mapper

Dirt loop south of Luang Prabang where we got stuck



Dirt trails from Luang Prabang to Phonsavan



Phonsavan to Xam Neua by tarmac



Xam Neua to Vieng Xai by tarmac


Vieng Xai to the Vietnam border - a locals crossing only, not international


Phonsavan to Vientaine by dirt track, spectacular views

 

[alexuk]

I thought we'd done 4000kms but I worked it out to be approximately 3175km, chiang mai start and finish.
My GPS had some problems, and I took an extra day to return on the 1268 and 1148, but it breaks down something like this

Lao total 1785 km
Lao dirtroads 1200 km
Thai roads 1400 km

We did the road Vieng Xai-Xam neua to Phonsavan, 263km, average 53km/h, excl stops, which I reckon is good considering, and mostly amazing windy roads with good surface,not too unpredictable, with a few near misses from trucks etc coming the other way on one section,
I was amazed at the speed Steve kept to on his XR250
Heres the profile

Left 27 April, back on 12 May
Sunshine - when we got back to thailand

Additional costs- New chain, rear wheel bearings, swing arm bearings, fork seal, pair dunlop oe tyres,2 litres oil,rack welded to keep panniers off exhaust,

 

[Midnitemapper]

google-screen.jpg[/attachment:1dz4jtce]

 

[Midnitemapper]

Here is a series of photos on the elevation profile track,

 

[KTMphil]

MM - I was wondering if the extensions of track on the Phonxay loop were where we went to the village and turned back?

The 3D maps add an amazing insight to what trails we were in involved in, nice job.

 

[KTMphil]

Nice pictures of the trails, have you forgotten about the photo of the dog in the bag on the step through?

Its a classic.

 

[Midnitemapper]

Phil I checked the tracks quite thoroughly I did some exploring around this areas, but not to those areas that day. So something is wrong? I beleive that is a "route" and not tracks? Anyway I suggest using Google, Look at the elevation profile on Basecamp, a pretty good program but a bit clunky. Everyone uses Google and can relate to it! Still got squillions of photos from the trip.

 

[KTMphil]

I think I combined a route and a track that added the line further south of the Phonxay loop, it would make sense, thanks for spotting it.

 

[Midnitemapper]

Google earth screenshot of Phonxia loop, with edited tracks, as you can see we did not go in the areas depicted on the map you uploaded

 

[KTMphil]

MM - the thin magenta lines, are they single track trails?

 

[KTMphil]

Best comment of the trip

After 6 river crossings we approach the Mekong river in the dark:

"How the hell are we going to ride across this one"? - Con.

 

[KTMphil]

This might be one of the best photo's from the trip (from midnight mapper) - the dog looked pretty happy being carried this way.