Salavan to Plin December 2011.
Just looking at this track on the GT-Rider Laos map has made me want to ride it for a while, so as I was in the area recently I thought Id give it a go.
The terrain starts off like a desert, dry, dusty, and think bull dust, and ends up turning into lush jungle, so thick at times it was like riding in a cave, were there was a lot of first and second gear riding.
I tried out the GoPro camera, and have add two videos at the bottom.
One of the first little towns north of Salavan were I had breakfast that consisted of a can of Birdy (coffee drink) and a packet of potato chips.
While eating my healthy breakfast, six old local guys turned up to look at the KLX. It was about 9am and they were all drunk as skunks.
Didn't take long to work out why. They sell Lao Kao by the 30 litre container here.
First river crossing for the day, and first river crossing since a canoe, a KLX, and a rider all ended up in the drink 2 weeks ago.
There was a bridge, but it was out of order because it was destroyed in 1968 after being bombed.
It was a big wide river, but I reckon you ride across it OK. I didn't want to get my boots wet checking the depth, so I waited for the ferry to float across and take me to the other side. To early in the day for wet socks.
Kind of airy floating past what's left of the bridge, which must have been a ripper in its day.
Made to the other side nice and dry thanks to the Skipper and his little buddy.
I must have crossed 30 of these bridges. This one is in need of handyman.
The local gas station. 91, 95, 98, 102?? who cares.
Its dry and barren at first, with lots of bull bust. It was like outback Australia with no kangaroos.
The road south of Toumlan.
After Toumlan you start to see some vegetation, with plenty of shade.
Slowly the vegetation thickens.
No more wooden bridges, just pretty of small creeks at the bottom of steep little valleys..
Arrived at the last big river crossing, were there another bridge out of order.
I walked up to were the bridge once started,and you can see whats left of it through the bamboo.
I looked for about one hour to try and find away across, and had almost given up, luckily I came across a some guys in a pick up. I thought there was no way they could have come through the same way as me, and there must be a ferry some were. So I flagged them down and it worked out they were also going to Plin, and they told me to follow them to the ferry. It was a maze of tracks and I wouldn't have never have found the crossing without them.
The crossing and ferry all looked new. Theres also a smaller ferry down stream but I couldn't find the landing.
The road to plin from the crossing is 36kms, and this is what it looks like.
Here's two videos. My first time posting a video, and first time using the camera on a tracks like this one. I attached to the bike and started filming once I got out of the more dense jungle, because I thought it would have been to dark, and the the bamboo etc would have just kept hitting the camera. You should see the scratches on the top of my helmet.
Moto-Rex
Edited:video links
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The well paved 20 and a shaking Bolaven shortcut were enough for my ER6. It's great, at least, to have still and animated pictures.
Drinking beer and biking seems like a great way to complete the year. 
Originally Posted by jerome
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