OK 2nd attempt lost the first lot!!!! bugger. I tried to leave Thailand Via Chiang Khong..was refused on my unregistered bike on to plan B. Truck the bike to Trat, overnight train , bus t Trat one night at Pops guest house ...next morning onto Phnom Penn...arrive PP % pm check in at California 2. Next morning see a nice man about a Cambodian reg plate and card, collect 24 hours later. Return To Kho Khong , bought the front seat in the taxi...not to be sold short driver sold his seat as well so two in drivers seat and me in passengers. Stopped in Kho Khong Asean Hotel 15 usd air tv clean.Next day exit Cambodia enter Thailand mini bus to Trat pull bike out of transport get bike shop next dfoor to attach my new plate, stick on my Cambodia flag stickers top up the empty tank and ride to border. I waited till the Shianookville ferry docked and strolled up to Thai Immigration.." you no like Thailand stop one day?." Ohh I like but checked my e mail in Trat and my friends have left BKK for PP so I meet them, in PP. "Where’s papers for bike?"....ohh what papers where do I get them from can I get them now?. Look of disbelief at stupid Farang..." go Cambodia now go!!" I duly oblige and am now legit..Cams registered bike in Cams wonderful!!!!Stopped in K.K. again, met up with a few brits...John at J.Cs bar and Rik. Rik was planning to come with me but had an oil leak on his BMW rear bevel....Helped strip it down and read seal number, Rik found a seal in KK. Removed leaking seal, which had been pushed too far home and was now in several pieces ( this was a replacement 2nd hand bevel assembly and the seller had fitted a new seal and fxxxd up). Fitted new seal tested hey presto no leaks. Rik now had female plus gastric problems ( I am not suggesting the female gave him the sxxxxs ok) So I left alone up the dirt 140ks 4 ferries and washboard surface with liberal pea like dross on top...not too many pot holes and maybe one or two water ravines so overall good ( I had traveled it twice by car/mini bus) Arrived Sihanookville 6 hours later stayed at The Small Hotel, Hiendric was most helpful. I had lost two bungees on my trip and he helped locate them I bought 4 for a dollar...Next day off to Batang and the abandoned French resort...This road has been described as the worst in Cambodia, I don’t know enough about the other contenders but this is best described as a railway line without tracks and rails...large aggregate and hard edged pot holes ..27 ks??? 1 hour plus up 50 mins down ...2 up...poor Honda....gave the forks and damper some exercise. Left Sihanookville onto P.P again at Jims ...passed on some good info and locations of temples. I applied for Lao visa $40 and one day and met Sean and American we teamed up for the ride to Kampon Cham and onto Kratchie. Via temples and ruins..Road to Kampon was good and the temples filled the day nicely, The local at the ruins wanted to show us around and pointed out the small outlying ruins complete with writing in the weathered stone....arrived Kampon Cham late afternoon checked into the Mekhong hotel and had a beer round the corner at The Mekong Crossing. Joe the owner advised the dirt road to Kratchie and described it as interesting....big understatement...Dusty , Sandy, very very busy. Took an age finding the ferry at Stung Trang. There is a big diversion and somehow we overshot Stun Trang doubled back found Stun Trang ..but the ferry.....???. Spotted it on the other bank and realised we had stopped next to the dirt track that dropped down to the ferry terminal ( terminal is maybe a bit grand....flattish river bank would sum it up) Ferry over and onto S.T. Many interesting sites a house being moved..the 9 legs had been strapped together and a board fitted at the bottom of each, the house was jacked up and on wooden rollers on a board track that had been laid...the house was half in the road and moving nicely when we last saw it. This road is very very busy animal vehicles ppl. I had one close call with a young boy ( 4 years old?) He came from my left never looked and ran out, I braked hard and stopped with my front wheel inches from him...very very lucky.!!!!Its there front garden and we go there as interlopers be very very careful!!!!.
The next morning at Kratchie Sean and I split up he back to PP me onto Stung Treng. The road is new dirt very very smooth very wide and 120ks is easy no traffic and a dream, however the roads still under construction and there were many diversions off the road and onto temporary tracks around pipe laying site...these varied from short and firm to long and soft/ sandy. It was at this point I developed sandophobia. One section was deep maybe 10 inches plus and the base hard and rutted, well that’s my excuse!!! the bike developed a mind of its own and despite even speed and trying to keep my weight back I lost it and dropped it very very slowly. I have about 25 kilos of spares in a bag running from the rack halfway up the seat. I couldn’t lift the bike so sat and waited help arrived within 5 mins. Lifted the bxxxxd up and walked alongside with bike in first...ok no problem but the fuel leaks when its on its side and its not nice watching it drain into the sand by a hot engine. Now you would think I would be a little more cautious...well 10ks further on same same...This time I had the bike at 30 degrees and was trying like buggery to right it but nope I ended up laying it down in the sand and waiting...10mins later help arrives ..car stops and again I walk the bike in gear....Stung Treng and a beer !!!. At the riverside chatted to the locals keen to practice English and enquired about the road to border and opening hours...Set off next day Sunday at 8 am caught the ferry. There’s a canoe for bikes and a car ferry if needed, first 10 ks normal ishh then the road is the same super dirt highway smooth 120ks last few ks to border is narrow dirt broken tar. Arrived at border 8.45 Crossed into Lao no problems was asked to pay 2 dollars at both points Sunday supplement..paid up with a smile and onto Hwy 13....My God where did this road come from its ..wowww super sealed signs in English weight limits on bridges lots of cattle and buffalo and a nasty fright.!!!. I was rounding the rear of some crossing buffalo when a large white bird flew out...struck a glancing blow on my helmet blood feather and snot everywhere but ok. The birds not so happy I guess...I always wear my safety gear and further up the road saw two guys on Bajas wearing shorts Tee shirts and flip flops...hey its your choice but sometimes all your skill aint gonna save you.. arrived in Savannakhet a little after 2pm had lunch and checked into hotel. Nice warm bath and a soak...On the road next day at 9 am road north to Vientiane winds a little more and gets busy the last 30ks...pressed and checked into Mekhong hotel 5 1/2 hours later...numb arse....plan to stay a few days, had oil and filter changed today at place on T2 by shell station, sorry cant remember the name though there’s no name outside in English anyway so just look for the motocross bikes outside. Plan to have a few short day rides out and then onto Luang Prabang and Huay Xai...though might try Hwy 8 onto Viet reports of some success Whisky and smokes can help????.
if looks like a duck swims like a duck its probably a duck
