Friday and a plan for a night of good music in Chiang Rai.
I took off from Chiang Khong at 4.15pm & was in Chiang Rai at Hungry Nest for brunch at 5.30PM, 30 minutes before 6PM closing.
At 6.10pm next stop was Noon Noi liquor for a bottle of hooch for the night.
7pm it was check in time at my hotel, shower, shave and pretty up.
7.30pm prepare to leave the hotel for my 8PM music appointment and the bike won't start.
Nothing!
Flat battery, but the voltmeter shows 12 volts.
A frustrating 15 minutes & no progress.
Never mind, sort it out tomorrow with Kong the GTR electronics whizz I've used ever since living in Chiang Khong = 7 1/2 years.
Catch a grab to the designated rendezvous pub.
Enjoy a magnificent evening & walk home at 11.30pm to work off the alcohol infusion.
Up at 8.30am the next morning & plan to swing by Kong's to arrange a bike check-up & service.
No Mr Kong, he's on an extended long weekend holiday break and will be back in another 5 days.
Oh well, let's have a brekky at Hungry Nest & think about it first.
Over breakfast I mull over a few ideas - whom do I want playing around with the electrics on my bike?
Actually no one, just the one chang, who knows what he has done to the bike.
So, the plan, take the red public bus home to Chiang Khong from CR = 100 kms / 2 .5 hrs at a snail's pace, stopping at every village on the way (it seems).
Back to the hotel & check out.
In CR I have 2 regular tuk tuk drivers that I Iike to support and use, but they are both off today, not working.
While I'm packing u at the hotel, I ask the staff to get a car to run me to the bus station.
Non available, It's obviously not my weekend!
They ring for a regular blue-yellow taxi.
The taxi arrives & the driver is a very amenable driver.
We strike up a conversation on the way to the bus station, and he asks where I'm going.
Home to Chiang Khong & explain my bike story.
Oooh it's a slow bus ride there.
Yes.
Why don't you go by taxi?
How much do you want?
1500 baht.
I can offer 1,000 if you want.
Ok, its a deal.
The taxi will be quick & not sitting in a boring bus for hours miserable & fuming about my long weekend bike fiasco.
Back to Chiang Rai next week, to be back on the road.
The highlight and enjoyment of the night.