Couple of nights ago, bored and restless I decided to head to Luang Prabang for New Year. Didn't leave much time to get there at it meant departing Chiang Mai on the 30th(yesterday) so the obvious thing to do was pack my bag straight andhead out early morning.
Left my house at 0515hrs on a cool and clear(for a while) morning headed for Chiang Khong. Nice easy riding until Wiang Pa Pao when patches of fog turned into thick heavy fog most of the way to Chiang Rai but had cleared by the first gas stop just after turning off the 1 onto the 1020.
Uneventful riding really as I was intent on getting to Chiang Khong at 0800 when immigration/customs open. Got there at 0820 as it turned out so plenty of time still. Or that's what I thought until I got down to the feery after completing all the paperwork to find no ferry and no traffic waitng! No problems says the guy at the ferry, maybe in an hour there'll be enough vehicles then we can cross.
Great! Means I'll arrive in Huay Xai just in time for lunch when all the customs and immigration offices are shut. To add to the enjoyment of the wait a truck and trailer that had just driven off the ferry coming over had got stuck in the wet, slippery dirt just off the boat.
No problem said the guy at the ferry, we can get another truck to tow it but maybe have to wait an hour.
I wasn't about to attempt loading the Ducati into one of the smaller boats never mind pay the 1500 baht they wanted! Luckily an articulated tanker arrived desparate to get accross so a ferry turns up, the truck takes a run down the hill through the soft sand around the stuck truck and onto the ferry.
Perfect so I follow him on(along with 3 other bikers that were waitng) and are at Laos immigration by 1115 and on the road again by1200hrs
Parts of the 'racetrack' road to Luang Namtha has deteriorated since my last trip in January, but only a few short sections are bad.
Got to the Boten/Vientianne junc at 1420 hrs
and began the rather bumpy ride through to Oudom Xay
filled up with gas, took a picture in front of the airport and left at 1630 hrs.
It was beautiful riding at this time of day and the views/photos opportunities were many but I was on bit of a mission so didn't stop often, with the exception of a much needed drink and vegemite sandwich around 1730
The road from Pak Mong was such a pleasure after what I'd just been on! Cruising at 80 to 100 kph was such a luxury although being dark, the speed were mostly much lower, especially the 5 ( or 10?) km section of road that was very wide, smooth and flat but covered in a thick layer of loose gravel. Made for a few wild slides but kept everythin upright finally checking into the the Sabai Dee GH at 2020hrs
So yes, possible in a day, would have been much faster on a dirt bike but who really cares. I enjoyed the ride and looking forwards to New Years tonight in Luang Prabang
Left my house at 0515hrs on a cool and clear(for a while) morning headed for Chiang Khong. Nice easy riding until Wiang Pa Pao when patches of fog turned into thick heavy fog most of the way to Chiang Rai but had cleared by the first gas stop just after turning off the 1 onto the 1020.
Uneventful riding really as I was intent on getting to Chiang Khong at 0800 when immigration/customs open. Got there at 0820 as it turned out so plenty of time still. Or that's what I thought until I got down to the feery after completing all the paperwork to find no ferry and no traffic waitng! No problems says the guy at the ferry, maybe in an hour there'll be enough vehicles then we can cross.
Great! Means I'll arrive in Huay Xai just in time for lunch when all the customs and immigration offices are shut. To add to the enjoyment of the wait a truck and trailer that had just driven off the ferry coming over had got stuck in the wet, slippery dirt just off the boat.
No problem said the guy at the ferry, we can get another truck to tow it but maybe have to wait an hour.
I wasn't about to attempt loading the Ducati into one of the smaller boats never mind pay the 1500 baht they wanted! Luckily an articulated tanker arrived desparate to get accross so a ferry turns up, the truck takes a run down the hill through the soft sand around the stuck truck and onto the ferry.
Perfect so I follow him on(along with 3 other bikers that were waitng) and are at Laos immigration by 1115 and on the road again by1200hrs
Parts of the 'racetrack' road to Luang Namtha has deteriorated since my last trip in January, but only a few short sections are bad.
Got to the Boten/Vientianne junc at 1420 hrs
and began the rather bumpy ride through to Oudom Xay
filled up with gas, took a picture in front of the airport and left at 1630 hrs.
It was beautiful riding at this time of day and the views/photos opportunities were many but I was on bit of a mission so didn't stop often, with the exception of a much needed drink and vegemite sandwich around 1730
The road from Pak Mong was such a pleasure after what I'd just been on! Cruising at 80 to 100 kph was such a luxury although being dark, the speed were mostly much lower, especially the 5 ( or 10?) km section of road that was very wide, smooth and flat but covered in a thick layer of loose gravel. Made for a few wild slides but kept everythin upright finally checking into the the Sabai Dee GH at 2020hrs
So yes, possible in a day, would have been much faster on a dirt bike but who really cares. I enjoyed the ride and looking forwards to New Years tonight in Luang Prabang
