Did small bike ride of a couple of houts today to start getting back into the routine. Surprisingly I found some tracks I had never done before not far out of town. Just as I thought I had done them all.
Andrew
Hectic Month
My website ( and excersise) has been Neglected for a Month My Father in Law Passed away at the start of the month. Then I dad to go to Chiang Mai to get some documents norised at the British Consulate. Fianly I have been working on a thai dating website for someone here in Ban Dung. However he is now moving back to Bangkok so the project is on permanent hold unless somebody else wants to persue it.
River crossing
Tried the New short cut from Omko to SDD again today. The river hasn’t completely dried up and so I had to cross via the foot bridge I noticed the last time I came this way.
River Crossing
However for some resaon the bridge is not adjacent to the road but some 20-30m away over rough ground. Why I don’t know however I now know this route is passabe at all times. Also Took a picture of this strange fruit tree on the way home I have yet to find out what it is called.
Fruit Tree
Kham Bon – Village Number 140
Unbelievably after all the time cycling around the Amphoer I came across a village I hadn’t been to before and which was missing off my map – Kham Bon . This is despite the fact that it is sign posted on the Phen road but for some reason I had missed it.
Plantation one
Had a ride out today and went past plantation number one. the trees are maturing well and a canopy has formed reducing weed growth.
Trees - Plantation 2
The trees are large enough to be cut but are being rested at the moment during the cool season
Tree Close up on Plantation one
Wat Phu Tok and Bueng Kan
Had a run out to Wat Phu Tok Today in the newly formed Bueng Kan Province (with Tim and Sandy). Wat Phu Tok is a Temple built on a rocky outcrop and consists of 7 levels built on Wooden Trestles or carved into the bedrock. Each level represents level of enlightenment in the Buddhist religeon.
We went Via Ban Mueng,Kham Ta Kla and up to Si Wilai. At Si Wilai we turned left just before the Gold Shop and followed the concrete road . There are signs at all the junctions but they are small, written in thai and difficult to spot. At Times the road was very Pot Holed making driving slow.
After Wat Phu Tok we headed North onto Highway 212 and followed the Mekong into Bueng kan for Lunch and a walk along the river front promenade. It is a lot smaller than Nong Khai but quieter and there were ample parking places along the riverside road.
We then returned continuing along Higway 212 to Pak Khat where we turned right to So Phisai and on to Fao rai before returning to Ban Dung.
No Road
Went for a Ride North of KamChanot to see if I could get round the lake now. The water levels had receded but the road was covered in dried out algae.
Track Around Lake
Further on in my Travels a Section of road had been totally washed away in two places with only 100m between the two places. This meant a carry over the damaged sections with a number of Thais who were fishing nearby looking on.
Eroded Road
I think it will be some time before this section is repaired.
Ban Daeng Again
Had another ride out to Ban Daeng in Anphoer Phibunrak to find the name of one last village for my map ( Bn Pho) . One Strange thing about Phibunrak is that there is no village by that name in the Amphoer. The main town is Ban Daeng.
Rural Road near Ban Pho