Day 58 Tue 24/08 - Bamboo Hut Camp Nam Chat - Phonsavan or Xieng Khouang

Today Distance : 84.8 km    Total : 3344.3 km
Today Weather : 21 - 30C   Day cooling Night rain
Time on Bike : 6 hr  30 min
Ave Speed : 13.0 kmh   Max : 55.0 kmh
Ave Climb : 3%             Max ; 12%
Trip Altitude : 1068 m    Max : 1383 m

After 3 days of consecutive Bamboo Hut camping since leaving Luang Prabang, I badly needed to clean up myself,washed all the smelly clothings and to recharge the batteries. So today I am determine to ride to Phonsavan, but was not so sure in doing it as it is 80 km . Mountains ahead for sure, but how tough? and Steep? That will be the main factor!! Started at 8 am. The 1st 57 km have climbs but not too long, then follow by downhills a little , not to the very bottom. More or less I was riding at an elevation between 1200 - 1400m.  A surprise came when after one of the downhill , a vast plain of  grassland plateau, with paddy fields at the lowland and upper land with pine,oaks trees, a great change of vegetation from the rain forest. The villagers houses are built on woods instead of the bamboo and attap roof. With a very cooling temperate weather, the ride from here is much more relaxing, a boaster to my confidence to reach Phonsavan. There was a toll gate before the town but was free for bicycle and also a sign board of world heritage sites in Plain of Jars. My first impression of the town is rather disappointing at the amount of red mud dust flying around on both sides of the road, especially worst when some inconsiderate drivers zoom passed. The road leading to Phonsavan is lovely. But the same cannot be said on the town , dirty, rubbish everywhere. By 4 pm settled in Sabaidee guest house for 35000k. Too tired to think of anything, drop straight on the bed.

Mountain water good for drinking

Fishing pond

A change of vegetation from rain forest

Pines and oaks greenland

World Heritage site -Plain of Jars

US cluster bomb left as decoration

And also flower pots

Riding into the town with red mud dust on both side

Xieng Khouang Hotel at the main junction

Market complex in Phonsavan