03/12/2014 – 251 days/22781 miles

While doing some more detailed planning of my route through Cambodia, I was having issues with what I was seeing on my map, and what I was seeing on Google Maps.  Seems like there were lots of main roads missing from my map, and often times, the route different roads took was not accurately portrayed.  Turns out, the map I bought was printed in Canada!  What was I thinking?!
So it looks like the first thing on my agenda once I get into Cambodia will be finding a new map.

My time in 4000 Islands provided a nice break…basically it’s just a good place to go relax, as there isn’t a ton going on there.
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03/08/2014 – 247 days/22472 miles

Today had to be my most physically exhausting day so far.
It involved good asphalt, crap asphalt, gravel covered asphalt, hard packed dirt, loose gravel, looser gravel, washboards, rocks, ruts, sketchy bridges, steep hills, sand, silt, river crossings, and falling.
I loved it.I love the fact that I did it, and that I am now drinking beer instead of riding.
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03/07/2014 – 246 days/22224 miles

Turns out Ban Nahin is on the northern portion of “The Loop” in Laos. Although I didn’t feel like riding the whole loop, I figured I’d make my trip from Ban Nahin to Pakse a little longer and ride the north, east, and south portions, rather than just taking the west side, which would’ve been much faster. The west side also was on the most major road, which I’ve already spent plenty of time on, and will continue on as I head to the south, so I figured this route would be the most interesting.
As I’d mentioned before, getting off the main roads subjects one to dirt roads (and sometimes pretty shitty dirt roads) pretty quickly.
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03/05/2014 – 244 days/21885 miles

From Phonsavan, I had a long day of riding to get to Ban Nahin, which is near the Kong Lo cave (Tham Kong Lo)
I’m starting to find that as soon as you get off the few main roads in Laos, long stretches of dirt become fairly common.
I’m also starting to find that I’m getting more tired with each day…lots of hours on rough roads are starting to take their toll. And for anyone out there who thinks riding a motorcycle can’t be that physical, try it out.
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