| Distance | 139.10 kms | 86.37 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Ride time (hours) | 7.18 | - |
| Avg speed | 19.3 kph | - |
| Distance | 192.20 kms | 119.30 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Ride time (hours) | 11.39 | - |
Friday, December 2nd, 2016
Today is one of those bicycle touring days where you slog from A to B so that you can eventually get to C. 346 is the highway number, it's 346 all day long from Pathum Thani to Kanchanaburi. If I wasn't riding on the left I could swear I was cycling on a Mexican highway through Queretaro or Puebla: flat, hot, chaotic, stuff burning in the distance... it even smells the same.
The hotel made me leave a 1,000 baht deposit last night. Only stayed in 2 hotels in Thailand so far but both have checked the room before I leave in the morning. I am pleasantly surprised, however, to discover that breakfast is included. I take full advantage of that perk.
The headwinds pick up in the afternoon. I make the mistake of waiting to have lunch, then when the hunger hits I'm on a stretch that has no services. When I finally run into a 7-11 I'm ravenous: two sandwiches, a bag of peanuts, and a Snickers bar later I'm feeling vaguely human again. The road turns southwest for the last 25 kilometers which gives me somewhat of a break from the wind.
I drop my stuff at a residence/hotel/guesthouse kind of place and ride (eventually) to the river after getting thoroughly lost. I'm still nervous about riding on the left, I just have the wrong instincts. I have to keep reminding myself to think before navigating an intersection or crossing the road. Dinner sitting outside by the river: "hot Thai curry" (and man is it hot) with pork fried rice. Delicious and plentiful for only 5 dollars with drink.
I drank 5 liters of water while riding today and another 2 at night; and my legs are quite sore despite relatively easy riding. Unusual...it was hot but not that hot.
