Bang Saphan – Chumphon - 118 kilometres
Waking up to the sound of the ocean is always a fantastic way to start
the day. Fortunately, the day's ride wasn't very long, as I felt pretty
tired.
The route was slightly hillier, but the views remained inspiring,
featuring palm trees, beaches, small settlements, and colourful
temples. We pedalled until we reached Chumphon, where we found
the Farang Bar.
I looked in vain for a computer shop, as my notebook had broken
down. It seemed I would have to wait until I reached Kuala Lumpur
for a solution. I had grown so accustomed to it that I felt pretty lost
without it.
Chumphon – Chayo – 142 kilometres
With Ernest always dragging his heels, we got a late start. At least
the wind was primarily at our backs, and the road was flat and in
good condition. There wasn’t much time to stop or explore interesting
sites as we hurried toward the border. It looked like rain throughout
the day, but while some areas were wet, we stayed dry. The
threatening clouds at least provided us with cover from the sun. Two
French cyclists in a similar situation were much smarter than us; they
took a bus from Bangkok to Chumphon. They must have thought we
were pretty mad for racing like that.
Upon reaching our destination, my backside and hands were sore, but
I was relieved to be off the bike. That night’s accommodation was
pricey, but I needed a shower and a bed. The woman running the
place was friendly and offered us vegetables to add to our noodles.