Chiang Mai to Lampang (102km), Lampang to Phrae (120km)

Kate -

Left Chiang Mai early in the morning and had our first savage dog attack. I think the dog is now deaf from Kate's screaming, because Rowan is. Basically our tactic is to outrun them but apparantly throwing things from the bike also scares them off. We had to travel a bit on the highway as it was the only way out of Chiang Mai but luckely there is a sholder for bicycles. It was mostly flat except for the one moutain range, which wasn't that difficult to get over. We stopped at the Elephant Conservation centre on the way, which has an elephant hospital and breeding facility. We found good grub in Lampang and crashed out.

Lampang to Phrae according to our Thai map was meant to be flat. However, after 2 hours of serious climbing we decided the map was totally unreliable. Kate was convinced that the downhill was just over the next hill, but it kept going up and up. We reckoned we climbed about 800m. The downhill was awesome and super windy, we blasted it at about 70km an hour. Little did we know there was another pass to come - another 1.5 hours of steep hill through the national park. We somehow got a second wind (maybe Rowan's constant swearing) and went up it pretty fast. Despite the hard work, the scenery is gorgeous, the locals super friendly (and amazed by the tandem) and the road side food tasty and cheap.

We're having a rest day in Phrae, we both have sore knees and bums. We're staying at this ecentric language teacher's house - a traditional Thai teak house on stilts. We're in the real Thailand now and after only six days, Australia seems like a life time away.

Rowan -

Number 1 tip = Don't eat the spiciest food you can find for breakfast before long ride

Quote of the day = "F**k you, bloody c**t of a hill!!!!"

Kate suprised me so far on all the hills she didnt crap out once, although she may need an ass amputation at the end of the trip (me too). I'm finding Thai food sizes insufficient, constant eating is required, about to get myslef a whole chicken on a stick. The bike is going good - i am glad i put more powerful brakes on it as they were cooking down the first mountain pass.

Catch yas