2016 - Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City by Bicycle: Day 5: Sun 20 Nov

25-34 degC; 95%-66%

Listed: 85km; actual 76; total: 268

Greg slept well, whilst Wendy tossed and turned on the rock-hard bed. Up at 6:15 (a little sleep in!) for breakfast. Breakfast was a la carte and most of us had the American Breakfast.

We would have left just after 8am if there were not more issues with the bikes. We eventually left about 8:20am. The terrain this morning was undulating but not too trying. After two water stops, lunch was had at the 52km mark. Lunch today was a "cold box" of two eggs, two chicken kebabs, two beef kebabs, boiled potato, and a HUGE amount of rice. This was backed up with fresh fruit.

It was only another 23km to the end and as the terrain had leveled out somewhat we flew along at approx 27km/h (after seeing the elevation graph, we know why we were able to cruise at that speed). Thankfully we stopped 8km out for a cold drink. It was then onwards to the end where we packed up the bikes and drove to the Bamboo Train. We took two trains between the eight of us and hurtled along until we met one coming the other way. You then had to jump off and the drivers removed the platforms and axles and the other train continued. There are rules about who gets right of way; if there is one carriage each way, the number of people on each carriage are looked at – that with the least people has to give way. However, if there are more females on that carriage, then the other one has to give way! The direction with the least amount of carriages always gives way to that with more carriages. All quite technical, but we didn’t have any issues. We only went half way because "there are too many children at the end asking you to buy souvenirs again, and again, and again...!" We had to wait for many trains to pass by before we could attempt the journey back or there would be too much stopping, unloading, and re-loading. By this stage most of us had had enough and were ready to return. We finally made it back to the van for the short drive to the hotel - Classy Hotel in Battambang. After a welcome drink we were allocated our room - #504. Battambang was Cambodia’s second largest city, but has been overtaken by Siem Reap. It is situated on the Sangker River and has many French colonial buildings.

We had a light shower of rain today so our clothes and our bodies were quite dirty, so washing was the first order of the day. We then went down to the pool for the customary cool down. After a very short swim (the water was quite cool) Greg, Mark and Bob went for a walk and Wendy went back to the room to do some admin. She then joined the boys in the Sky Lounge for a pre-dinner drink.

We met in the lobby for a 7pm pick up for dinner. We could have walked there but perhaps they were worried about our safety? We got to order our own meals again and when they came out Greg got Bill's which was probably not quite as nice as the one he ordered but it fed the worms. Wendy's meal was quite bland as the rice was steamed instead of being fried. Dorothy, Martin and Danilo ordered dessert so the rest of us paid our dues and walked the 1km home. Poor Danilo, he had a rather nasty fall today on a rocky dirt road and (at about the 3km mark) had to be taken off to a clinic to have it seen to. He seemed to be OK tonight, but it is such a shame as he is leaving us in Siem Reap. He reckons he should be alright to ride tomorrow.

Teeth, shower and bed, in that order.