Day 5 - Sat 16 Nov: Phuket to Thon Bok Kherani National Park

Fine and mainly sunny 25 to 32 deg.

Ride: 60 km; ride was cut short today by 10 km due to an impassable road, right after a monster climb. So, we just rode back down, that was fun.

Up early and all excited about our first day on the bikes. After a quick brekky I had to check out as I had booked the first three nights myself. Paid $45 for the three breakfasts, which included everything you could possibly want to start the day. As the roads around here are too busy and a bit narrow, they bused us to the start of the ride about an hour away. There we fitted our stuff, SPD pedals, saddles, and for some quad locks, a device that holds your phone on the handlebars. It was great to be finally back on a bike, a brand spanking new Trek Marlin. Not as light as my carbon fibre one back home but it will do the job; just make me work a bit harder.

The ride today was fairly pleasant but unremarkable as far as attractions and scenery go, mainly rural, rubber and palm oil plantations with a scattering of tropical fruit.

Some were a little disappointed that we didn’t do the full 70 km, but others from colder climates were relieved as they were feeling the heat and humidity badly. Understandably as temps back home are bordering on freezing while mine are very similar.

We arrived at our hotel, a “resort” in the sticks a fair way from anywhere. Just had time to do the washing, body and riding gear and then get ready for dinner. As normal, we were driven into the town and served up real Thai at a local restaurant, very tasty.

One of three pools at this resort

Never get tired of the view from my room

Nice bike lane, even in Thailand

The shade from the palms was nice

A temple at a school

Rubber being harvested

Pineapples between rows of new rubber trees

Typical Thai house in the country

Our lunch stop; a very basic but tasty chicken Pad Thai

Lunch stop

My pad for the night

Entrance to the pad

My hut

Darn big rock overlooking our pad

The Bike


Raw rubber

Freshly harvested palm oil fruit


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