Today
would be a somewhat "easy" day considering the distance to my next stop
- Nong Khai. When I awoke it was raining outside - that's all I needed
to slip back into bed and take a nice nap. Getting up a second time,
maybe only 30 minute later, the rain had stopped and the roads were
starting to dry. I guess I should stay up and get rolling.
Hotel
breakfast to start the day and I was ready. The roads were now mostly
dry and I headed along the river figuring I'd find the highway sooner
or later (it was a few blocks to my left). Passing by a Catholic Church
I stopped in for a moment. There was a school attached - I think I took
a photo of it - not sure. The riverfront roadway was ending and I was
kicked into a weaving about mode looking for the highway. Easy to find
and I was moving on the big arch to my left. Northeast Thailand follows
the Mekong river for the international boundary.
Not too far out
of town - only a few kilometers - I came across a guy sitting on a
motorbike while his wife pushed. Odd I thought so I at least stopped to
point to the fuel can. Nope - that' wasn't the problem. I watched as he
would sit on the bike while she tried to push start it. That wasn't
working so he got off and tried to run along side the bike pushing
himself (while she watched). It started but he lost control of the bike
and it took off in a lazy weave to the center of the roadway where it
fell over and died.
I got off the bike and walked down to them
and got behind the bike ready to push. He got on and I started running.
It started and he headed down the road a bit while she walked up to the
bike. I'm not sure it was a healthy running bike and kinda think it
died shortly after I left. Town was close by so I didn't bother
offering a push with my bike.
For a portion of the trip I
started to run into some hilly ground! It didn't last long - maybe an
hour - but they were hills nonetheless. Some might call them dips in
the roadway.
Off to my left was a "mountain" sitting by itself -
the land around was mostly flat aside from the hills on the other side
of the river. A "waterfall" sign was posted so I figured why not.
I wound down a small road, through a small village and finally to a
construction site - the road was being "upgraded" from gravel to
cement. It was not greatly fun to navigate the somewhat muddy sections
but I was now appreciating renting the lighter weight Honda Super Four
versus the heavy Yamaha V-Max.
I passed by a couple crews -
ladies and gents - doing their work. Coming up to the third crew I
stopped to verify the directions. Pulling out my water bottle and
mimicking pouring of water to make a waterfall. They pointed in the
direction I was going and even drew a map in the dirt - I was to take a
left when the road T's. I then asked if it was "small" (two fingers
held close together") or big (hands held wide apart) - after motioning
the "waterfall" with my water bottle. Big was their answer - though I
realize we are only starting the rainy season so any waterfall might
not be as grand as it might be.
They noticed the camera and one
of them rounded the crew for a photo. I set the camera to timed and ran
to get into the picture with them. Handing out a card one of the guys
said "dub-dub-dub" for www / world wide web. They'll probably see the
photo. Good fun and I headed off to see the waterfall - but not before
some more fun road surface.
I found the National Park /
waterfall easy enough. Again, I'm noticing the staffing levels and how
they might differ from the U.S. One guy was running the "gate" as the
gate raised when I drove up. I stopped at the booth to inquire if there
was a fee for the park. I say "Baht" and he said "no" and pointed to
the next building. I walked over there and two people were inside. The
gent came up to me and I said again "Baht" and he said "free". His
English was better than my Thai and we had a short conversation.
He
said the park was a national park and that there was no fee. He asked
where I am from and commented that his son is attending a good
electrical engineering school in Boston. So, to he and his son - "Hi!"
He
gave me a bit of information regarding the park and with that I moved
the bike to a good parking spot and got ready for a walk. Mosquito's
weren't swarming but they were about. This certainly qualifies as a
"border area" in Thailand and thus Malaria is a concern. I've been
enjoying the daily anti-malaria pills so perhaps they'll
get used here. Dousing myself in a layer of mosquito spray I
decided it would be wise to take the can with me on this little hike.
So, teamed with the camera, spray, and extra batteries I headed out.
Not
being able to read the signs I wasn't sure how far of a hike I had in
front of me - though I could see that there were two different trails
to take. I took the left one as it had more "features" visible on it. I
walked perhaps for 10 or 15 minutes on a footpath. I wasn't sure if I
found the falls or not as I had passed up one set of falls. Finally,
having enough of the trail - and figuring that the falls I passed by
were _the_ falls I turned back.
Hearing a mosquito near my ear a time or two I pulled the can out for some touch-up spraying.
Down
to the falls I passed up I stopped and took a bunch of photos. That
done I was off to take the right trail. It is short and ends at a
decent set of falls. More photos there and I headed out.
Exiting
the park I passed by a row of what I'd call vendor booths or stores.
They were vacant. This also fits in with my general feeling -
infrastructure was built to accommodate a set size of tourist needs but
the tourists aren't here. Vacant hotels, vacant tourist areas. Kinda
sad to see the items sitting unused and starting to fall apart.
I
didn't have to take the "under construction" road back to the highway
so no second pass with the road crews. I was moving down the highway
noting that this section is, generally, a pretty ride (I was told it
would be).
Not too far down the road I would pass by a couple
cyclists heading the other direction. Since they looked like travelers
I figured it might be fun to turn about and see what their trip is. In
talking with them the guy is from Thailand while the gal is from the
states. When the "where ya from?" line comes about I use "Chicago" or
if that doesn't do it - then "U.S.A." Well, when I did the "Chicago"
she commented that I should know "Lake Geneva" - sure. I said then I'm
actually from Rockford and she said she was actually from Hebron. She
now lives in Colorado and I commented that I may well soon relocate to
there. The other side of the globe - rolling down a two-lane road in
different directions. They were in search of the waterfalls down the
road....
Before we parted they commented that I just missed the
rocket festival in Nong Khai, darn, but that one should be the day
after in a town close to there. I'll try to see the festival tomorrow.
Heading
into a second rain shower where I had just dried from the short first
shower, I figured I could wait this one out. A tree with a bench nearby
would work well - it wasn't raining very hard. While sitting there,
drinking some water, eating a snack, the school kids were moving by as
they headed home. The 'bold' kids would test out their English by
yelling out a "Hello" then "Goodbye". I'd reply hello or goodbye just
the same and they would laugh. Whenever I held up the camera and then
pointed it at them they would smile and wave. Good fun.
It was
at this bench that I noticed the "pot" nearby. I've been seeing many of
them the past day or two. I first thought they were steel / iron pots
used for burning garbage but I now think they might be garbage cans.
They're made from old tires. The pot section is an old tire, cut apart
and turned inside out. The "legs" are tire parts too. Bolts are used to
fasten the parts together but each part seems to have originated in an
old tire. I should stop at a nice one and get some good photos.
Rolling
down the road making my way to the end I noticed a single, tall streak
of smoke in the sky. ROCKETS!!!! The smoke was easy to see and I was
nearing a town. Now to find the source. It wasn't too difficult as the
town was small and by "following the locals" I was lead to the source.
A party atmosphere. Vendors selling foods and small party rockets.
I
was wondering about the rockets being fired? Where they ornate? How big
were they? I was soon to find out. They are basic, functional things -
big things. There was also a good bit of wagering going on and guys
talking on cell phones was common - probably placing / taking other
bets. I think the "winner" is the one with the longest burn duration /
growing smoke line. I didn't notice any method to gauge the height.
The
rocket pit had a launch panel that would hold five rockets - four
standard length spots and one tall spot. The pit was a fenced off area
to keep the crowd back. One person would hold a flag up - green or red.
When the flag was red guys were allowed to mount the rockets to the
panel. When one guy was ready the people in the pit moved back while
the rocket was launched. Just before launch a number sign was held up -
I guess for betting purposes - the number of this rocket.
Using
electrical ignition it was difficult to tell when the rocket would fire
(no seeing a match at the rocket or fuse burning down). A good party
event! |