March 23, 2017

After a good nights sleep we headed out on another day of cycling. The first 20 kms were in busy rush hour traffic and I lost it. For some unknown reason, I just couldn’t cope with the traffic today. Too many cars travelling at speed, motorbikes all over the place and the “truck” taxis not taking any notice of what was in front of them, along side them or behind them. A truck taxi is a pick-up truck that has bench seats and a tarp cover on top. They stop to pick-up fares from whoever flags them down. They were an absolute nightmare. We made a wrong turn and I had a minor melt-down, at that point I was ready to turn the bikes around and go to the airport and find a plane out of here.

Ralf found us a relatively quiet route around Bangkok which involved crossing a river on a ferry.

At one point we took a trail which lead us along a raised concrete path next to a canal. We decided to walk the 1.5 kms along this path as motorbikes and scooters were also using the path. It was very narrow and no guard rail. It made a change from riding along a highway.

The path finished  at a lovely Wat.

Neither of us enjoyed the ride today. Ralf’s Garmin gave up the ghost and wasn’t any help at all in finding our route or a hotel for the night. We had to keep stopping and checking the IPad and maps.me to ensure that we were on the right route.

Eventually we got to the busy Highway 4 and stopped at a 7Eleven for a cold drink. Our first \”Road Angel\” came over to ask us if we needed any help.  He saw us checking the iPad again for the route.  He was a cyclist who had recently cycled to Kanchanaburi and gave us a route for tomorrow that would keep us off the Highway, it may add a few miles but I think it will be worth it. He wished us luck with our trip.

We found a bicycle shop and asked if they knew where there was a motel/hotel for us to stay. They directed us to the AP Apartments. I checked out two rooms, both of them had dirty bathrooms and although we were both hot and tired I didn’t want to “indoor camp” again. Ralf was ready to suck it up, but I said no, especially when he told me the bikes would be left outside.  We cycled back towards a hotel we had passed. A couple in a car with a baby waved at us, we waved back and continued our search for a hotel.

I checked out another hotel In-Trend Hotel, I think this was a “love” motel. Each of the rooms had a theme to them. It was clean but we had one more to check out. As we left the premises of the hotel, the couple with the baby were standing there.   Although we were both hot and tired I knew they wanted to chat, I stopped and said hello.

These were our second Road Angels – and these were real angels. Mae asked if we were looking for a hotel. We said yes. She offered for us to stay at her house. “My husband owns a bike shop and is the authorized dealer for Arkel panniers in Thailand, we noticed you have Arkel panniers and wanted to talk to you”.

I didn’t give Ralf an option I said we would love to stay. Thank-you. She told her husband to take a motor-bike taxi to show us the way to the house and she would drive the car. Three kilometres of riding down Highway 4 on the wrong side of the road, into traffic!! I thought this is the day I am going to die! The motor-bike taxi was in front “blocking” the traffic.

We arrived at the bike shop, Chay specializes in providing gear for touring cyclists – he has Arkel panniers, Brooks saddles and Keen sandals. A great little shop. We headed to their house where we were welcomed by their little boy Wolf and Mae’s Mom. She showed us the room, turned on the air-conditioning in the room and showed us the shower. She let us do laundry and after we had spent some time finding a hotel for tomorrow night we went out to a famous Pad Thai restaurant in the area. She wouldn’t let us pay, so Ralf bought dessert to bring back to the house.

Mae is a Pharmacist and Chay is an architect. He opened the bike shop as a hobby, but it is taking more time. They have two children a boy (Wolf) 2 years old and a little girl (her name means Moon) 8 months old. The little girl was fascinated by Ralf’s beard.

The little boy was interested in the colour of my hair.  He already knows colours in English, but couldn\’t quite decide what colour my hair was.  If I only knew what colour my hair is I would have told him, but it is very light at the moment and add the grey – it is an interesting colour.

Just when we needed it – the kindness of strangers happens again.