Cycling Chiang Kham to Chiang Mai

Wall with peacocks.

I'm really not feeling much like getting back on the bike, but no help for it, I need to head south.  I guess I am on my route from 2018, but in reverse, it doesn't feel terribly familiar though.  More of the same dry looking fields and low hills, and even a small hill is hard work.  I find myself stopping for a rest at regular intervals, I fear I am a bit out of condition...  Well, it is hot too, and indeed there is a wind against me at times.  Well, I keep going, cross into Phayao province with little ceremony, although later on there is a symbolic wall, with peacocks, at a high point among the hills - peacocks are the provincial animal, it seems.  And of course I am heading for the provincial capital, also named Phayao.  No energy for walking around the lake this time, I lie down for a bit before heading out for dinner.

At Phayao.

As I did five years ago, I head to the lake and take a photo or two, no time for fish feeding though, I need to get on.  There are big hills between here and Chiang Mai, and while I am feeling a bit stronger, before long I am pushing the bike up.  There are at least fine views over the quaintly named 'dinosaur forest', but it's hard work.  Lots of province boundaries here, I briefly pass through Lampang, then back into Chiang Rai.  I am not even going as far as the day I rode down to Phayao last time, maybe 15km less, but the hills don't seem to end, in the event it is nearly 6pm when I roll into Mae Chedi - an actual town, rather than the previous 'resort in the middle of nowhere '.  Hmm, on the last trip I finished a longer day at 3pm?  Well, maybe this way was more uphill, or maybe I am getting old...

Seems to be holding up well.

The last day!  Probably a good thing as I could use a rest, but first there are of course more hills, indeed I start by pushing up a steep slope away from the resort.  Before long I pass the little place in the middle of nowhere I stayed last time, seems it is for sale.  Then a little past that, people are still boiling eggs in the hot springs, and the half built Angkor Wat themed... thing, is still there.  I guess it was also planned to be a resort, and kind of typical of Thailand that after five years it has neither been finished, nor demolished.  Onwards, more pushing, lovely mountain scenery, and I don't make much effort to go quickly.  Sure is nice to reach the highest point, these last few days have been hard work, but it is mostly downhill now.  Checking my blog entry from the previous trip, I am expecting to leave the mountains with some 30km to go, but no... 25km left, I am still going up and down, same at 20, then finally with about 15km left I hit flat ground, and an easy ride into the city.

Well, this was all good fun, even if maybe I am not quite as fit as I should be!  Much of the route was through lovely country, and it was interesting to see a few new places.  I should probably do this again some time, not least it seems I missed a few sights, noticeably that White Temple in Chiang Rai.  I imagine I'll come up with a different route next time I go for a ride though, however before that - a different form of transport.  What could it be?

By a hot spring.

Photos to go with this post can be found here.