Day 4: Tue 3 Nov - Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, both Thailand

Day 1: Bangkok - Kanchanaburi (Cycling 65km) Breakfast at the hotel. Today we transfer 1 hour out off the busy part of Bangkok. We start cycling from a gas station where the bike is waiting for. Chance for a toilet before heading off. The road we cycle on is the back road with less busy traffic. Overnight in Kanchanaburi.

Tour starts today: 70km cycle, 28-35deg, fine.

Enjoyed a superb early brekky, choice of Asian or European.  However I couldn’t face the coffee even for me (non-coffee-snob) it is far too strong and bitter.  I then packed up and checked out ready to go by 8am. The room, which included a kitchen and was huge, was $70 a night, including free wi-fi and buffet breakfast.   

We were met in the foyer by Boeun, who had been the Head Guide on our last two tours, and he gave us a bit of a rundown on the day ahead and the tour in general.  A great bloke, full of beans and always happy, regardless of what goes wrong.   To avoid the traffic we were driven out of Bangkok to a temple where we were issued our bikes, fitted our SPD clip-in pedals, adjusted saddles etc ready to ride. Although a basic model MTB, the Trek 4300, 29 inch MTB goes along okay and does the job. But it is heavy so we were going to feel it on the hills and during the long days. 

The highlight of the day was just being on the bike looking at the really different countryside roll by.  Stopped briefly at a couple of very impressive temples and had a good wander around the Death Railway Memorial area on the River Kwai. There were plenty of touristy stalls selling the normal array of souvenirs but we weren’t interested.  

We reached the hotel, Royal River Kwai Resort about 6pm so not much time for using the lovely pool etc before we were taken into town for dinner at 7pm. A real varied menu, I had a nice steak, salad and chips which are unusual for the back blocks of Thailand. Although there are a lot of European tourists who visit the River Kwai so the restaurants are mainly Western.  I didn't take long to get to sleep after getting back to the room. A fantastic first day on the cycle tour.

Bike issue

The crew

My transport Bangkok to Yangon



Local wildlife

Side business at our lunch stop

Chinese graveyard

Kanchanaburi War Cemetery

Buddhist symbol on the Kwai River

Me and an impressive dragon

The Bridge over the River Kwai

Royal Riverkwai Resort and Spa




Dinner venue








































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