Thursday, February 28, 2013

Nong Khiaw




 I  was no the river at 9:30.  First half hour and I am glad I hoped a motor boat.  Slow water.  Boat is a bit overload.  Captain is not happy if someone moves to the other side for a picture.  I am happy there is no roof over me.  I won't be trapped.  The boats coming up river have life jackets.  We don't have to worry about those pesky things.  



 Muang Ngoi Neua river front is a tourist zone.  We pick up a guy working in the villages for an NGO.  His breakfast was a frog leg as he did not want the bat or rat that was also being provided by the family he was staying with.  It is a pity I am a vegetarian as there is much verity of food being offered.  I could even try Lao ma.  
As we go down a rapid the NGO guy points out the rocky cliff side one of his boat rides went straight up on when the rudder cable broke. 



Decide to stop and hang in Nong Khiaw for the night. 
After a snack of green curry, I thought it was early so I headed up stream with the raft.  The put in I chose was a bit steep but switching hands holding the raft committed me as the raft bounced down to the river.  Paddle on the river till sunset. 






 This ends my travels down the Nam Ou.



Nong Khiaw
Slow Boat
57.7 Miles, 5:59 Moving Time, Max Speed 18.6 
Miles, Moving Average 6.6 Miles, Stop Time 1:48 Overall Average Speed 5.5 Miles, Temp Min 72F-80F, Start 09:30 next day end 17:30, Decent 95? feet, Max Altitude 1363 feet.

Sunny after morning fog cleared

Love & Kisses
Steve

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Nam Ou Day 6



 I come across the warning label in my raft.  I never have gotten instruction in how to use this boat.  Maybe that’s why I did not follow most of the rules it lists. 



Choice 4 the fun rapid

 Turn the corner on the river and I am in a construction zone.  Flat water!!  Passing a village the local point me to a different route.  They send me down a long straight cascade.  I look over at the path  I was taking and see a two meter water fall.  Now I know why they were so insistent on which way I went.  I think they were worried my boat would not make it.  I just concerned if I will make it.  Choice three was another two meter falls with the last choice an exciting rapid.  More flat water!!  Water is slow and my boat is slow.

  There is a road next to river with construction trucks.  The wild jungle is over.  I paddle on.  
Young boys run and swim for a closer look at the boat.  After only 8 hours of continually paddling I arrive.  The have guest houses with hot showers.  No rice and red curry paste tonight.  Noodles with Vegi's and eggs.  And a plate full of fried eggplant with Beerlao.
Tourist zone and the French are here.





M Khoi

Boat
27.7 Miles, 8:03 Moving Time, Max Speed 10.0 Miles  Moving Average 3.4 Miles, Stop Time 0:51 Overall Average Speed 3.1 Miles,  Temp Min 70 F-90 F, Start 08:30 next day end 17:30, Decent 26? feet, Max Altitude 1361 feet.

Sunny after morning fog cleared

Love & Kisses
Steve

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Nam Ou Day 5


 I wake at 5 to the town bell being struck.  5:30 I hear the children singing patriotic songs.  Yes this is utopia and it is not even light out.  At 6:30 and it is light out I am up.  I start to ready the boat.  They insist I stay for breakfast.  I then find out my bill is 50,000 kip or little over 6 dollars.  No English is spoken but there are lots of shirts with English on them.  I find it interesting the air force shirt the most fascinating.
I am on the river at 8:30 and am quick wet from small but wet rapids.  There are long stretches that are flat water.
It is just a constant paddling to keep my boat moving.  I see a half dozen bare young bottoms running up hill to hide.  I wave to the faces peering around trees.  I paddle on.  I ponder catching a ride on one of the boat that motors by.  I paddle on.  River is getting flat and slow.  See some bamboo rafts that have wrapped.
Did I say that they are planning 7 dams on this river as I pass the next dam being constructed? 
Still would like to know what is said on the Stove fuel bottle after the word "warning"? 


With a road up on the hillside above the river I look for a camp site that is less visible.   After setting up camp a little brush I find that I am camp by a fishing hole as three boats work the waters infront of the camp.  Then there are some up on the road who come to look down on my camp.  River is getting crowded. 
Still would like to know what is said on the Stove fuel bottle after the word warning? 
































Camp 4

Boat
27.6 Miles, 8:21 Moving Time, Max Speed 10.6 Miles,  Moving Average 3.3 Miles,  Stop Time 2:37 Overall Average Speed 2.5 Miles,  Temp Min 69 F-92 F, Start 08:30 next day end 17:00, Decent 27? feet, Max Altitude 1432 feet.
Sunny after morning fog cleared
Love & Kisses Steve