Spectacular is the only way to describe the road from Luang Prabang to Viang Vieng, I really dont think cycle touring can get much better then this. 230km of perfectly sealed roads, three 1600 metre passes, 2700 metre of vertical ascent and descent all of which are very gradual so as not to work the legs or the breaks overly. Thankfully rainy season is on the way so mainly overcased conditions certainly help on 20km climbs.

The scenery was breathtaking with the karst mountains and cliffs shooting jaggadly up all around with dense jungle and villages clinging to the side, I have much better photos to demonstrate this but this being the only photo with me in it vanity got the better of me. The difference in wealth between here and Thailand was evident in Luang Prabang but once you left that tourist mecha it really hits you, the villages are mostly made of bamboo and leaves perched on the side of mountains with smiley mostly naked, filthy children running up to you shouting greetings, waving like maniacs and offering high 5's. No matter how tired you are, passing these villages never fails to plaster a smile from ear to ear on your face, that smile turns to a rather serious expression when passing one of the many army/guerilla pesonelle(it is had to tell which is which) strolling about with a kalashnikov round his shoulder, there being some trouble of late with tourists on this road so I usually bade them a cordial greeting dropped a gear and off I went as fast as my noodle legs could take me.

So safe and sound in Viang Vieng it is time for a day off before facing the 2ookm to Vientienne. Long live cycle touring!