Bang Khlo

Day 10 Stage 8: Surat Thani — Takun = 83 km | 284 m ascent

This morning, we were able to get breakfast at 6:30 but it was a rather interesting breakfast. We were spoiled after the last couple of days of hotel buffet breakfast. We got what we could, and we had to be ready to ride by 8 AM. The trip out this morning was through some very busy streets. We had about 10 KM of managing traffic and traffic lights. We ended up getting separated into three groups until we met up at the coffee shop at 26 KM.
This coffee shop, another Amazon Café on the highway, was the same one we were at on the Bangkok to Phuket tour last month. Bob had another flat tire today, so they stopped and swapped out the wheel again. Just like the tour de France. We had another stop at the temple after a very short but very steep climb. Bob is getting stronger as his Garmin and Strava said he was faster than last time.

This was about 60 KM, and we all enjoyed another cold drink and had our picture taken again on the temple steps. Back on the bikes for the final push to the hotel which is where we were having lunch. Nice to be able to have lunch at the end of the day’s ride.

We are in Khao Sok National Park area. We took advantage of the beautiful pool and opted not to take the boat trip as we had just done it the last time through.

We decided to have an early dinner. Since we are such creatures of habit, and we enjoyed it last time, we went back to the same restaurant and enjoyed Spring rolls, Penang chicken curry and chicken Massamam curry. Both served with white rice. Bob had another fruity drink. About $27.00 Canadian.

We went for a little walk and now preparing for tomorrow’s ride. Tomorrow is the toughest day on the tour but one I did last time. Unlike last time Bob is feeling much stronger and is going to tackle the climb tomorrow.

Day 11: Stage 9: Takun – Khao Lak Beach = 119 km | 1,050 m ascent

We left at 8 AM but they had Mayo take Andrew and Bob out about 15 minutes early. This was a wise move as they were able to get through the rolling hills and not have the others making them feel pressured.
Our group was moving at a very moderate pace and felt good for me. We had our coffee stop at 35 km which is where Bob and Andrew were waiting.

This was the lovely coffee shop on the hill side with such beautiful views. I still wish I could sit there and read a book.

We then travelled more rolling roads but nice and new. The construction was done since the last tour. We hit the hill at 55 km and then we went up the 5 KM climb at about a 5 – 8% grade throughout the climb. Nice and steady until construction. We also had a truck spraying water as we climbed to keep the dust down. We made it to the top and had a little rest. It was really hot, but I don’t think as hot as the time before.

We then had a long descent to the elephant farm. Today we were feeding them bananas.

After we travelled to the lunch stop which was about 93 km. It was a tough rolling road, but we made it. Bob decided it was all he was going to do, and him and a few others took the van from there 24 km to the hotel.

As I had done it before I did it again. Went out ahead as the hill out of the golf course was steep but short. As I was climbing and descending, I realized my gears had stopped working. I was at least stuck in my small chain ring at the front but that meant I couldn’t push down the hills. I quickly lost the group.

Ride leader Manoop found me and a couple others, and he looked to see if he could fix my bike, but I knew it was a dead battery. It was solid red! That means no power – which is fine I could still move the small chain ring.
We rode together the final 15 km and of course we got rain as well. But it was so refreshing, and I didn’t care how gritty I was getting I was very happy to be done.

As this was going to be our last night together as a group, most of the English-speaking members of the group decided to meet again for drinks and dinner. We enjoyed a nice evening while the rain continued. But still so humid. Bob enjoyed a burger, and I almost finished an entire pizza. Felt I needed a change from Thai food. This area is on the Indian Ocean and our resort is on Nangthong Beach. A very nice place to spend our final evening on the bike tour.

Day 12: Stage 10: Khao Lak – Phuket = 95 km | 490 m ascent

Today we had another 8 AM start. Our breakfast was not a buffet so a nice change to be served. We had a choice of continental or American. I chose continental and Bob had American. We all enjoyed and then got ready for our final day.

We had about 10 KMs of climbing to get out of Nangthong beach area. It was tough but we all stayed together. We had a nice coffee break at about 35 KM in Thai Muang. A really nice beach area. From there our group was able to ride to drop off Todd and Patrick (the locals) who we said our good-byes as they got their luggage from the van and returned one of the bikes. That was about 55 KM. We then traveled another 10 KM to cross over the Sarasin Bridge and reached Thailand’s largest island – Phuket. We stopped there at ‘checkpoint’ and had another cold drink. Final push to the Siam Bike Tours Shop in Phuket. This time the construction was finished, so we got to see a different way into the shop. Not as crazy with traffic, but still so busy. We all had lunch together. Had our farewell to Martin and his team where we present them with out gift and then Martin and his team arranged transport for people to go to their hotels.

Bob and I shared a cab with another cyclist who was staying in the same area as us. We are spending our last night in Bang Tao Beach at the Best Western – we stayed here in 2013 and 2016. The area is much busier just like everywhere else in Phuket, but we are only here for a few hours.

Thanks for following along, hope you have enjoyed reading about our adventures and seeing our pictures. Bob and I will probably do this again, anyone interested in joining, please let us know. Always fun when there are people you know – or who speak English!Read more