| Day 1 Savannakhet to Xeno, Laos Kilometers 32 Miles 19.2 |
Note - We spent the night in Xeno. There is a German/Lao
run guesthouse 70 kilometers (42 miles) east of Savannkhet.
Had we known about the guesthouse we would have gladly
pedaled on to DongKilo. The guesthouse is really nice!
Road/Ride - Hwy 9 is a newly sealed road, wide shoulder
with painted lines and new kilometer markers. Road
construction is heaviest close to Savannkhet.
Weather - Mild head wind all along this ride.
Hills - Gradual uphills with downhills all along this ride.
Undulated road that goes up and down, but it's a relatively
short ride.
Xeno is a small town built along the highway at the
intersection of three main roads; Hwy 13 south, Hwy 9 west
and Hwy 9 east. The town is mostly a pit stop for food and
supplies and most travelers continue on toward Vietnam or
Savannkhet.
Xeno has shops with processed good and snacks,
restaurants and several accommodations. The local central
market is further down Hwy 9 east about 39 kilometers east
of Savannahket (23.4 miles). The market has fresh fruit,
vegetables, large, fresh baguettes and plenty of food stalls.
Slept - At a guest house 37 kilometers (22.2 miles) east of
Savannakhet.
Location - After the cross roads of Hwy 13 and Hwy 9. On
Hwy 9 toward Vietnam on the right side of the road if heading
east.
Amenities - Motel-style bungalow on the ground floor in large
complex. Basic, medium size room with tile floor and a huge
wooden table with two stools. En suite bath with shower (hot
water), western toilet with bucket flushing. TV (no English
channels).
The room had just enough space to roll in the bikes at night
for safe-keeping.
Other cyclists on the Road - Our guesthouse became a
popular hangout as the night crept in. Before dark in
pedaled a couple from Madrid, Spain, Marta and Juan who
have been on the road for close to six months and are
headed toward northern Lao and then crossing into China.
Their spontaneous bouts of emotion showed the strain of the
journey. Later that evening an older Brit, Collin, fleeing the
winter at home, is pedaling our way toward Vietnam.
run guesthouse 70 kilometers (42 miles) east of Savannkhet.
Had we known about the guesthouse we would have gladly
pedaled on to DongKilo. The guesthouse is really nice!
Road/Ride - Hwy 9 is a newly sealed road, wide shoulder
with painted lines and new kilometer markers. Road
construction is heaviest close to Savannkhet.
Weather - Mild head wind all along this ride.
Hills - Gradual uphills with downhills all along this ride.
Undulated road that goes up and down, but it's a relatively
short ride.
Xeno is a small town built along the highway at the
intersection of three main roads; Hwy 13 south, Hwy 9 west
and Hwy 9 east. The town is mostly a pit stop for food and
supplies and most travelers continue on toward Vietnam or
Savannkhet.
Xeno has shops with processed good and snacks,
restaurants and several accommodations. The local central
market is further down Hwy 9 east about 39 kilometers east
of Savannahket (23.4 miles). The market has fresh fruit,
vegetables, large, fresh baguettes and plenty of food stalls.
Slept - At a guest house 37 kilometers (22.2 miles) east of
Savannakhet.
Location - After the cross roads of Hwy 13 and Hwy 9. On
Hwy 9 toward Vietnam on the right side of the road if heading
east.
Amenities - Motel-style bungalow on the ground floor in large
complex. Basic, medium size room with tile floor and a huge
wooden table with two stools. En suite bath with shower (hot
water), western toilet with bucket flushing. TV (no English
channels).
The room had just enough space to roll in the bikes at night
for safe-keeping.
Other cyclists on the Road - Our guesthouse became a
popular hangout as the night crept in. Before dark in
pedaled a couple from Madrid, Spain, Marta and Juan who
have been on the road for close to six months and are
headed toward northern Lao and then crossing into China.
Their spontaneous bouts of emotion showed the strain of the
journey. Later that evening an older Brit, Collin, fleeing the
winter at home, is pedaling our way toward Vietnam.