6th December 2012:

Today (day four was a rest day at Ban Krut) was marked by many quite memorable things. The most prominent of which I think was the most amazing sunrise I think I have ever seen. I was awake at about 5.30am, and thought I should take a walk down to the beach (which was all of about 75 yards away) to see what the day might bring. After all, it is not too often in your life that you get to wake up with an uninterrupted view of the Gulf of Thailand is it?

The sun pushed its way through a few wispy clouds sat on the horizon at about 6.20. Sat as I was the only person for miles around I had this beautiful thing all to myself.

The sun begins to light up the eastern sky over the Gulf….

….and then the whole sky is awash with colour as the sun itself peers over the horizon.

Following breakfast shortly thereafter we met up again with Esso and Suwat, and were ready just before 8 to hit the road for our toughest day so far. The ride took us on an incredible journey, through many fishing villages (including a memorable trip to the end of a pier where a multitude of Burmese workers were unloading the day’s catch and mending nets). We again followed the Gulf of Thailand for most of the way, which will be the last time we see it. It really is such a stunning and unspoilt piece of nature.

The fishermen unload their catch……

….whilst others try their luck from the jetty.

I was happy that Esso decided to push the pace a bit more today. Whether for my benefit or his I don’t know, but it gave me the chance to finally stretch my legs a bit. Dirk was unfortunately struggling with the after effects of a bad bout of food poisoning the day before, and so opted to take the back for most of the day. I felt for him, as cycling when you feel so bad, and in that heat, must have been really tough. I was happy though that I also got the chance to get a bit of a spurt on, as it gave my legs the chance to get pushed as hard as almost I could in places.

Following Esso down another really busy Thai road 🙂

Following a break for lunch in another great ‘restaurant’ which just appeared from nowhere, we headed back down to the coast towards our last stop on the gulf, Chumphon.

Another day, another great lunch stop.

Altogether today we covered about 72 miles, our longest so far, and got in about 500m of ascent altogether, so the roads were becoming more varied and undulating finally after being pretty much pancake flat so far.

Arriving at Chumphon Cabana, which was again right on a deserted beach, it again took about 5 minutes from arriving to get into the sea, which was again really warm, when I wanted it to be cool!!

The beautiful unspoilt beach at Chumphon…..

…..but the pool was much cooler thankfully!

This was the hotel taken from the beach – Spiceroads had done us proud again.

So after a very invigorating Thai massage close to the beach and then dinner, everyone was pretty much finished for the day. The stats follow below:

http://app.strava.com/activities/31157611

Tomorrow we would cross Thailand altogether, and get to within apparently 20m of the Burmese (or Myanmar as it is called these days) border. It would be 80 miles plus, and quite hilly apparently. Couldn’t wait!