Dear Diary

Dear diary,

Today I got my first period, it was quite awkward but my gym teacher explained to me that…. Oh wait, wrong diary…

So we’ve been doing a little bit of riding lately. There’s been some mega cool roads, some long winding rivers to be crossed and crossed and traveled up, some bits of single track and a whole heap of rutted out dirt (mud/clay/sand/buffalo shit puddles) roads to sink our teeth into… talking about teeth we’ve also been eating a LOT! Food has been good. There have been some hell hot dishes and some succulent barbecued meats. The som tam has been ordered nearly everywhere and always impresses us. The words “pet pet” (lots of chilli) have been thrown around a LOT by Darcy, Dunc and I and we always get super excited and start sounding like tools when the word comes out.

This trip has also seen a LOT of drinking, Cambodia was a can or 2 at night, Thailand is a big bottle or 4 a night. One night that stands out is that memorable night in mae hung son with my little buddy sang som (some lovely tasty thai rum) apparently in Thailand you take a bottle into a bar and then just keep pouring it into a glass for you. Duncs and I sung some absolutely beautiful karaoke, Darcy had to leave the bar because he couldn’t handle how awesome it was. He should really learn to try some new things I think. The night ended up in me spending our rest day very unhappily hungover in the car traveling around. Good thing it was a rest day.

Anyway I’m sorry for rambling on diary.

Stay classy san diago,

Peace out,

Trav

Dear diary

Yet again another trip meant more food, fuck I hate new food!! What is wrong with steak egg and chips? If Darcy or Travis make me try one more hot thing I will kill them both. What the fuck is a laab anyway?

I have met my match in story telling, this bloke is a pomie named Andy & does this bloke love to yarn. I have been lucky enough to get through only 1 round of all my stories. This bloody pomie beats me to the punch every time.

The size of the tree’s over in Thailand are HUGE, 2 massive tree’s across the track get even the best of riders. On one occasion a fellow rider had fallen off & I was lending him a verbal hand (hahahah you shit prick get up). It was just my luck that this massive tree (3093 caliber or 100 mm) got me & I had a huge fall off the bike.

I end this diary entry thinking about my amazing family (includes all family members scruffy, levie, burn, koi, George, sable, Brad, Travis) & how lucky I am that I have them in my live, what an experience to ride Thailand with my youngest turd of a son. I feel I am missing someone from my loving family!! Fuck it I need a smoke..

Thanks

Fred

Dear diary,

Today was a day unlike any other, having had a rest day yesterday, there was a distinct lack of enthusiasm this morning and I wondered why? We had a big night yesterday when we arrived and were a little ginger the next day, but we managed to do some sightseeing. I think the fact that we didn’t actually do anything physical was the main reason.

So, the itinerary was to hit some tight technical single track, which I have never done before but the boys from Melbourne love and do it all the time. Needless to say, it pushed my riding to the limit. A measured approach was the most successful method for staying upright, although I managed to consistently find the deepest part of every water crossing we did and the only part of bridges that had gapping holes to swallow the front wheel!

Buffalo piss stinks to high heaven and I was praying for a river crossing to drown myself clean after going through a little village.  At the end of the day we ended up very wet and satisfied.

Now, as we sit here in Khun yuam, sipping beers and talking shit as usual, I regret that each day brings us closer to the end of this trip. Thailand has been just as spectacular nine years on, as it was when we were here for the boxing day tsunami the first time.

Duncan, over and out.

Dear diary,

Why is my head thinking too much when I ride, the more I think the more I crash.

The more I crash the better I feel, baked beans are unreal? That’s better brain.

                                             

I hope the bank is OK with another redraw on the mortgage to pay for all the bike damage I have done. I hope Meghan is OK with a small birthday present this year!! Shit I really crashed the bike hard.

I do feel special after this trip with a special award from the tour operator, I got the coaches award for best effort (picture below). He said at the end of the day he has never seen some one go down as hard as I have and get back up. I think the boys are very envious.

Thanks

Simon