Today I stopped by a coffee farm where I met Mr Liang. He owns about three acres where he cultivates three varieties of coffee: Robusta, Arabic, and Liberica; as well as cacao and he’s hoping for some cannabis in the future.

I’m back on a motorcycle touring the Bolaven Plateau. On this five day journey I plan to visit and drink LOTS of coffee!!

You probably know how much I love coffee, and maybe not, that I worked in coffee for 11 years- including at the trading desk and in the tasting room. I was his best student on the tour…..

We strolled his land while he explained coffee: growing, harvesting, washing, drying, milling and finally roasting. He taught himself. And did a great job! He knows his stuff.

We were introduced to each variety of tree, and he explained the Laos cassava market to us.

We also had the chance to eat red ants!! And honestly, they were not bad….tasted lemony.

Who knows what’s in store next…..I’m hoping for more great coffee. Everything else is icing on the cake.

This morning I said good to Sam and Melissa one more time. This time for good, for this trip.

I spent two nights with them. Long enough to go to the river for an afternoon of R&R and to spend some time on a rope.

We ended our evening with a little ceremony. I loaned them some money to buy Green Climbers Home. After being there and seeing how amazing the place, and them running it feels, I forgave the remainder of the debt. We burned the “note” together.

Was the best moment of my trip so far. 💕

Buddha Park was wild…. Developed in the 1950’s this place had some cool, weird and trippy art.

Hilarious!! It was a 37 km drive out of the city and well worth it!

On top of “The Pumpkin”, I met this young man. He was engaging and curious. Traveling through Laos, he was on a tour with his friends. I felt so lucky to chat with him!!

Vientiane has so many rich, cultural, places to visit. I read up on the history and rather love that “having fun” is at the forefront of their culture.

Yesterday was a travel day from Vieng Vang to Vientiane. The roads were patchy…..lots of gravel sections, which I feel I have now mastered. Thank you YouTube!!

I rolled straight to the repair shop recommended to me by Mad Monkey (my rental co). An hour and $30 later the bike is repaired, the dent is knocked out and I’m on my way. Whew!!!

I’m staying in the heart of the city in a lovely Airbnb apartment high above the street. I love it so much I’ve extended my stay another night. Being in a nation’s capital city deserves more than an afternoon.

And the food! I videoed my walk down the street in front of my apt. I just grabbed bites of deliciousness for dinner last night. Yummy! Can’t wait to do it again tonight.

Fairy tale land. Really. Green karst mountains to climb, blue lagoon pools to swim in and so much more.

I was back on two wheels, but human powered for me today. Yesterday I drove through a 6k road washout and wrecked. Hard. I bruised or cracked a rib and did a number on my pointer finger. The bike is also a bit messed up. I lost my left foot post. I’m still game to keep going. The bike rental folks were amazing, and so chill.

I’m sure the error was rider……the trucks on the route were being hauled up the section of road by a huge front loader-tractor. Yikes. I was WAY out of my league. Full moon…….is my explanation for that!

Back to the beauty and joy of this place. I rode a zero speed bike 20k on gravel and loved every minute. It’s just so beautiful here. I hiked, swam and caved my way along the route. It was fab!!

It feels so good to be in warm, sunny weather in a beautiful area. I feel very lucky to be living this life. I screw up, I get up, and I just keep going. What the hell else am I going to do?

My guest house is comfy, warm, and quiet. The village is quaint, and today I rode bikes and hung out with elephants!! What’s not to love!!

My guide Phao picked me up at 8:30 sharp. We drove to the start of our ride where the bikes were waiting. After a few miles, our boat awaited us to cross the river.

Phao’s story is amazing. He was born in a Hmong village and was lucky enough to go to school. It meant leaving his family for 16 years. He made it through University. His knowledge of the culture helped me piece together all I have seen in the past week. It was so informative and fascinating.

We rode through villages, farms and rubber tree groves. After some fun, flowy single track, we were back to the river and another boat ride.

Soon, the elephants showed up. The organization I rode with is sponsoring an elephant rescue and preservation program. It’s currently small, but is allowing the elephants space to live, graze and be safe. The elephants deserve the best life possible.

I did get to bathe, brush, and swim with the gentle giants. After the bath, we went to a corral where the elephants devoured bamboo tree trunks, leaves and I got to feed them bananas, which they loved! Their trucks are so dextrous! It’s like they have thumbs.

I’ve never been so intimate with an elephant. Touching it, feeding it, brushing it, talking to it. I was in awe.

Mountain biking + washing an elephant + learning from Phao made for a very special day for me in Laos.

My ride today was lovely. I twisted and turned through rustic, old-world, villages. There was no commerce in any of them. Each had a sign that must explain the government programs protecting their culture.

I so wanted to stop and take a photo of a woman with a basket full of reeds on her back wearing a very traditional hat and skirt. I decided it would be intrusive, so I didn’t stop.

Trees were in full bloom all along my route today.

Here’s a little video where you can join me on my bike.

The view out of my Guesthouse window and door are stunning and quaint (less the smoke).

And my last favorite thing today: Sam sent me the photo below of a route he put up, (and which I was lucky to help with a belay). Sam decided to name the route “Murphy’s”, for Scott. I 💕 this so much.

The cave was super cool. You get in a boat with a driver and a headlamp. The driver zooms you through the cave for 7km. Amazing. In places, it’s at least 5 stories high. In other places, it’s pitch dark and so shallow the boat scrapes bottom.

There are a few points where the boatman lets you off to explore on foot. A few photos follow.

Today, I headed north. My favorite moment of was meeting this adorable woman at a roadside food stand. She wanted me to buy one of everything! I asked if I could get a photo with her and she was so excited! She fixed her hair and straightened her skirt. She made my day!!

Tomorrow will be a very long, beautiful, ride, ending in the town with the The Plain of jars. My longest yet on the bike…250km. I admit, I love riding!!

I rode through luscious, green mountains and valleys today.

The day flooded me with warm memories of Scott’s and my Vietnam trip in 2011. Today was like re-living our favorite day of riding on that trip. The remote beauty, the fun, twisty roads, were a surprise and a treat.

I ended my day at Spring River Resort. A gem set on the river near the largest cave in the world.

Tomorrow I will explore the cave. Tonight, I’ll just stay giddy and grateful.

It’s a thing here in Laos. You rent a motorbike and ride through the countryside on a loop that begins and ends in Thakhet.

I’m doing the “best of the loop” (Thanks to Mad Monkey Motorbikes).

Today, I left Thaklet and drove fun, winding roads 120km through the beautiful countryside, and mountain climbs to Thalang. I’m staying at Posey Guest House (with other “loopers”). Posey is “fine, not fabulous”. Good enough for me.

It was VERY windy today, and I was bundled in fleece and a shell to stay warm. Warmer days are ahead and I’m so glad the forecast is getting warmer.

I’ll keep posting my progress! It’s fun to share and keeps me stopping to take photos.