Laos - Jour 43-47 - Banlung à Luang Prabang 2010

Laos - Jour (Day) 43-47 - Banlung à (to) Luang Prabang 2010
Well plans are only plans are only plans are only plans....I had planned to bicycle from Xaysomboune to Phonsavan, Laos.
But, I hurt my knee bicycling in the mountains north of Xaysomboune and had to stop. I had worked very hard
on my bicycle to get as far as I did and I was discouraged and frustrated. I have found that most of the "roads"
in the Laotian mountains are mild to very steep. And most are dirt roads so they are bumpy and rocky. I even have to
walk my bicycle up some of the roads because it is too hard to ride up them. Yes, I stay far from the
edge of the roads so I am safe. After waling a short distance, I came across a little village. They spoke no English.
I do not speak enough Laotion. After some time of miming and using hand gestures, I assertained that there
was no bus heading north to Phonsavan. It is 100km from this village to Phonsavan. So, I took a ride in a "local bus"
heading south back to Xaysomboune that passed a few hours later. Then, I took another "local" bus to Vientiane, then
to Luang Prabang. Here, I will rest my knee...medication, Ace wrap, elevation, ice...blah blah blah. Oh well, c'est la vie.