Bicycle Wind Camp

Up early to start the bike ride around the village and surrounding area. About 70 people in all. Lots of cameras including a newspaper photographer and video crew... The evening before we met a TV director/ producer who is following Wan, Mou and their daughter as they organize their next world bike trip. He was also the first Thai guy to climb Mt Everest and has completed 6 peaks on 6 continents. Thwarted by the weather on the final one in Alaska. Interesting to talk to. Fairly new to cycling I think but giving it a go.  We headed down the road and then the first challenge was the steep climb  up to the high point  and pagoda. Some biked, some took a vehicle and some walked. Then down to the dinosaur museum where we had a tour as well as rice soup and coffee for breakfast. The dinosaur bones found here are at this stage an unknown species.
More biking and then a huge lunch at the cycle club presidents house. He had two massive teak tables that could seat thirty people. Beautiful teak home complete with a Liverpool FC emblem out the front!
On around the outskirts of town to  the police checkpoint, the police chief of the area was with us as he is an avid cyclist. They handed out biscuits. Then back to where we were staying and a rest before the evening.
About 50 km in all.
Woven mats to sit on for dinner in group's of 6 or so. The food was brought out on round bamboo tables. Sticky rice, (love it)  which is  common in northern Thailand. It is actually a different type of rice that is grown, not just a different way of cooking it, which was what I thought.  You just roll it into little balls and stick it to the meat and vege, eaten with your fingers. Awesome meal. A few people spoke, in Thai of course but a couple of people sitting with us translated. Such friendly, humble,  welcoming people.
Then traditional Thai music and dance performed by the locals. Another massive bonfire. Then a country singer with guitar. A little bit of  local whiskey and rice wine flowed.
We really felt privileged to be a part of the weekend.
The next morning the massive pot of rice soup arrived, people said their goodbyes and we headed off to Nan with everyone telling us we would need wings to fly over the hills...