Pakse in Pieces

Crossing this border from Viet Nam to Laos was no problem due to their reciprocal vehicle agreement. I get to Attapeu easily to rest after an anxious 2 days ride since replacing engine cylinder and piston. On to Paxse in one run with fine weather, threatening rain clouds disipating.

I pause in Pakse to take stalk of my situation having been turned away from Viet Nam's border with Cambodia at Moc Bai and necessarily making the 1000 kilometer northern loop back into Laos and get ready for next leg. In the mean time I bumped into Dan a British journo based in Bangkok on a project of his own. When going to meet him for a meal after interneting I get to within 10 meters of his hotel and a strange disintegrating sound with loss of drive occurs. Oh no not the engine agin surely. Indeed not, a black snake was following the Minsk, the drive chain had broken and trailed behind.

Parked the Minsk in Madam Muoy's noodle shop for the night. An early morning assistance from my guest house got me to a very fine gentleman and his apprentices who guided me to the correct chain purchase and fitted it carefully.

These breakdowns are mentally exhausting, wearing you might say, the trip being hard enough as it is. To relax a bit, I will make the short trip to Wat Phou, a pre Angkorian temple, to run in my new drive chain.