72, 63km: by Amy

Thankfully it had stopped raining. The provisions in the village consisted of bananas, yoghurt drink and cookies which we stopped to eat for breakfast a few km up the road. While we were stopped a strange looking electric car drove past.  It was an elderly couple from China trying to get into the Guinness book of records by travelling around the world in a carbon neutral electric car powered by pedals and solar panels on the roof. There was a mattress under the roof that lowered for a bed and even a wood burning stove on the back. It was amazing. They had already travelled all over South East Asia.

 The morning was mostly uphill and I quickly decided that although our guidebook suggested girls should wear at least 3/4 length shorts, these were not suitable for cycling in the tropics. They stick to your knees and are way too hot. I zipped them down to shorts and perceived no signs of offence from the villages we passed. After our massive climb we descended into the town of Oudomxay where Chris found a lady selling baguettes and bought her entire stock (which admittedly was meagre).

 We decided the next day would be too long if we stayed in town so headed up into the hills once more. Chris found a camp spot in an old rubber plantation guarded by an enormous red and black spider. Unfortunately despite sweltering in full length trousers and a kagool, mosquitos bit my hands and every bit of trouser that touched my skin while I cooked dinner. We ate in the tent while ants invaded our bags and the Mosquitos hummed outside.