Lone Rider
Blokes Who Can
Another day - another trip
Hadn't been to the south of Laos for some time so when I saw a few free days coming up I made up my mind to have another look eventhough it takes a day and a half to get there and the same amount of time to get back to base in Chiangmai. No real fixed plans for the trip other than that I needed to update some of the district "capitals" for my Laos GPS map and re-visit some of the waterfalls I would pass en-route. Had a long and boring trip to Mukdahan to cross the Mekong to Savannakhet from where I was to head further south.
While crossing the "Friendship Bridge 2" the sky did not look very good in the south of Laos and the next week or so that was something I would see almost every morning when checking the weather before heading of on the next leg of my trip
So, after a faily efficient border crossing on both sides I headed south along Rd 13 and then turned east at Ban Kong Koum 5 to Saravan along Rd 15. The upgrading from a dirt road to paved is now almost finished and Rd 15 is now basically all paved from Rd 13 via Saravane, Ta-Oy and Samuoi all the way to the Vietnam border at the Lay-Lay border crossing where it links with Highway 14 in Vietnam.
The new bridge over the Xe-Done river with next to it the old concrete river crossing and the old ferry which was only used when the river was to high to cross safely over the concrete crossing
As Rd 15 is now paved, I had plenty of time to reach Saravan where I was planning to stay the night. So time to "fiddle around and explore the country side" and in Vapy district there are plenty of rapids in the rivers so off to the north to the confluence of the Xe-Set and Xe-Done rivers.
A new development at the Kaeng Khou rapids - not sure if this will be a resort or if it will be used by the company which is constructing a dam for the the Xe-Set Kaeng-San Hydro Power Project just a bit up-stream from here.
It was still quite early when I reached Saravan and as I find it a boring place to stay, I decided to head south for about 30 km. to spend the night at the Tad Lo falls
Most of the roadworks along Rd 1H from Saravan to the Tang Beng junction are now finished but some of the old bridges have not yet been replaced so watch out in particular during night time.
The Tad Lo area was quiet with very few tourists around so I had basically the place to myself.
The Tad Hang Falls - there was quite a bit water flowing probably due to the rains they had over there during the last few days
Tad Hang during a very dry season (picture copyright by Stuart Edwards)
Farmer tending to his vegetable garden right next to the Tad Hang Falls
The Tad Lo Falls
And more to the south the Tad Soung Falls (picture copyright by Ken Marshall) - did not go there as it was getting dark so just a few pictures taken by others
From the top of the Tad Soung falls you have nice views to the north (picture copyright by Thomas Pax)
Village life along the river at the end of the day
Stayed the night at the Sipaseuth Gh right next to the bridge which is normally quite OK but this time it was awful probably due to being "out of the tourist season" and I had the worst "Khao Pat" I have ever had but at least the beer was ice-cold.
The Sipaseuth Gh and the Sailomyen Gh at the left
To be continued: Tad Lo - Saravan - the old Kaleum district - Sekong
Hadn't been to the south of Laos for some time so when I saw a few free days coming up I made up my mind to have another look eventhough it takes a day and a half to get there and the same amount of time to get back to base in Chiangmai. No real fixed plans for the trip other than that I needed to update some of the district "capitals" for my Laos GPS map and re-visit some of the waterfalls I would pass en-route. Had a long and boring trip to Mukdahan to cross the Mekong to Savannakhet from where I was to head further south.
While crossing the "Friendship Bridge 2" the sky did not look very good in the south of Laos and the next week or so that was something I would see almost every morning when checking the weather before heading of on the next leg of my trip
![IMG_8515.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8515.jpg&hash=abc23c204b52809c17ea4da73d31c134)
So, after a faily efficient border crossing on both sides I headed south along Rd 13 and then turned east at Ban Kong Koum 5 to Saravan along Rd 15. The upgrading from a dirt road to paved is now almost finished and Rd 15 is now basically all paved from Rd 13 via Saravane, Ta-Oy and Samuoi all the way to the Vietnam border at the Lay-Lay border crossing where it links with Highway 14 in Vietnam.
![IMG_8522.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8522.jpg&hash=6fe961957b8bd866c1a4b75457857a71)
The new bridge over the Xe-Done river with next to it the old concrete river crossing and the old ferry which was only used when the river was to high to cross safely over the concrete crossing
![IMG_8524.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8524.jpg&hash=47ed2d70bb3e866468cb66b4512a3341)
![IMG_8523.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8523.jpg&hash=d136b09a2b39006e3b2b4d06fc6dd272)
![IMG_8525.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8525.jpg&hash=894905162caa38de058af9d9c9d6e409)
As Rd 15 is now paved, I had plenty of time to reach Saravan where I was planning to stay the night. So time to "fiddle around and explore the country side" and in Vapy district there are plenty of rapids in the rivers so off to the north to the confluence of the Xe-Set and Xe-Done rivers.
![IMG_8531.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8531.jpg&hash=1df38d30c08e32ecc20db0906089c0d3)
![IMG_8532.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8532.jpg&hash=29c13a18d511c78473bc54d3d03cbf30)
![IMG_8534.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8534.jpg&hash=f963d6d2ec8614e40e1eeddeef19e4c8)
A new development at the Kaeng Khou rapids - not sure if this will be a resort or if it will be used by the company which is constructing a dam for the the Xe-Set Kaeng-San Hydro Power Project just a bit up-stream from here.
![IMG_8536.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8536.jpg&hash=5fbb249c29a116bd1e86f7c085caf907)
It was still quite early when I reached Saravan and as I find it a boring place to stay, I decided to head south for about 30 km. to spend the night at the Tad Lo falls
Most of the roadworks along Rd 1H from Saravan to the Tang Beng junction are now finished but some of the old bridges have not yet been replaced so watch out in particular during night time.
![IMG_8537.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8537.jpg&hash=101a6ed133ce38ad64be178f86b086b9)
The Tad Lo area was quiet with very few tourists around so I had basically the place to myself.
The Tad Hang Falls - there was quite a bit water flowing probably due to the rains they had over there during the last few days
![IMG_8545.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8545.jpg&hash=ea2b4efc367b7514c62d13e678d95a42)
![IMG_8540.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8540.jpg&hash=64eb439a32cadee2202e4efd18232bc9)
Tad Hang during a very dry season (picture copyright by Stuart Edwards)
![tat-lo_tat-hang.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Faminearlythereyet.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F02%2Ftat-lo_tat-hang.jpg&hash=2e39e6b4f615d01475772bf60a076ea2)
Farmer tending to his vegetable garden right next to the Tad Hang Falls
![IMG_8541.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8541.jpg&hash=71726be6e108466fd4d589d49f40a8e5)
The Tad Lo Falls
![IMG_8548.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8548.jpg&hash=2322d812445356cfc7107e0fd20e0446)
![IMG_8551.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8551.jpg&hash=9063e8d9082247b2d8fea0a0632b1118)
And more to the south the Tad Soung Falls (picture copyright by Ken Marshall) - did not go there as it was getting dark so just a few pictures taken by others
![84243080.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.panoramio.com%2Fphotos%2Flarge%2F84243080.jpg&hash=6206587e7b4491102e89517cdc5b82b8)
From the top of the Tad Soung falls you have nice views to the north (picture copyright by Thomas Pax)
![62765044.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.panoramio.com%2Fphotos%2Flarge%2F62765044.jpg&hash=42670380ec363b5e5dc883b2c291880c)
Village life along the river at the end of the day
![IMG_8546.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8546.jpg&hash=f844387ad1eff5d2a90469465ff26c86)
Stayed the night at the Sipaseuth Gh right next to the bridge which is normally quite OK but this time it was awful probably due to being "out of the tourist season" and I had the worst "Khao Pat" I have ever had but at least the beer was ice-cold.
The Sipaseuth Gh and the Sailomyen Gh at the left
![IMG_8544.jpg](/motorcycle-forum/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi74.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi252%2Foffroadlanna%2FRide%2520Asia%2520Forum%2FLaos%2520South%2520May%25202014%2FIMG_8544.jpg&hash=8d153105ba5ea296ce4c690832b9e8b2)
To be continued: Tad Lo - Saravan - the old Kaleum district - Sekong