Day 82 – Chum Phae to Mueang Chaiyaphum
I’ve HAD A BOTTLE OF WINE, I don’t know if this will make any sense.
Thailand has created 4 new provinces in the last 20 years, 1 of them just 18 months ago. We are a little worried about maintaining Natt’s claim of being the first Thai to cycle to every amphoe mueang in Thailand (76 of them plus Bangkok). What will happen to her title when Thailand decides to make a new province? Hopefully, any new province will be a a place we accidentally visited while on this trip, or else her title will be null and void.
Anyway, it doesn’t really matter. It’s just a challenge for ourselves. I hope someone else does it; does it faster, does it better, does it in a more interesting way. It would mean that perhaps our trip actually inspired someone. That would be AWESOME! Don’t you agree?
We are not strong cyclists, I’m way at the back of the group when I go out on group rides. I’m heavy for my height, but I have lost a couple of kilos on this trip. I say that as I sit here eating cheese and drinking wine. I’m definitely not competitive in sports, never have been.
I don’t even know if we’ll make it up to the top of Mae Hong Sod, where the hills are BIG and STEEP all day. I’ve been hoping that our 7,000km of training will make it easier. I did plan the route this way, so as to hit the big hills after we had plenty of kilometres in our legs, but I’m really not sure if we’re strong enough. Only time will tell.
We are stronger now than when we started. Natt has a lot more power in her legs and I’ve lost 5kgs, which I think helps. I’d like to lose 5kg more before our trip is over. We arrive in Bangkok a few days before my Birthday, this date is not an accident.
I will be 40 years old and I have set myself a birthday plan. I would like to stay the weight that I am at my 40th birthday for the rest of my life, it’s been something I have thought to myself for the last few years. I did it with my 30th birthday and I’ve made sure I’ve always come back down (not down enough but down).
I love to eat, I eat like a pig. I can keep eating until every plate is empty. I am like my Dad and my brother in that respect, we are all the same. Actually, everyone on my Dad’s side of the family is the same, this is one reason I cycle (like my Uncle), to keep my weight down. If I cycle, I don’t get fat. If I don’t cycle, I turn into a beached whale.
I enjoy cycling, but I love eating, so it is a good trade off. I can eat if I cycle. If I don’t cycle I know I will get fat. I can lose 15kgs in 15 weeks if I cycle 2-3 hours per day. I can put it all back on if I eat a large pizza every night and don’t cycle. Crazy, but I love to eat. Pizza, Pasta, Cheese, Wine… damn you southern Europe!
