The Wobbling Sprocket

aka Snookyville by the locals. I picked up my visa at the Vietnam mission and then we were going to catch a bus for Sihanoukville.  However, we quickly learned that all of the buses were full until noon.   We didn’t want to wait around that long so ended up hiring a car.  It was a Toyota Camry and I didn’t think we could jam our bikes in the trunk, but in the end we managed with the aid of some twine.

The ride down was scary to say the least.  Our driver said he drove the route every day.  I am sure he did.  He overtook everything in his way…on the left on the right…it really didn’t matter.  His assumption was that his horn gave him the right away.

We checked into the Coolabah.  A nice place.  The proprietors are Scottish and Australian.

Sihanoukville is sort of an oceanside VangVieng.  I didn’t expect it to be so developed….and to feel so non-Cambodian.  There are lots of tatoos around and the beach here is one long concession stand with wall to wall umbrellas.  Vendors carry grilled squid and other local fare to the sunbathers on the beach.   A beer goes for a buck on average

At the beachfront in Sihanoukville

Beachfront in Sihanoukville

We had dinner by the main Round-about...where a lion had a nice view of a billboard.

Phnom Penh is a lot more modern then I expected.  There is pretty much everything here. There are  plenty of hotels and restaurants to choose from in every budget category.  We have stayed for a couple nights at Circa 51 which has a nice pool and large rooms.  The building dates back to 1951, hence the name.

Today, I will go pick up a visa for Vietnam (US$45) and then  we will grab a bus to Sihanoukville.  It is tollway down to Sihanoukville and about a 4.5 hour trip.  From Sihanoukville we will bike along the coast towards Vietnam and then head  North  back to Phnom Penh and then on up to Siem Reap.

I am ready to get on the bike.

Yesterday we visited the Royal Palace.  It is quite a  complex.

Royal Palace in Phnom Penh

Royal Palace in Phnom Penh

Robin started with Indochine back in Feb 2010, then she and John did Corsica in May 2011 and now they are both in for Croatia Sept 2012.

Robin has also put herself  on the waitlist for Spain in Sept 2012,  just in case, as she put it, she can “finagle it”.  I love that word:  finagle.  Finagle away, Robin!!!!

Robin and John are both strong bikers even though they probably don’t get quite as many miles as they would like.  They both have lots of other stuff going on all the time.  None of that other stuff seems to slow them down when on the bike though.   Robin is a great climber and she will be able to put that skill to good use in Croatia…..and, if she can finagle it, Spain.

This will be good.  We now have two Robins on the same tour.  What are the odds of that?  Any other Robins out there?   Robin Williams, maybe?

It’s great to have you guys in for this.   If you liked the ride in Corsica, you will like the ride in Croatia.  It’s Corsica with truffles.

Robin in front of the Intercity Hotel in Vientiane back in Feb 2010. She started with our longest tour..Tour d'Indochine...700 miles.

Robin can motor. There is no doubt about that. This is Indochine in 2010

John on the way to Evisa in Corsica, May 2011

John and Robin at Col de Verghio in Corsica, May 2011

Eating by the beach in Sagone, Corsica.