After having spent our first three weeks in cities, it was time for `something else and for some exercise. Travelling makes you lazy! We booked a 6-day tour with Etienne, a Belgium who settled down in Chiang Mai some 20 years ago, and who has set up a well-known bicycle renting and guiding company. We chose a self-guided tour, averaging 40 kms per day, with all hotels booked in advance and a detailed route description provided for by Etienne. Peter felt like being a boy-scout again. We started off with Claudia and Sil on a tandem bike, as Sil was still a bit ill with ear-infection, but on the second day we called Etienne and asked him to pick up the tandem and bring two separate bikes for Claudia and Sil, which he himself had offered when we left. So after that Sil and Lasse were really seeking all the potholes, rain gutters, and dead animals. They were having as much fun on their bikes as possible, without getting into an accident.

We biked through beautiful landscapes, green rice fields, lush mountains, over and along rivers, canals (everywhere, to irrigate the rice fields), through small villages around Chiang Mai. Very enjoyable, some saddle-pain, and a lot of sweat, as the sun was burning hot above us.

We stayed in luxury resorts and lodges, a bit above our normal budget, but we needed some spoiling after a hot day of biking. Our first stop was at Wangtarn Resort, which was beautifully landscaped, but empty except for us, and really lacked a heart. Second stop at Baan Jan Thai, a Dutch guy who married a Thai woman and settled down in Thailand 6 years ago and started a small lodge. Beautiful lodge, but most of all we very much enjoyed the extensive European breakfast! Then onto Kinkala Lodge, run by two men, Dirk from Holland and Carlos from Spain. Married for over 30 years, and they built themselves a beautiful lodge, and the interior decoration gave away that Dirk and Carlos were professional collectors (of almost anything). But it was done in a very stylish manner. After that onto Dreamcatchers, run by Annabel from Canada, which was a very nice lodge also (only the food was too expensive). Last stop was again at a resort, Kaomai Lanna Resort, a transformed tobacco-factory. Then back to Chiang Mai, where we arrived thirsty, sun-burnt, tired, but happy.