Day 131. Don Khone, Laos. Sunset slip.

Did the bike thing today and managed to cover the whole of the island in a few hours. No hills to contend with, but no paved roads either so it was quite a slog in the afternoon heat.

We've become friends with the Aussie couple in the next hut, Steve and Sue, and met up to cycle to the northern tip of Don Deth to catch the sunset.

A corker it was too, turning the river a bright blood red in its reflection, and after a hard day in the saddle the cold beers we sank while watching tasted especially sweet.

The real fun, however, began on the journey back.

It was only about a 3 mile ride, which ordinarily would've been a breeze. What we didn't account for though, was how dark things can get on an island with no electricity. Progress was slow. Very slow (no roads remember), and came to a complete stop when someone suggested a pit-stop for a beer and rice wine fuel injection.

Moments later we had our first casualty, and inevitably it was Steve who came a cropper. No indication, no inhibition and - crucially - no illumination, ensuring he enjoyed a mouthful of Don Deth dust as hurtled over the handlebars.

Nothing damaged apart from a bit of Aussie pride though, so we limped back across the bridge to celebrate a successful mission with another drink.