We haven’t heard from Nathan for a while. That’s because he has been frantically searching Malaysia for the keys to Dot’s heart – and her engine. Yes, Nathan lost his keys for a couple of days and then, even more unbelievably, found them taking refuge in his socks and pants on the hostel room floor. Nice.
Without the pressure of Visa expirations, Nathan and Dot seem a little bit undecided and unhurried as to deciding where to go next. Should they take on the roads to the North, or the roads to the South? Do a bit more exploring in Malaysia or hop the border to Thailand and zip around Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam before heading onto Bangkok? It is said that in Vietnam private motorcycles aren’t allowed past the border so smuggling Dot in might be a little harder than first thought.
The next day, the decision is made and off to Thailand Nathan and Dot go…but they don’t get far before Dot’s back tyre goes flat. Puncture number 5 for the trip. Balancing Dot on an upright brick whilst he removed the wheel and changed the tube, Nathan accepted the help of a few locals who took great pride in helping re-inflate Dot’s back end. They bid farewell, shook dirty hands and left Nathan to press on. No sooner did Nathan get ready to press on, Dot’s tyre was down again. And it was raining. Lovely. Out came the back wheel, off came the tyre and there was the perpertrating nail which had gone unnoticed in the first change. With no more tubes to hand, it was a case of sticking a plaster on the leak and making a run for the border.
Fed up and soaking from the waves of passing lorries in the tropical rain storm, Nathan and Dot scuttled through the border with minimal delay. They just wanted to press on. Riding through the night to Phuket with a sense of relief that there was finally no need to rush, Nathan and Dot took the next day off to follow the tourist trail of a four island cruise. Everything is just lovely.
Until it becomes apparent that Nathan is actually riding illegally. Passing through the border in a hurry, Nathan had missed the Thai requirements that every motorist must have third party insurance cover. So, there goes the relaxation. Re-tracing their tyre tracks back to the border on a 600km round trip, Nathan and Dot ride for 12 hours before they are ready to press on back to north Thailand, this time legally….