LS36 (Lima Site)was and American Airbase in the Secret war in Laos...

You may have already guessed but I have a fascination with the Vietnam war, although until a few years back I had never heard of the Secret War in Laos I knew a bit about the War in Vietnam, my curiosity has turned into a passion and being able to visit these famous places is priceless, to read about them is one thing, to visit them is another.


How it looked back in the day (photo Talkingproud)





So after a pretty hard day the day before I wake up still in my body Armour brush my teeth, quick coffee and I'm off, 130k's of I don't know what lay in front of me. Stock up on food and water and it's a slow start as it's bloody cold, the Lifan seems to be moving around a lot but I put it down to the worn Knobbly Tyre...first find of the day..


Booster from a Sam Missile


Guess that's Russia


The first part of the ride is nice, great views and graded roads...


Stunning


So many different landscapes in Laos


That's the way we are going

The wide open spaces soon give way to Jungle tracks and soon enough there's a river with a brand new bridge which I pay 20,000 kip to cross, no wet feet and I'm asked to sign the bridge and Invited in for dinner.


No wet feet.


Pay or get wet.


First Farang he told me.

Dinner looks a little scary so I have a drink and then set of again, the trail gets harder and harder, deep ruts and sheer drops winding up and down through the valleys, lots of flowers up here.


What sort of flower is this.

Some of the open sections where really nice to ride but it was always back into the jungle.


Great riding.




Beautiful.

I keep pressing on and then 5ks from where I'm going a sign


You have to ride 120 k's to see this sign.

The last part of the trail was nasty which always seems the way in Laos, I cant imagine trying to walk here, some of the log bridges where wheel eaters so it was full gas over them and hope for the best.


Great track


And finally after 4 hrs I'm here, beautiful sign....128ks of standing up....my legs hurt.



Getting ready for the tourists.


This is the site that greeted me after passing through the village of Ban Nakhang.


The entrance is gated.



LS36 is in there.



Another stunning area.


Not much to see for 4 hrs riding so I go for a poke around and things start coming together.


Fuel tanks.


Not much good now.


Guidance

Ok so I have my bearings I'm the little arrow head and the black strip is the run way...lets go have a look.


Left behind equipment.




40 years on




Grader.



How did that end up this way up?


Reelects of war.



Then it's onto the runway...dead ahead


Compass bearings.



Run way.


Looking at it from the other end.


Compass bearings.


Run Way


Looking down the runway.


By this time it was nearly 2pm so I went of to have a look around the village which has used all the old scrap fuel drums as fencing.


Barrel fencing.


Nothing goes to waste.

More war scrap.


Great condition after 40 years



Bombie casing


Locals working away on their weaving machines.




Lots of signs in this Ban




A simple life.


The way out.

No it's time to head back, I know what to expect so I'm not hanging around.


Lets go.


The bike looks so small in this landscape.



Stunning Laos.


I rode home as fast as I could not wanting to ride at night and had a rare delight of the sun behind me and the moon in front, sounds like and old Irish blessing.


Sun and Moon.


I spotted a Bombie casing on the back of this cart, 4 decades later they are still digging them up.

Scrap metal hunters.

It was a tough 250ks, my plan was to head north tomorrow, but biggus reminded me that February only has 28 day...shit I'm heading south tomorrow instead......

Read more about Ls36 here..

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