One of those 'odd sealed sections' just past Xepon, 20km from the Vietnamese border. The road soon becomes gravel again, but is great while it lasts. Traffic is very thin and the scenery is becoming greener as we approach the mountains. These friendly Laotion chaps had been waiting two days for their mate to return from Savanakhet with a spare part for the broken down truck. They were happy for the diversion of a Westerner on a bike.
