This period focused on settling deeper into the Lazy Gibbon Hostel routine in Chiang Mai, finalizing website tools, engaging in mobility and strength work, and starting a northern motorbike loop.
Jul 13: CSS Fixes and Sunday Market
Woke 10a, had gas from various foods. Cut skin off right foot sole (from a sprints at the stadium). Chilled in lobby, talked with Polish guy Guba (needs Ritalin to work on his site). Fixed 2 website tools (CSS). Lunch: Rankutan, Kaosoi 50b. Terrace WO: Lite kicks, fwd fold, Warrior 2x6, leg swings, side splits (6-7 sets), front splits 2x2, Tai Chi Lela. Chat w/ GPT (more fun than YouTube). Nono Corner Kaopao not running, got fried chk + takeout 70b. Fixed more tools, unscrewed dorm lightbulb due to glare. 8p CM Gate: smoothie, Aroi crispy pork, another smoothie. Walked packed Sunday Night Mkt to Tha Phae Gate (sesame balls, hagao 20b each). Finished fixing fitness and destination 11 pages w/ CSS on the terrace.
Jul 14: Recovery and Logistics
Slept in til 11:30a (fatigue from heroic stretching). Solo cafe downstairs. 1p smoothie, Kaosoi 85b. Booked w/ Budget Catcher (2 weeks at 130b/day, pickup Wed). Booked another night (Wed only 130b). Watched kickboxing. Practiced HS (found lower center mass helps) and spin heel kick on a paper cup (first time). Bird bath. 4p outdoor Kaopao 45b. Still hungry, walked SW to new mkt (20b noodles), got corner noodle soup 55b (big, w/ nuts). Shwr, rest, feeling relaxed, enjoying CM and Gibbon. 7:40p CM Gate smoothie, walked to 3 Kings (posh area). Aroi spot w/ wifi, got another smoothie 30b, tipped 10b. Chat w/ Guba and Indian guy from Puni (avoided him later).
Jul 15: Financial Milestone and Neck Grind
Couldn't sleep. Rose 10a, finished dumping OML shares after 7yrs ($390 profit). Chilled downstairs, chatted w/ Guba. Ate mangos/ranku. Dorm neck WO: back bridge on bunk (21, 18, 13 to near fail). Front neck on lower bunk (3x25, not tough enough). Back neck hold 25s, front neck hold 35s (too easy). Tripod headstand 4set (avoid cervical wear). Near heroic neck session (8/10, fasted). 2:30p Kaopao (solid marrow) for first meal. Bought pork n rice next door (55b, felt ripoff). China girl asked about handstands, doing PhD in peace education in UK.. seems over-friendly. Finished full CSS integration w/ shop. 8p drizzle, walked to Mary Rest, packed. Ate solo at tray spot next door 45b. Agreed to race Guba for 100thb. Street noodles 60b. Chat w/ Jay owner and tall Turkish guy says I look like bruce lee and Jay looks like Indiana Jones.
Jul 16: Bike Rental and HS Breakthrough
Woke 10a, rose 11a, rain. Corner soup 55b bfast. Walked to Budget Catcher, rented bike 14 days (1875b card, 2000b dep til Jul 30). Chilled downstairs w/ Guba. Worked kicks. Got handstand free in hostel cafe (3 x free holds definite improvement). Guba showed shoulder stretches (reverse grab/squat). Nice breakthrough WO (first time no wall since Heeny Farm in Ontario). Drove bike to CM Stadium for Guba prep. Drills on track, 3 jump starts (no jog/sprint, soles wearing down). Fried chk spot 60b. Rode to Nimann, outdoor malls, smoothie. Rode back via Life Center. 8:10p ride to Night Bazaar following Guba: smoothie 40b, kebab w/ fries 129b (not worth double Thai food). Terrace: finally got 3 row tool grid for tools page. China girl left strangely. 9:30p CM Gate smoothie 35b, Kaopao 60b (big).
Jul 17: Race Win and Adventure Ride
Stomach discomfort (ate too much). Rose 10:50a. Cleaned up CSS. 12:30p smoothie, Kaosoi. Terrace: worked kicks/HS, only 1 clean HS in rain (CNS fatigue/slippery). Ride SE across bridge, temple, rode South along Ping River to Hwy, Airport, back to Old City. 4:20p ate Kaopao chk 80b on South Rd. Asked Guba about race (said no due to wet shoes, excuses). 5:40p Guba asked to go. Ride to stadium in drizzle, track busiest so far. Pulled ahead after 10m, and won easy, collected 100b. Guba drove back. Stuck around, did broad jump + stride sprints 80-100m. 5x100m strides barefoot. Muscleups fail-1, 4-fail. Ride back in drizzle, felt world is right again since Pai. CM Univ Night Mkt (bigger than expected): Buy thai boxers 50b, sushi 30b. CM Gate smoothie 30b.
Jul 18: Chiang Dao Pivot
Woke 8a, rise 8:50a (checkout day). Fixed lightbox images CSS. Checkout Gibbon 10:50a. Drove North around 11a (Phrao Rd detour). Gas at PT 100b full. Arrived Chiang Dao 1:40p, chilled at Mini C w/ beer/AC. Koko Home fan room 300b (ez checkin). Pork rice egg 60b. Rode twd Chiang Dao Cave, rain started, turned back. Rode to Ban Pandaengnai (small circuit). Mkt: watermelon, chk, sushi 70b. Smoked weed from makeshift bamboo pipe. 8p Mini C/7-11: grab beer, night mkt dead. Rode to school near military base (quiet, felt the moment). Drizzle, grabbed another beer. Kaopao gai egg 60b solid. Big C for water (22b, takes card, no RO). Shwr, bed early.
Jul 19: Cave Meditation and Restock
Woke 9a. Free cafe. Booked another night (cheaper on Agoda 268b, felt dumb). Fixed lightbox. 11:20a Laund at Brownlee, Kaopao 60b. Dryer. Scraped teeth. Grabbed laund (good timing, 95b total). Rode to Chiang Dao Cave and Wat w/ stairs. Rain, meditated inside mountain temple, side splits. Decent flex WO. Rode back, Kaopao chk 60b, scouted (no trails). Found Mr. DIY (w no snax), restocked razors, lighter, toothbrush 32b. Booked Saming for tomorrow (368b apt w/ AC). Day Mkt not there. Pork rice 60b across Brownlee. Solid day of freedom. 8:20p Beer at Big C, main town rd dead. Lotus takes card too, better than 711. Ate at spot across Brownlee again (3rd time) w/ beer/nuts. 3rd big drinking night. Chill outside room w/ grey cat.