October 8th. Day 1. Morning AM ride from Jomtien to BKK to cross the river with Phra Pradaeng Ferry. The ferry is quite easy and inexpensive. Came in at 10Baht. Had lunch at one of the resaurants lining the river.
No idea really where I was once riding away from the ferry. Just listening and following the instructions to the Jesada Museum. 100's of old cars and motorbikes. A real haven for a car enthusiasts. Free admission
Finally out of the chaos and traffic heading to Kanchaburi for two nights. Blue Sky Resort. no idea why the pool is only 3/4 full. Was the same last year.
Day 2. A late morning ride out of Kanchaburi. Death Railway and Saiyod Noi Falls. Lots of thai youngsters enjoying.
Day 3. Heading to Ban Rai via the Ladda Air Crash. Was not the easiest ride in on a PCX can be done. Quite alot of mud and water. Dry season would be no problems. My m8 though ended up getting a puncture at the crash site. The Motul can came thru. Stayed at Plaifah Resort in Ban Rai. The lady was kind enough to allow us to wash the bikes
Day 4. Plans changed a little because of the puncture. Called around that night to Honda Shops to find a tire as Ban Rai Honda did not have and would not take the tire off the PCX sitting in the show room. Straight to Uthai Thani. Arrived at the shop and the mechanics waiting with a tire. Rode our way up to Kampheang Phet thru some marked roads, some not and some thru farmers fields. Found a night market and few cold changs. Later in evening found a shack bar along side of the road with cold changs. Not one person there when we sat down. With in 45 minutes was full. The girl and guy kept bringing more and more tables and chairs made from pallets, Could have sworn someone was making them as needed. One beer ended up to be more then one two many. Green Park Hotel. Nothing special. Clean room, hot shower, and small breaky in the morning.
Day 5. On to Mae Sot. A few back roads and the major highway going into Mae Sot. Lots of construction. Stopped in the market at the top. The border market was a bust. I was thinking it would be full of life and was not. Couple could ones at Border Booze(?) and Krua Canada. Stayed ar Werot Resort. Very clean and the owners were great.
Day 6 and 7. On to Umphang. Amazing and beautiful ride. Even in the rain. The twisties at places seemed like they would never end. It is a must. Stayed at a place called Comesing Homestay. Small bungalow at 300baht. Friendly and more friendly. Many thai visitors as well. Even a few tents put up on bamboo veranda. Day 7 spent the day just riding in the Umphang area.
Day 8. Return to Mae Sot. The rain stopped. Dry pavement going back. Passed a fully overloaded songteaw about 20km from the refugee village. The guy must have been driving like a maniac to keep up with me on the curves and inclines. A stop at the gibbon sanctuary. Quite sad in some ways seeing some 60plus in cages with little hope ever being set free.
Day 9 Out of Mae Sot to Nakhom Thoen. Beautiful mountain road thru Mae Tuen Park. Still waiting to see one of these wild elephants. Promise I wont be taking a selfie photo. It seems you meet some great people at the mom and pops store. Checked out the dam. Many many thais there as well.
Day 9 Hot. Just the name I guess deserves a stop. Never ending lumyai orchards. Would not want to be on the other end of this lady's axe. She had the tree cleared in less then 3 minutes. Barely had time to get one photo in. Nice overnight at the bungalows next to the roundabout
Day 10. To Lampang. Wet ride until the Wat Phra That Lampang Luang just a few kms from Lampang. Aroy One restuarant is a most if you stay in Lampang. Excellent. Very busy as well.
Day 11/12 Heading to Phayao. First stop was PhaThai Cave. Definitely worth the visit. Our guide spoke pretty good english and was great expalining about the cave. A few kms more thru lots of mud and over flowing bridges got to the Big Fish Pond. Good to be back in Phayao for two nights. One of my favorite places. One of the best night markets in Thailand and clean. A good nightlife venues on the lakefront. The lake was high. A pet rooster tied up to a brick. Stayed at BanNoiSoi. Two ladies running place. Its a clean tight operation. Self serve beer in the fridge. Iced down mugs in freezer. and when the stock got low it was replenished. Could not ask for anything better.
ang
Day 13. Into Chiang Dao. Sunshine all the way. Lunch in Phrao. Early afternoon into Chiang Dao for the night. Passed some time away riding to the ChiangDao cave area. Not much really happening there. and was slim pickns for eats in the town.
Day 14/15/16/17 Four nights in Chiang Mai. Waiting for my GF to arrive. Then off to MHS province for a few days. Avoided the highway as much as possible. and course the guy and his dog at a red light.
TO BE CONTINUED.
No idea really where I was once riding away from the ferry. Just listening and following the instructions to the Jesada Museum. 100's of old cars and motorbikes. A real haven for a car enthusiasts. Free admission
Finally out of the chaos and traffic heading to Kanchaburi for two nights. Blue Sky Resort. no idea why the pool is only 3/4 full. Was the same last year.
Day 2. A late morning ride out of Kanchaburi. Death Railway and Saiyod Noi Falls. Lots of thai youngsters enjoying.
Day 3. Heading to Ban Rai via the Ladda Air Crash. Was not the easiest ride in on a PCX can be done. Quite alot of mud and water. Dry season would be no problems. My m8 though ended up getting a puncture at the crash site. The Motul can came thru. Stayed at Plaifah Resort in Ban Rai. The lady was kind enough to allow us to wash the bikes
Day 4. Plans changed a little because of the puncture. Called around that night to Honda Shops to find a tire as Ban Rai Honda did not have and would not take the tire off the PCX sitting in the show room. Straight to Uthai Thani. Arrived at the shop and the mechanics waiting with a tire. Rode our way up to Kampheang Phet thru some marked roads, some not and some thru farmers fields. Found a night market and few cold changs. Later in evening found a shack bar along side of the road with cold changs. Not one person there when we sat down. With in 45 minutes was full. The girl and guy kept bringing more and more tables and chairs made from pallets, Could have sworn someone was making them as needed. One beer ended up to be more then one two many. Green Park Hotel. Nothing special. Clean room, hot shower, and small breaky in the morning.
Day 5. On to Mae Sot. A few back roads and the major highway going into Mae Sot. Lots of construction. Stopped in the market at the top. The border market was a bust. I was thinking it would be full of life and was not. Couple could ones at Border Booze(?) and Krua Canada. Stayed ar Werot Resort. Very clean and the owners were great.
Day 6 and 7. On to Umphang. Amazing and beautiful ride. Even in the rain. The twisties at places seemed like they would never end. It is a must. Stayed at a place called Comesing Homestay. Small bungalow at 300baht. Friendly and more friendly. Many thai visitors as well. Even a few tents put up on bamboo veranda. Day 7 spent the day just riding in the Umphang area.
Day 8. Return to Mae Sot. The rain stopped. Dry pavement going back. Passed a fully overloaded songteaw about 20km from the refugee village. The guy must have been driving like a maniac to keep up with me on the curves and inclines. A stop at the gibbon sanctuary. Quite sad in some ways seeing some 60plus in cages with little hope ever being set free.
Day 9 Out of Mae Sot to Nakhom Thoen. Beautiful mountain road thru Mae Tuen Park. Still waiting to see one of these wild elephants. Promise I wont be taking a selfie photo. It seems you meet some great people at the mom and pops store. Checked out the dam. Many many thais there as well.
Day 9 Hot. Just the name I guess deserves a stop. Never ending lumyai orchards. Would not want to be on the other end of this lady's axe. She had the tree cleared in less then 3 minutes. Barely had time to get one photo in. Nice overnight at the bungalows next to the roundabout
Day 10. To Lampang. Wet ride until the Wat Phra That Lampang Luang just a few kms from Lampang. Aroy One restuarant is a most if you stay in Lampang. Excellent. Very busy as well.
Day 11/12 Heading to Phayao. First stop was PhaThai Cave. Definitely worth the visit. Our guide spoke pretty good english and was great expalining about the cave. A few kms more thru lots of mud and over flowing bridges got to the Big Fish Pond. Good to be back in Phayao for two nights. One of my favorite places. One of the best night markets in Thailand and clean. A good nightlife venues on the lakefront. The lake was high. A pet rooster tied up to a brick. Stayed at BanNoiSoi. Two ladies running place. Its a clean tight operation. Self serve beer in the fridge. Iced down mugs in freezer. and when the stock got low it was replenished. Could not ask for anything better.
ang Day 13. Into Chiang Dao. Sunshine all the way. Lunch in Phrao. Early afternoon into Chiang Dao for the night. Passed some time away riding to the ChiangDao cave area. Not much really happening there. and was slim pickns for eats in the town.
Day 14/15/16/17 Four nights in Chiang Mai. Waiting for my GF to arrive. Then off to MHS province for a few days. Avoided the highway as much as possible. and course the guy and his dog at a red light.
TO BE CONTINUED.
