Lone Rider
Blokes Who Can
Posted on behalf of 2Up from Chiangkhong.
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It was time for a little bit of fresh mountain air and since our good riding friend Thomas from Germany was coming back for more, we decided to see some of the places we'd only touched on before. Riding Off Road 2Up on the DRZ400 can be a bit of a work out when back in the mountains, so we usually save ideas for riding in these types of areas in Thailand and similar areas in Laos for when Thomas can join us.
For two weeks Mai, Thomas and I enjoyed the mountains along the Western Thai border adjoining Burma and along the Salween river region and then headed more northerly for the Thai Burma border north of Mae Hong Son, Soppong and Pai. We only needed to spend a couple of nights away from a comfortable bed, good food and cold drinks, so little hardship there. A lot of days would start out at about 200 - 400 meters in elevation, climbing to over 1,800 meters within a relatively short distance, then along some spectacular ridge lines before descending back down again.
Left Chiang Mai and headed west to Samong and then continued west to Mae Hong Son.
Mae Hong Son on the lake.
Salween river along Mae Sam Laep. Thailand on the right and Burma on the other side.
Breakfast while "on the road"
One of the border checkpoints
Along the valleys we would find 4 wheel drive tracks turning into stream beds and at first this was a bit confusing, for the tracks just seemed to disappear into the river beds. After backtracking to a Ranger station where they explained; "just ride up the stream bed until you find a way out and then when the dirt track fails, head back into the stream again and continue on". Sounded simple enough in theory...but a little wet and disconcerting in practice until we got used to the idea.
The track disappears time and again in the river bed but after some three hours we are finally on "dry land" again
Ranger Station along the Salween River
North of Pai
Army check point. These guys explained that there were two ways out of this area; one being the longer easy way and the other being the shorter but steep and difficult route.
Oooops - almost made it to the landing pad
Some times down right Cold and Foggy up in the mountains.
Mai on the suspension bridge that was between us and where we wanted to go but after not too long of a deliberation we took another route.
Old and Beautiful in Chiang Dao
Another FUN day!
Mai and Thomas agreeing - Great Time!!
Cheers and hope you enjoyed our Ride,
David and Mai
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It was time for a little bit of fresh mountain air and since our good riding friend Thomas from Germany was coming back for more, we decided to see some of the places we'd only touched on before. Riding Off Road 2Up on the DRZ400 can be a bit of a work out when back in the mountains, so we usually save ideas for riding in these types of areas in Thailand and similar areas in Laos for when Thomas can join us.
For two weeks Mai, Thomas and I enjoyed the mountains along the Western Thai border adjoining Burma and along the Salween river region and then headed more northerly for the Thai Burma border north of Mae Hong Son, Soppong and Pai. We only needed to spend a couple of nights away from a comfortable bed, good food and cold drinks, so little hardship there. A lot of days would start out at about 200 - 400 meters in elevation, climbing to over 1,800 meters within a relatively short distance, then along some spectacular ridge lines before descending back down again.
Left Chiang Mai and headed west to Samong and then continued west to Mae Hong Son.
Mae Hong Son on the lake.
Salween river along Mae Sam Laep. Thailand on the right and Burma on the other side.
Breakfast while "on the road"
One of the border checkpoints
Along the valleys we would find 4 wheel drive tracks turning into stream beds and at first this was a bit confusing, for the tracks just seemed to disappear into the river beds. After backtracking to a Ranger station where they explained; "just ride up the stream bed until you find a way out and then when the dirt track fails, head back into the stream again and continue on". Sounded simple enough in theory...but a little wet and disconcerting in practice until we got used to the idea.
The track disappears time and again in the river bed but after some three hours we are finally on "dry land" again
Ranger Station along the Salween River
North of Pai
Army check point. These guys explained that there were two ways out of this area; one being the longer easy way and the other being the shorter but steep and difficult route.
Oooops - almost made it to the landing pad
Some times down right Cold and Foggy up in the mountains.
Mai on the suspension bridge that was between us and where we wanted to go but after not too long of a deliberation we took another route.
Old and Beautiful in Chiang Dao
Another FUN day!
Mai and Thomas agreeing - Great Time!!
Cheers and hope you enjoyed our Ride,
David and Mai
