Chiang Rai group ride May 2nd, 2012

[KTMphil]

Chiang Rai group ride May 2nd, 2012



JB & I shot up to Chiang Rai (from Chiang Mai) for the Chiang Rai group ride on the May 2nd, 2012. Below is the total route we did - click on the map to enlarge it.

 

[KTMphil]

Some photo's from the trip.

Leaving JB's 3-building-mansion in Mae On

Quick stop at the Rai Boonrawd Organic farm, just south of Chiang Rai, for JB to get his macadamia nuts, apparantly one of the few places in north Thailand where they are available

Quite a beautiful spot

 

[KTMphil]

Then off to see Marty and his wife that own Chiang Rai Saddlebags

Marty in the middle

Here's the co ords of Chiang Rai Saddlebags





& their website

http://crsaddlebags.com/

 

[KTMphil]

We gave the Highland Chalets a shots, a few Km's south of Chiang Rai. The owner is a great guy that lost his leg in a motorcycle accident a year ago.


Here JB with his the owners wife

Owner

The chalets, if you only use the downstairs are 700 bht, but the are huge and new

They even have a kitchen and lounge area

The way to do it seems for 2 riders to take one chalet and use the upstairs room as well, then the Chalet is 900 bht (450 bht each)... pretty good deal

Upstairs room

 

[KTMphil]

Map below shows the locations of the Rai Boonrawd Organic Farm, Hi Land Chalets & Chiang Rai Saddlebags. Click on the map to enlarge it.

 

[KTMphil]

Next morning 0900am meeting at the PTT in Chiang Rai on R1

Ian and David, two of Chiang Saen's veterans ready to go

This was the route we took basically heading south west towards R 3037 which runs north towards Doi Mae Salong ( R 1089), click the map to enlarge.

 

[KTMphil]

Several decades of Triumphs at the Doi Chiang coffee shop (plantation)

Doi Chiang coffee, that make there own coffee is well worth a visit and a beautiful curvy ride there too

 

[KTMphil]

The road leading to r 3037 on Doi Chiang

Local hill tribe lady on Doi Chiang

Lunch on Doi Chiang

With great views

 

[KTMphil]

The route then got "interesting" & turned into some rubble roads

Ian went ahead to see how bad it got

Wasn't a problem, then some beautiful views, nice to see the rain giving us some scenery and greenery back

 

[KTMphil]

Ians vintage Triumph with a farm worker

It has a quick detach back wheel - the wheel comes off leaving the rear sprocket and brake drum in place, quite neat

Even has a beautiful triumph hand pump

With under-seat holder

 

[KTMphil]

Group photo on R 3037

David on the bridge with R 3037 in the distance

Some very shy, beautiful Lesu girls

At the junction of R 3037 & R 1089 JB & I headed west towards Thaton, the rest of the group headed east on R 1089 back towards Chiang Rai, was a great day out

 

[2wheels]

Very nice.

Those Lisu costumes are amazing.
Was it a special event or do you think that is normal wear up that way?
Maybe they worked in a Guest House?

Good to see the smoke almost gone, some blue skies and some greenery.

Lovely part of the world.

 

[Ally]

Looks like a good turn out Phil & Jb.

Were most of the riders from Chiang Rai? Did anyone else from Chiang Mai go as well as you 2 ??



Ally

 

[KTMphil]

JB & I were the only riders from Chiang Mai, there were a couple of guys from Chiang Kham (western end of R 1148) that showed up that was interesting.

Looks like a good turn out Phil & Jb.

Were most of the riders from Chiang Rai? Did anyone else from Chiang Mai go as well as you 2 ??



Ally

 

[KTMphil]

Another one from JB

 

[jb2112]

Thanks for getting me off my arse Phil and heading out on this one. It was a great time, but was it hot!

I can't call the ride up the 118 boring as there are so many twists and turns. The way the sun reflects off the surface makes you think there is oil on the road at every turn. Is it just me? In fact there was a 5 square meter of stinky, greasy stuff on the road as we got into Chiang Rai Province.

Phil showed me around Chiang Rai early in the evening. We had brick-oven pizza at a great Italian restaurant.

Glenn at Highland Chalets certainly has a story to tell. While riding his chopper 2 years ago, he got t-boned by a young man driving a pick-up truck on Highway 1 near the white wat.

The ride started out at 0900 with a guide on a scooter who led us west through sois and alleys and eventually we linked up with and headed south on the 1211. The 1211 is a nice little detour for those riders who do not want to do the stretch between the 118/Route 1 intersection up through Chiang Rai. We navigated over to the 3037 and started heading north, but soon veered off to head to Doi Chang. The road up to Doi Chang is in horrible shape with potholes and with rainy season around the corner I don't expect it to get much better soon.

THE Doi Chaang Coffee Shop

They do not serve food here, but for those who get hungry up here there is a restaurant about 300 meters down the road on the right-hand side. At the restaurant: The man, the legend.

We followed one of the riders to Wawee and onto the 3037. Boy, do I wish I had had my Garmin with me. This road was in an awful state! We managed it, but later discovered we took a little unnecessary detour. I would have taken the Lifan if I had known it would be like this. Not fun on the CBR. After the "detour" we all re-grouped on the 3037.

A bit further up the road we stopped again for photos. Here is Ian with the 3037 in the distance behind him.

As it was getting late, Phil and I opted to head west at the junction with the 1089. Trying to keep up with his Triumph was fun!

All in all, a great day, and met some great people.

Kudos to Marty at Chiang Rai Saddlebags who said it wasn't HIS ride, but he certainly has a huge part in setting these things up and keeping people pumped up for them. Thanks Marty!