Chiang Rai group ride to Pai - 10th May, 2013

[KTMphil]

Marty was a little unsure of how many riders would show for this overnight ride from Chiang Rai to Pai, overnight group rides are always troublesome for some reason.


I had arranged to meet a few of the guys in Chiang Rai, so left from Chiang Mai a day early.

 

[KTMphil]

We had planned to do the route :

Chiang Rai - R 1 - R 118 - R 1150 - R 107 - R 1095 - Pai


So to not duplicate the route I took R 109 eastwards from R 107 to get to Chiang Rai to meet up with them.

 

[KTMphil]

A quick blast up R 107, turn right onto R 109 just before Fang and there's some pretty decent views

A lot of R 109 has been resurfaced making it a decent ride even for superbikes, there's a few potholed sections still but nothing bad at all

First time i'd tried a Pirelli Scorpion Rally tire. It's slightly more off road oriented than a Continental TKC 80, but still never felt like it wanted to let go.

This setup with a regular Pirelli Scorpion AT 90 on the rear and a 50/50 on the front works nicely if you plan to do some dirt trails on the trip

 

[KTMphil]

A few more views from R 109

 

[KTMphil]

A quick drink break at Wat Rong Khun south of Chiang Rai

[h=1][/h][h=1][/h]

 

[KTMphil]

Always wanting to try new places to stay in different towns, Bob suggested giving the new Kanlaya GH a try. They wanted 600 Bht, talked them down to 500 bht, was well worth it.


Its directly opposite ST Motorcycle and unfortunately the girlie bars too, co-ords:


N19.90671


E99.83094

Brand new rooms & secure parking for the bike

 

[KTMphil]

I've always found eating good farrang food in Chiang Rai to be a problem, to be honest i've never had a meal to remember in the town. Rico's had been recommended so gave that a shot.

Decent pizza and cold beer, highly recommended


Location:



19.90875163115939,99.82365011734251 - Google Maps

The "Mexicana"

 

[KTMphil]

Another place the the Chiang Rai locals highly recommend is Bella Pizza, location:



19.910781556121762,99.83535035108521 - Google Maps

Apparently as well as good pizza the meat fillets are delicous too

 

[KTMphil]

0830am the next morning, no-one knew how many would show, these overnight rides for some reason people won't commit!

By 0845am, we had 7 or 8 rider's things were looking ok

There was a Harley promotion in town and a few Thai rider's pulled up on some new 48's

The sparkly tank was quite effective

The flat, military green looked good too

Bob getting some air before the off

 

[KTMphil]

Marty had to head near to Chiang Mai to meet up with a guy called Jerry on a scooter, with R 1150 on the direct route to Pai (from Chiang Rai), this was the most enjoyable ride for sure & just over 300km.

 

[KTMphil]

I hear from coffee drinkers that the Charin Garden Resort has great cakes but lousy coffee (im not a coffee drinker, so can't comment). Another option is on R 118 about 200 meters south of the R 1150 intersection - White Coffee

Darryl with his white Versys

Not bad views too

 

[KTMphil]

All done off westwards on the delicious R 1150, one of the best roads in Thailand and so close to Chiang Mai



bsacbob on R 1150 2-up

Lakota on his new CB 500 X

Since being resurfaced a few months back, R 1150 is now fantasic

 

[KTMphil]

Left at Phrao and south bound on R 1001, a beautiful sweeping road without much traffic & a few rain clouds around

Didn't last long, getting peckish a lunch time, we stopped at The Green on R 1095 a couple of km's east of the Mok Fa waterfall co-ords:


N19.11209

E98.79262

Food was ok and not expensive

 

[KTMphil]

Being out of tourist season it was surprising how busy R 1095 still was with mini buses

We knew Con was in the area with a friend from Oz, we hoped we'd bump in to them and we did.

He says this restaurant on R 1095 has excellent Khow Soi (ill get the co-ords from my GPS)

 

[KTMphil]

Bob enjoying the new Pirelli MT 60 SR tires

Mark wit Pirelli Scorpion Trails on his CB 500 X

 

[KTMphil]

Arrived at Pai and gave the Countryside Resort a try co-ords:


N19.35752


E98.44952

It's out to the east of town, the last 500m being an easy unmade road. they have a free shuttle bus to take and collect you from town

Real cute bungalows with great views, also a swimming pool for 800 bht incl. aircon.

Great views, bungalows have a roof terrace

This is the fish pond not the swimming pool

 

[KTMphil]

Check-in and shower, then off to see if Marty had arrived.


He'd arranged to meet at one-armed Mac's bar in town, easy to find on the main street

Mac's Bar (name changing in 2 weeks) location is:


http://maps.google.com/maps?q=19.357877311503483,98.44062105569793

Mac (who owns the bar) on the left who lost use of his right side in a motorcycle accident, he runs a Pai related website called:




www.onehandedbikers.org

 

[KTMphil]

Busiest restaurant in Pai was this one, No.9, packed to the doors, they do all kinds of food including Indian food.

Co-ords:

N19.35795

E98.44081

 

[KTMphil]

Amido's Pizza next door, David Bailey's favorite pizza place in Pai, pizza was good but the garlic bread was horrendous.




Co-ords:


N19.35790

E98.44088

 

[KTMphil]

Next day R 1095 home and there's lots of new surface, most of the potholes gone

.... That's all folks

 

[2wheels]

Great final photo Phil and 'No 9 @ Pai' Restaurant noted!

 

[KTMphil]

On R 1150 westwards to Pai

Photo: Bob Kelly

 

[KTMphil]

A few more taken from Bob's Versys

 

[KTMphil]

& got some new key members in Pai