Chomcheng to Sayaburi Magical Day !!!

[bsacbob]

Day 12 Chomcheng to Sayaburi
277 Km 11 1/2 hours





GpxViewer


Sometimes riding in Laos although beautiful can be depressing, the speed of change and deforestation is alarming. Todays ride was a real joy and reminded me why i continue to return to this sleepy little country.


Chomcheng Border point








The ride from Chomcheng was my turnaround point to head North and is all paved and a very easy scenic ride










Arrived in good time at the Khemhong Restaurant in Paklay and had a nice breakfast while talking to one of the English-speaking guides from Off Road Laos Adventures stopping at the Sayadeth GH across the road (a good place to stay by the way) and talked about my route through the national park.







The Mekong early morning view from the restaurant








Almost unused slip at Parklay




The start of the trail from Paklay is a nice cooling water crossing, here you have options, the first one was awash with green moss and had a risky-looking climb after it, so i moved upstream to a more easy crossing














I should say at this point, if you have not done this trail before you should, but do it quickly, although most of it goes through the national park it will surely get upgraded sooner or later







The start it a nice graded surface up to Thongmyxay

















Easy so far but very beautiful








Still graded






Then i came across these guy's














Two working elephants on their way to work, i stopped for a while and chatted with the very proud mahouts













Notice the guy with the AK47 on the bike






This ride was turning out to be better than i would i have hoped











Then not long after another, this one had water to go and was cooling off as he walked















That was three sightings in one day, normally i never see any on a trip like this



Heading down into a small village









These guy's flagged me down for a picture and asked where i was heading






Songkran still in full swing here






More gravel tracks






Beautiful Wat entrance, marking the start of the national park area






Great views although still smoke spoiling the landscape






Almost no water crossings as new bridges appeared






Laundry time as his son practices his duck diving








Now the trail got interesting and steep











As usual the camera never capture how steep it was








Now this was the fun part






Then the trail got less used






Then i came upon this beautiful crossing











From this point, it was almost a single trail and little sign of 4WD's







This guy shouted to me to stop, i wasn't about to argue with him holding his AK47, he only wanted to beg a cigarette. As we chatted i heard thunder and he suggest i should get the hell out of here, i agreed i didn't want a reoccurrence of several days back ! !






Seldom used









I could hear the rain behind me i hoped this time i could outrun it






Finally the dark clouds behind me








Good job this had been cleared






Came across this very small settlement, a guy came out to talk, but i had an uneasy feeling about the situation and kept the engine running and with a wave i was off











Some evidence of fires






And blow me, another elephant. This one was 28 years old and the mahout had been with it since it was two years old























The mountains behind me the trail opened up






One of the larger villages














In danger of getting very wet here but they all wanted a picture











Never seen trucks loaded with so much timber, this way








More great views






It was hot and these guys know how to cool off

















Even the wild pigs had the same idea






So did the locals






Forestry checkpoint









Well it had been an amazing day, the best of the trip, back onto the tarmac and heading to the bridge in Sayabouri







Spending the night in the Vang Moungkhoun GH











My trip almost over, the next days to the Nan Crossing back into Thailand

 

[2wheels]

Khemhong Restaurant in Parklay

Sweet river views from there Bob.
And wonderful people shots, plus the pleasure you had of seeing the working elephants.
Excellent.

 

[alexuk]

"Came across this very small settlement, a guy came out to talk, but i had an uneasy feeling about the situation and kept the engine running and with a wave i was off "
was that an enclosed settlement,by the last stream crossing, on the left as you get down the mountain onto doubletrack?
there used to be another further on, on the other side, which was an army camp