Hi all.
Its been a few months since we were last in Nan. We loved it that much that we had all agreed that we need to head back there for another go. We had the original Famous Five of Bruce, Andy, Mick, Alan and Ron and were joined by John, Mike, Chris and Iain.
Day 1
The ride started with Andy leaving Bangkok for Micks house. Away at first light, 170 kms up route 1 and 2 to Khao Yai. Bacon sandwiches all round and wave goodbye to Micks missus.
Micks Ducati was a bit overloaded with a new back tire to be fitted in Buri Ram. Usual comments about the bike looking a bit tired and Micks carrying an extra spare tire and one for the bike.
Scenic route to Buri Ram via Wang Nam Kiao.
We arrive in Buri Ram, Andy and Bruce head to Ravetech to fit some accessories to the Vstrom and Multistrada.
This is the very strong Vstrom engine guard plate by Ravetech.
Mick takes the Ducati to Joes Monster shop for the rear tire. As usual with the Ducati, its not simple.Takes them an hour and a damaged wheel nut socket before they get the back wheel nut undone.
Andy gets a bit of a shock when he asks how much the second hand GS1200 is up for. Nice bike but a lot of money.
Eventually job done and on to the Best Western hotel to check in. Dinner at the Bamboo bar with most of the rest of the team.
Day 2.
Early start so we all meet at Rons furniture shop in town. Buri Ram Times reporter does some shots of us for the local on line paper.
Ron decides to join the Buri Ram Taliban and dons his disguise.
Pics all done, we head off to Khon Kaen. Bruces Vstrom is due its 1000km service so we stop in at Suzuki Khon Kaen. They are very happy to see 8 big bikes descend into their shop and bring us ice cold cokes which go down well. John joins us at Khon Kaen, making the 9[SUP]th[/SUP] member of the team.
Service done, we fill up and head down route 12 towards Khon Kaen. The section through the national park before Lom Sak is good and gets us warmed up.
The big bridge on Route 12.
The big Route 12 café. Unfortunately they had no food. Not good planning people.
After Lom Sak, the road turns bad with the ongoing dual carriageway works. Iains Er6 starts to play up and needs bump starting. This goes bad and ends up with the bike falling over and Iain hurting his back. The Suzuki boys shoot off so they can get to the Suzuki shop in Phitsanulok and the rest do a slow run with Iain to town. At one point we see 2 kids on a step through. They see us and pull a wheelie with the pillion hanging right off the back. Great bike control, but of course no camera to catch it.
The bike shop in Phitsanulok is new and covering Suzuki,Kawasaki, KTM and Benelli. They are offering test rides on the bikes so a very nice change from the normal “cannot do” attitude.
We stay at the P1 hotel in Phitsanulok. Very good hotel, parking area around the back and a good restaurant right next door. 700baht a night. Had a very amusing moment when Alan, Ron and Mick squeeze into the lift. Ron has his top box along with the bungee cords that help hold it on. Unbeknown to us, one end of the bungee is outside the lift door and hooked in the lift shaft. As the lift starts going up, the bungee gets stretched inside the lift shaft. It lets go with a huge bang and we all think the lift cable has broken. Turned into gales of laughter when we saw the broken bungee hanging down the lift shaft.
After a good meal and a few drinks, its away to bed.
Day 3.
Unfortunately Iain decides not to continue with the ER6 and calls a friend to come and pick him and the bike back to Buri Ram. The rest of us head off up route 11 for a bit. We turn right on the 1296, 1143, 1214, 1047 and on to the 1339 toward the ferry. Some nice roads on this section. Just a little taster of what is to come. As per sods law, the ferry is at the other side when we arrive so we take a pew at the floating restaurant and order up some food.
Andy managed to find a nice pussy to play with.
This is the khazi on the restaurant at the ferry station. The main thing n the menu was fish, freshly caught in the reservoir. Just a point of interest for those who like fish, as the toilet was flushed, all the fishes came and ate the, ummmm, fish food. Anyway, enjoy the fish.
After an hour or so, the ferry comes into view so we suit up and get ready.
Loading the bikes is not as bad as the last time we used the ferry and we all get on without any bum clenching moments.
Some rode, some walked......
All aboard.
It does get hot on the ferry.
Ferry ride is quick and painless. 100 baht per bike.
Off the other side and onto the 1339 again. Some nice twisty bits along this section but with very differing road surfaces.
We head up the 1026, join the 101 and head into Nan. We stay at the Ban Nai Viam (spelling check) guesthouse.It’s the one almost opposite Tony’s place. Great value and nice soft beds.
After a quick shower, we head to Tony’s place and see Wan. Its very good to see her keeping the restaurant open after losing Tony.
We order a load of food and drinks and am very happy to say that the food is still excellent. We order breakfasts for the following morning and roast dinner buffet for the evening and settle in for an evening of putting the world to rights over a beer or 2.
Day 4.
A cool misty start which helped the one or two lingering hangovers from the night before.
Huge delicious breakfast helped also. We headed West on the 1091 toward Pong. At Pong (I think), we stopped at a Cosmo service station for a fill up and spotted a coffee shop. They had some of the best bread we have seen for a long time in that small coffee shop. Proper full size English loaves. Funny what you find in the middle of nowhere. After the fill up it was off to the 1148. There was a minor amount of hooliganism along this stretch as it is a good bit of road……
We split up where the 1148 meets the 1170, 5 decided to head back to Nan, whilst Mick, Andy and Alan headed of to do the 1256/1081 loop via Bo Kluea. It was getting a little late in the day and we ended up riding with the sun in our eyes. Did make judging the corners a bit more challenging.
Riding this with the sun in your eyes was fun.
We hit Nan around 6pm and headed for Tony’s. Wan had done us the most amazing roast dinner buffet. All of us commented how good it was. She had done Tony proud.
After wolfing that down and a few beers, it was time for the sack.
Day 5.
Another full English breakfast start. Todays ride turned out to be a complete mixture of roads. Some of the best we have ridden on and some of the more challenging. We headed out on the 1168, 1225, 1275, 1081 to Bo Kluea. There are some amazing viewpoints along this section.
Very handsome line up.
Whilst stopped at one, Andy made the mistake of leaning against a tree. This woke up the ant colony living in it and of course, none of us laughed when he turned round witha t-shirt covered in ants.
Andy and the Ants. Was that the 80's
Found this tray of sun drying frogs at one coffee stop. Appetizing...
We had a look at the 1081 heading North towards Chaloem Phrakiat but the road was no fun. After turning round we had a quick look at Sa Pan Waterfall and then to the salt well. This took a bit of finding and was quite small when we did find it. Obligatory photos and a bag of salt for the wife as a ride present.
We took the 1333 loop back towards Nan. It starts off great but turned to lots of loose gravel. This caught Mike unawares on a nasty corner and he had an off. Just a couple of scrapes to the bike, but Mike took a fairly hard fall. We took a slow ride back towards Nan and during a gas stop, Mike dropped his wallet, just to finish his day off. Now, say what you like about the BiB in Thailand, they found his wallet, called him up and then delivered it back to him in Nan. Pretty damn good service. We got back to Nan for another roast dinner buffet from Wan.
We saw the very fresh cat on the menu and mixed cat in a basket, but all stuck with the roast chicken and pork dinner.
Day 6.
Bruce headed off to Chiang Mai so we said our goodbyes. Mike decided not to continue and fly back to Buri Ram and post the bike home. That left 6 of us to continue on towards Loei for the final night stop. The route was 101, 1083, 1241, 1268, 2195, 2294 and the 203 to Loei.
There are some fantastic roads along this route. Good quality twisty bits and gravelly technical sections. Micks Ducati decided to do some en route weight saving and tried to drop of the rear stone catcher.
Luckily Andy spotted it bouncing about and found it had broken a lug off. That went in the tail bag.
After 6 days on the road, it was very bad timing for Alan to check his tire pressures.
We saw plenty of other bikes on this section, all heading up towards Nan. We hit rain on the last 50km section into Loei. This was in the roadworks section so the road was filthy, visors got dirty and the bikes covered in muck
We stayed at the Baiboon Place hotel in Loei. Average Thai hotel,breakfast nothing to write home about. Unfortunately Mr Chris Steakhouse had closed due to rent problems so we had a fairly average meal in the Saloon bar and headed back to the hotel.
Day 7.
After the mediocre breakfast, we split and headed our separate ways home. Andy and Mick had the nice ride along the 203 to Lom Sak before heading South on route 21. It got very hot as we headed south and sunburnt lips were becoming an issue. Luckily 7 11 sells a very nice strawberry flavoured lip balm. Mmmm, lovely.
We racked up around 2600 kms over the 7 day ride on all types of road. Nan really is a special place for bikers. So little vehicle traffic on the roads around the town. Was a bit eventful but good fun. Now the planning starts for the next one.....
Its been a few months since we were last in Nan. We loved it that much that we had all agreed that we need to head back there for another go. We had the original Famous Five of Bruce, Andy, Mick, Alan and Ron and were joined by John, Mike, Chris and Iain.
Day 1
The ride started with Andy leaving Bangkok for Micks house. Away at first light, 170 kms up route 1 and 2 to Khao Yai. Bacon sandwiches all round and wave goodbye to Micks missus.
Micks Ducati was a bit overloaded with a new back tire to be fitted in Buri Ram. Usual comments about the bike looking a bit tired and Micks carrying an extra spare tire and one for the bike.
Scenic route to Buri Ram via Wang Nam Kiao.
We arrive in Buri Ram, Andy and Bruce head to Ravetech to fit some accessories to the Vstrom and Multistrada.
This is the very strong Vstrom engine guard plate by Ravetech.
Mick takes the Ducati to Joes Monster shop for the rear tire. As usual with the Ducati, its not simple.Takes them an hour and a damaged wheel nut socket before they get the back wheel nut undone.
Andy gets a bit of a shock when he asks how much the second hand GS1200 is up for. Nice bike but a lot of money.
Eventually job done and on to the Best Western hotel to check in. Dinner at the Bamboo bar with most of the rest of the team.
Day 2.
Early start so we all meet at Rons furniture shop in town. Buri Ram Times reporter does some shots of us for the local on line paper.
Ron decides to join the Buri Ram Taliban and dons his disguise.
Pics all done, we head off to Khon Kaen. Bruces Vstrom is due its 1000km service so we stop in at Suzuki Khon Kaen. They are very happy to see 8 big bikes descend into their shop and bring us ice cold cokes which go down well. John joins us at Khon Kaen, making the 9[SUP]th[/SUP] member of the team.
Service done, we fill up and head down route 12 towards Khon Kaen. The section through the national park before Lom Sak is good and gets us warmed up.
The big bridge on Route 12.
The big Route 12 café. Unfortunately they had no food. Not good planning people.
After Lom Sak, the road turns bad with the ongoing dual carriageway works. Iains Er6 starts to play up and needs bump starting. This goes bad and ends up with the bike falling over and Iain hurting his back. The Suzuki boys shoot off so they can get to the Suzuki shop in Phitsanulok and the rest do a slow run with Iain to town. At one point we see 2 kids on a step through. They see us and pull a wheelie with the pillion hanging right off the back. Great bike control, but of course no camera to catch it.
The bike shop in Phitsanulok is new and covering Suzuki,Kawasaki, KTM and Benelli. They are offering test rides on the bikes so a very nice change from the normal “cannot do” attitude.
We stay at the P1 hotel in Phitsanulok. Very good hotel, parking area around the back and a good restaurant right next door. 700baht a night. Had a very amusing moment when Alan, Ron and Mick squeeze into the lift. Ron has his top box along with the bungee cords that help hold it on. Unbeknown to us, one end of the bungee is outside the lift door and hooked in the lift shaft. As the lift starts going up, the bungee gets stretched inside the lift shaft. It lets go with a huge bang and we all think the lift cable has broken. Turned into gales of laughter when we saw the broken bungee hanging down the lift shaft.
After a good meal and a few drinks, its away to bed.
Day 3.
Unfortunately Iain decides not to continue with the ER6 and calls a friend to come and pick him and the bike back to Buri Ram. The rest of us head off up route 11 for a bit. We turn right on the 1296, 1143, 1214, 1047 and on to the 1339 toward the ferry. Some nice roads on this section. Just a little taster of what is to come. As per sods law, the ferry is at the other side when we arrive so we take a pew at the floating restaurant and order up some food.
Andy managed to find a nice pussy to play with.
This is the khazi on the restaurant at the ferry station. The main thing n the menu was fish, freshly caught in the reservoir. Just a point of interest for those who like fish, as the toilet was flushed, all the fishes came and ate the, ummmm, fish food. Anyway, enjoy the fish.
After an hour or so, the ferry comes into view so we suit up and get ready.
Loading the bikes is not as bad as the last time we used the ferry and we all get on without any bum clenching moments.
Some rode, some walked......
All aboard.
It does get hot on the ferry.
Ferry ride is quick and painless. 100 baht per bike.
Off the other side and onto the 1339 again. Some nice twisty bits along this section but with very differing road surfaces.
We head up the 1026, join the 101 and head into Nan. We stay at the Ban Nai Viam (spelling check) guesthouse.It’s the one almost opposite Tony’s place. Great value and nice soft beds.
After a quick shower, we head to Tony’s place and see Wan. Its very good to see her keeping the restaurant open after losing Tony.
We order a load of food and drinks and am very happy to say that the food is still excellent. We order breakfasts for the following morning and roast dinner buffet for the evening and settle in for an evening of putting the world to rights over a beer or 2.
Day 4.
A cool misty start which helped the one or two lingering hangovers from the night before.
Huge delicious breakfast helped also. We headed West on the 1091 toward Pong. At Pong (I think), we stopped at a Cosmo service station for a fill up and spotted a coffee shop. They had some of the best bread we have seen for a long time in that small coffee shop. Proper full size English loaves. Funny what you find in the middle of nowhere. After the fill up it was off to the 1148. There was a minor amount of hooliganism along this stretch as it is a good bit of road……
We split up where the 1148 meets the 1170, 5 decided to head back to Nan, whilst Mick, Andy and Alan headed of to do the 1256/1081 loop via Bo Kluea. It was getting a little late in the day and we ended up riding with the sun in our eyes. Did make judging the corners a bit more challenging.
Riding this with the sun in your eyes was fun.
We hit Nan around 6pm and headed for Tony’s. Wan had done us the most amazing roast dinner buffet. All of us commented how good it was. She had done Tony proud.
After wolfing that down and a few beers, it was time for the sack.
Day 5.
Another full English breakfast start. Todays ride turned out to be a complete mixture of roads. Some of the best we have ridden on and some of the more challenging. We headed out on the 1168, 1225, 1275, 1081 to Bo Kluea. There are some amazing viewpoints along this section.
Very handsome line up.
Whilst stopped at one, Andy made the mistake of leaning against a tree. This woke up the ant colony living in it and of course, none of us laughed when he turned round witha t-shirt covered in ants.
Andy and the Ants. Was that the 80's
Found this tray of sun drying frogs at one coffee stop. Appetizing...
We had a look at the 1081 heading North towards Chaloem Phrakiat but the road was no fun. After turning round we had a quick look at Sa Pan Waterfall and then to the salt well. This took a bit of finding and was quite small when we did find it. Obligatory photos and a bag of salt for the wife as a ride present.
We took the 1333 loop back towards Nan. It starts off great but turned to lots of loose gravel. This caught Mike unawares on a nasty corner and he had an off. Just a couple of scrapes to the bike, but Mike took a fairly hard fall. We took a slow ride back towards Nan and during a gas stop, Mike dropped his wallet, just to finish his day off. Now, say what you like about the BiB in Thailand, they found his wallet, called him up and then delivered it back to him in Nan. Pretty damn good service. We got back to Nan for another roast dinner buffet from Wan.
We saw the very fresh cat on the menu and mixed cat in a basket, but all stuck with the roast chicken and pork dinner.
Day 6.
Bruce headed off to Chiang Mai so we said our goodbyes. Mike decided not to continue and fly back to Buri Ram and post the bike home. That left 6 of us to continue on towards Loei for the final night stop. The route was 101, 1083, 1241, 1268, 2195, 2294 and the 203 to Loei.
There are some fantastic roads along this route. Good quality twisty bits and gravelly technical sections. Micks Ducati decided to do some en route weight saving and tried to drop of the rear stone catcher.
Luckily Andy spotted it bouncing about and found it had broken a lug off. That went in the tail bag.
After 6 days on the road, it was very bad timing for Alan to check his tire pressures.
We saw plenty of other bikes on this section, all heading up towards Nan. We hit rain on the last 50km section into Loei. This was in the roadworks section so the road was filthy, visors got dirty and the bikes covered in muck
We stayed at the Baiboon Place hotel in Loei. Average Thai hotel,breakfast nothing to write home about. Unfortunately Mr Chris Steakhouse had closed due to rent problems so we had a fairly average meal in the Saloon bar and headed back to the hotel.
Day 7.
After the mediocre breakfast, we split and headed our separate ways home. Andy and Mick had the nice ride along the 203 to Lom Sak before heading South on route 21. It got very hot as we headed south and sunburnt lips were becoming an issue. Luckily 7 11 sells a very nice strawberry flavoured lip balm. Mmmm, lovely.
We racked up around 2600 kms over the 7 day ride on all types of road. Nan really is a special place for bikers. So little vehicle traffic on the roads around the town. Was a bit eventful but good fun. Now the planning starts for the next one.....
