Kanchanaburi-Mae Sot On Back Roads Now On The GPS 9-3-2011

[Captain_Slash]

9 March 2011

The route 324, 3443, 3468, 3306, 333, 3011, 3282, 3438, 3456, 3504, 1072, 1117, 4048, 1139, 4003, 1116, 4001, 1110, 1108, 105/12

Total distance 522 km

I was on the road by 6.30 this morning as its a longs days ride between these two towns plus I was told last night to expect rain today

7.15 and the workers are already busy

A bit further along the road and at 7.30 the kids are on the way to school

This can be seen from a way and its the Sralongrue Temple at N14.21.157 E099.44.743

A fire is burning and a sugar cane crop is blazing away

I have seen this crop ablaze many times before and often wondered if its deliberate as no one seems concerned about it

A good road surface and some bends too

I was expecting haze and smoke today but no theres new grass growing, theres been some rain here recently thats for sure

The only water here now is whats flowing in from the recent heavy rains

The reservoir is nearly empty

It should be easier to catch the fish now as theres not much water for them to hide in

For a good way today I see evidence of recent heavy rain

Theres more water in this river today than when I rode here two months ago

I have been looking forward to GPSing this short cut of mine as lots of people ask about it and to my embarrassment I took a wrong turn today, I must have been on auto pilot.
I took a left onto the 4048 at N16.16.688 E099.21.122 onto this nice new asphalt road thinking that I was on the 1139 and it was a few km before I realised my mistake but as it loops round and joins the other end of the 1139 it didnt really matter, plus at least I now know where the 1139 goes to

Some good roads along here and a much better route than hwy 1

A bridge is being rebuilt/repaired

I wonder if it was a casualty of the rainy season

Its been a nice day so far and only looked like rain a few times but once on the 105/12 it rains about halfway to Mae Sot and stays like it until I get there, I check in at Smile House as usual for 100 Baht at N16.42.772 E098.33.601

Then its off to Krua Canadian at N16.42.943 E098.34.169 and the beef fajitas for 140 Baht, a great meal and my first Mexican food for four months, I must put that right once back in CNX

Followed by this for 65 Baht also at Krua Canadian

Get the gdb file here http://www.captainslash.com/kanchanabur ... s-at-last/

 

[KTMphil]

Re: Kanchanaburi-Mae Sot On Back Roads Now On The GPS 9-3-2

Colin -

I've never ridden down to this area I'll have to give it a try, thanks for the report.

 

[MartinThai]

Re: Kanchanaburi-Mae Sot On Back Roads Now On The GPS 9-3-2

Can anyone please tell me if the 1117 heading west past Khlong Lan, Pang Sila Thong has been paved to meet up with the 1117 which leads into Um Phang? I'm looking to take a group tour of heavy baggers to Chiang Mai this December "the pretty route"....... we've done Pattaya - Dan Chang - Mae Poen - Pang Sila Thong but then headed up to Kamphaeng Phet - Tak - Mae Sot - Mae Hong Son etc etc.... I'd love to be able to cut across to Um Phang if possible and from there up to Mae Sot. We have 10 days to play with and usually only stop for 2 nights in MHS and CM, everywhere else is "for 1 night only!"
Cheers.

 

[Lone Rider]

Re: Kanchanaburi-Mae Sot On Back Roads Now On The GPS 9-3-2

Martin,

The 1117 for the last part on the western side is dirt and stops somewhere halfway near the Umphang Wildlife Preserve and [highlight=#ff8000:28przd2k]DOES NOT LINK[/highlight:28przd2k] with Umphang. I know that some maps (including the first version of the ESRI GPS map) show a link but, while this link was planned by the Thai Army, the link has never been and hopefully will never be built.

 

[MartinThai]

Re: Kanchanaburi-Mae Sot On Back Roads Now On The GPS 9-3-2

Hi LR, ok, thanks for your input. I understand your sentiments about preserving national parks, heritage etc and as a conservationist and biker sometimes my views are at cross purpose! However for this trip I have to put my biker head on and look for a decent but scenic route for a group of maybe 15 bikes so it has to be fairly good tarmac all the way!

 

[Captain_Slash]

Re: Kanchanaburi-Mae Sot On Back Roads Now On The GPS 9-3-2

I have yet to ride the 1117 west through the National Park but want to try it sometime to see how far it goes, I agree that it probably will never be completed as it would run through the Umphang Wildlife Preserve

 

[KTMphil]

Re: Kanchanaburi-Mae Sot On Back Roads Now On The GPS 9-3-2

Map of the route

 

[harrygps]

Re: Kanchanaburi-Mae Sot On Back Roads Now On The GPS 9-3-2

Very nice trip report, Slash. I´ve driven the route Kanchanaburi -Chiang-Mai many many times. A real highlight for motorbikes is the track north of Sisawat to Nong Prue. Absolut fantastic mountain road, there´s also a nice ferry shortcut over a sidearm of the lake. Very easy to find, Erawan NP and straight north along the east side of the Srinaganarin lake. You can find nice accomondations in the Headquarter of the Rattanakosin Natinalpark, one of the most beautiful NP I know.

 

[Captain_Slash]

Re: Kanchanaburi-Mae Sot On Back Roads Now On The GPS 9-3-2

Very nice trip report, Slash. I´ve driven the route Kanchanaburi -Chiang-Mai many many times. A real highlight for motorbikes is the track north of Sisawat to Nong Prue. Absolut fantastic mountain road, there´s also a nice ferry shortcut over a sidearm of the lake. Very easy to find, Erawan NP and straight north along the east side of the Srinaganarin lake. You can find nice accomondations in the Headquarter of the Rattanakosin Natinalpark, one of the most beautiful NP I know.

You mean this one Harry. captain-slash-thailand/kanchanaburi-the-4041-si-sawat-loop-16-1-2011-t601.html
I personally have never taken the ferry shortcut as it misses out the loveliest twistiest section of the 3199 which has virtually no traffic at all along here as they all take the ferry