Nan- Sirkit ferry, with Reed Resnikoff

[KTMphil]

Reed had a couple of days spare between a packed bike tour schedule & wanted to check out the Sirkit ferry area, with the new Nan Road & Off-Road map being printed, it was a good opportunity to go check out some of the roads that are only on new "Nan Road & Off-Road" printed map.


Getting on the Sirikit Reservoir ferry - chocka.

Beautiful views west of R 1339 just north of the Sirkit Reservoir ferry

 

[KTMphil]

We wanted to get off the usual roads and took some interesting side roads that arn't on other Nan maps



Total distance back to Chiang Mai, 800km

 

[KTMphil]

Early start out of Chiang Mai & some fine adjustments needed to some gear shifters along the way. If you need a decent mechanic along R 118, there's a great, capable guy in Mae Kachan at co-ords:


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This is what his shop looks like (he's just before turn for R 120/ road to Phayao)

 

[KTMphil]

At the western (Phayao) end of R 120, as you turn left onto R1 north-bound, there's a brand new PTT that's been open for a couple of months 1 KM up R1 at co-ords:




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It's not on many maps yet that's why I mention it.

This guy was fully loaded stopping for a bite to eat at the PTT

Doesn't look like much, but then check out his leaf springs

 

[KTMphil]

Eastwards on R 120, R1 north, R 1021 east & R 1251 SE towards Chiang Muan. Reed's being doing tours here for 20 years & says there's one of the best duck noodle soup restaurants in the world there, all of the Thai's he takes there too agree!

This is it in Chiang Muan, co-ords:


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We still had 550km to do so didn't have time to stop

 

[KTMphil]

From there, eastbound on R 1091, then to try some unusual side roads. I told Reed that I wanted to try R 3052 & R 3020 that would take us south towards the Sirikit ferry, he got out his Bernston (B&B) north Thailand map & said "those roads don't exist". I got out the new Nan Road & Off-Road printed map & showed him where they were, "they're not on this map" ! he chuckled .



Clipping below from the new Nan Road & Off-Road printed map with the "unkown" R 3052 & R 3020, neither are on the ThinkNet map either.
View attachment 11402





Quick fuel stop on R 3020, looks like they're getting out of the sewing machine biz.

 

[KTMphil]

R 3020 seems to be a farm access road with a few farm villages along the way, hardly any traffic

There were a few unmade sections of about 100 meters each

Beautiful views approaching the southern end of R 3020

 

[KTMphil]

A quick drink break at the southern end of R 3020 & an examination of the new Nan printed map as to a fun way south to the Sirikit reservoir ferry

A cute young boy at the drink stop, a couple of sizes too big

Quite funny how Nan Noi, south of Nan is such a small town and there are 2 PTT fuel stations

 

[KTMphil]

To get to the ferry across the Sirikit Reservoir, you need to take R 1026 south of Nan Noi ( to Na Muen) & turn onto R 1339 that's signposted to Pak Nai

Below is a clipping from the new Nan Road & Off-Road printed map, showing the road to the Sirikit Reservoir ferry

 

[KTMphil]

Onto the beautiful R 1339 which has some great ridge line sections

Fantastic views west of R 1339 just north of the Sirikit ferry

 

[KTMphil]

It is quite interesting that R 1339, that goes no where apart from south to the Sirikit reservoir ferry is being resurfaced, with all this expense is there a bridge being planned?

 

[KTMphil]

Southern end of R 1339 approaching the Sirikit reservoir

Closer

& down to the ferry

 

[KTMphil]

The mish-mash of floating restaurants around the edge of the Sirikit Reservoir, i bet they look great lit up at night

Preparing the food

 

[KTMphil]

20 minute wait in the hot sun and then they we're ready to go

Pretty easy to get on, a sports bike could do it no problem

A hot day

 

[KTMphil]

The floating barge you are on is towed by a small long-tail boat for about 1/2km, the ferry costs 100 bht per bike

Reed checking out the scenery

We were trying to figure out if these were fish farms or fishing nets. We came to the conclusion that they were some kind of fishing net arrangement as we could see the nets rolled up at the bottom, not being used

The landing point

 

[KTMphil]

I've never seen cows ready to be taken across the Sirikit Reservoir before

Off the ferry & back onto the continuation of R 1339 on the south side of the Sirikit Reservoir, beautiful light with the moody clouds

 

[KTMphil]

We wanted to make Phrae & there's some cool trails SE of Phrae (see the clipping of the new Nan Road & Off-Road printed map below for the trails) that Stokes70 had done that we wanted to do, but we were running out of time so headed on the fast roads to Uttaradit for the night.




View attachment 11405





The Friday Hotel in Uttaradit is an excellent choice if you want to treat yourself to a decent hotel

It's in the top 3 floors (floor 5 is reception) of the main shopping center in the middle of town

It's not a cheapo place, 800 bht but we thought decent value

Co-ords of the Friday Hotel in Uttaradit are:


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Sunset view from the room

 

[KTMphil]

Great quality street food opposite the Friday Hotel, try the first noodle place, excellent


'

 

[KTMphil]

If the auto-routing on your GPS, trying to get out of Uttaradit city is strange try using the below as a waypoint and then aim for Den Chai

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Finally on the beautiful, curvy R 11 north to Chiang Mai & gagging for some caffine in that region where there's nothing for miles. We eventually see a new coffee shop south of Lampang co-ords:


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You can't miss the white bicycles

Some nice views from the garden

Then a quick blast back to Chiang Mai, we swapped bikes for a while, my thoughts on the BMW F 800 gs are that it's incredibly smooth, handlebars felt a little wide, but would be a great bike for a long tour.

 

[KTMphil]

This is the track of the ferry across the Sirikit Reservoir

 

[Captain_Slash]

Brilliant photos Phil, there are definitely lots of roads on that new Nan map that are unique to it