Short Ride to Test the new Garmin Montana 650 GPS

[2wheels]

Now that I have crawled out from my cave and invested in a GPS unit it was about time I went for a ride to test it and to learn how to use it.

It was also an opportunity to see some of the area around where I live.

So, a coffee at the kiosk at the back of Doi Saket Temple to start the ride.
(Nice little shop but no food)



Then past Bo San and onto 1147 where I found this quaint old dwelling.



1147 is a nice, scenic ride.
I stopped beside a Lam Yai plantation ....



People (who weren't speaking Thai) were picking this prized fruit.
Note the electrified wire protecting the plantation.



This good-hearted worker presented me with a bunch of Lam Yai (which I nibbled on throughout the ride).



This is 1147, heading towards Ban Thi.



This grand monument (to Muen Dap Luan) and Spirit House was beside the road.



I felt that I was being observed here and sure enough ....



Then, confident that the Garmin would lead me home, I took random roads.

Wat Ban Houng in On Thi was nice.



The work on the doors impressed me.



Then a stop at this restaurant in Mae On for late lunch.



I'm always impressed when I see a hint of old Lanna hospitality; like this water vessel and ladle
for pass-by to refresh themselves.



A nice little snack .....



... and fun chat with the owners; mother and daughter keep this place open 7 days a week from 6am to 10pm and live in the restaurant. Lovely couple.



Refreshed, I set the GPS to 'home' and it guided me past this spectacular home near San Kampaeng Hot Springs ...



... and the back way into the Tuesday market in Doi Saket, where dinner was purchased for 45 baht.



And, sure enough, the Montana directed me home (in light rain).



A nice little circuit.
Still have a lot to learn about GPSing though, but this was a start.
And the CRF returned 37 km/litre today.

This is 1147, heading towards Ban Thi.

Ally and Auke.
Wrong!
It's actually the delightful 5127.
Not the Montana's fault but mine.
And that's where the monument is too Auke.

 

[Ally]

Congratulations Ron!

Glad to see you out & about again & also to know you are getting into the GPS.

That road you travelled taking you past the spirit house & monument is a moody one isn't it.

Thanks for sharing the pics.

Ally

 

[Captain_Slash]

Is that an Airhawk on the seat Ron?

 

[Lone Rider]

Nice report and great pictures as usual and thanks for pointing out the the grand monument to Muen Dap Luan. It is almost in my backyard but can't remember having seen it before so that will be "on the road" later.

 

[2wheels]

Thanks Ally and Auke.
Must get out that way again this 'arvo.

Yes Capt; it's an Airhawk and it does the trick.

 

[VietHorse]

Great photos with beautiful scenery.
However, no report about your Garmin.

 

[KTMphil]

Looking at these photo s on my phone in china ron, they look fantastic even on a phone...how are you getting along with the Montana GPS?

 

[2wheels]

Thanks Mr Trung.
Here's my report on the Garmin;

Still have a lot to learn about GPSing though,

I'm enjoying it but I'm still building up confidence in using it.
I'd say, at this stage, I am only using 10% of its potential.
Had another ride with it today, so will report tonight.
In summary, I love it!

Where are you?

Regards.

Thanks Phil,
see above.
Coffeeing with Ally tomorrow will give me a chance to learn more about GPSing.
Enjoy!

 

[KTMphil]

I'm in s town called Shaxi ....midway between Dali and lijian (north-south)...without the montanna it would have been impossible to do the dirt trail to shaxi.....its an amazing
tool.....we can play with it more when I'm back.....Lijian (ne) tomorrow

Thanks Mr Trung.
Here's my report on the Garmin;



I'm enjoying it but I'm still building up confidence in using it.
I'd say, at this stage, I am only using 10% of its potential.
Had another ride with it today, so will report tonight.
In summary, I love it!

Where are you?

Regards.

Thanks Phil,
see above.
Coffeeing with Ally tomorrow will give me a chance to learn more about GPSing.
Enjoy!

 

[VietHorse]

Thanks Mr Trung.
Here's my report on the Garmin;

Still have a lot to learn about GPSing though,

I'm enjoying it but I'm still building up confidence in using it.
I'd say, at this stage, I am only using 10% of its potential.
Had another ride with it today, so will report tonight.
In summary, I love it!

Hahaha... Great report for the GPS Mr. Ron.
So, do you need anything related to the below things:

 

[2wheels]

Very kind of you Mr Trung.
My Montana 650 is loaded with Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia.
That's more than enough to test my technological prowess!

Where are you?

Best wishes.

 

[VietHorse]

I am still in Hochiminh City. Struggling with my plan to Chiang Mai....

 

[Lone Rider]

Ally and Auke.
Wrong!
It's actually the delightful 5127.
Not the Montana's fault but mine.
And that's where the monument is too Auke.

Yes, found that out this afternoon when I went looking for it on the 1147 but no luck. So went to have a look at the reservoirs (Huay Lan Reservoir, Huay Pa Rai reservoir where they have a rocket festival in early July and the Mea Pha Haen Reservoir) as I had not been there for some 15 years or so. While driving around happened to find the monument opposite a nice temple and about 100 meter before the remains of a 14-15th century kiln (Dragon kiln) to make Celadon ceramics.

 

[2wheels]

Must get that Rocket Festival into our calendar.
Ally, Kevin and I were talking about it today and it looks like a wonderful location for such an event.

 

[Ally]

Must get that Rocket Festival into our calendar.
Ally, Kevin and I were talking about it today and it looks like a wonderful location for such an event.

Certainly is, it's always held the first weekend of July at the same spot (don't let anyone tell you otherwise ).

It's an amazing event, well worth making a date in your diary for next year .... ok Ron, I will put it in the Calendar.



Ally


(For anyone else apart from Ron reading this, I have just put some vocabulary behind a couple of smilies. Any other suggestions of meaning you want included, do let me know)