Testing the new Nan map with Mark & Max / Alternative Nan Loop

[KTMphil]

This was well worth it - Great views & everywhere still bright green, here looking out of the twisties on R 1216 south of Nan

We took the infamous R 1148 eastwards from Chiang Mai to Nan, then using Lone Rider's last draft of the new Nan Road & Off-Road map, we looked for a creative loop back to Chiang Mai

 

[KTMphil]

Max had just got his new ER-6n after a 2 month wait & had never been to Nan before, so he was keen to join us.

It's hard not to take R 1148 to Nan, in fact I think I go that way every time

You can see why

 

[KTMphil]

With the seasons being changed now for about 3 weeks (no rain), you can just start to see the rice crop changing color from bright green to yellow

 

[2wheels]

Superb!

 

[KTMphil]

The rivers almost dried up

Further east on R 1148, the hill face concreted to stop landslides

 

[KTMphil]

Gas stop for the 990cc beasts - interestingly, the blue on was averaging 14km/ per liter of 95 gasohol, the orange one 17-18km per liter, need to find out why so different, Mark thinks its the mapping

We had plenty of time approaching Nan, so included R 1081 & R 1169 on the way south....2 great roads don't miss them

Views from R 1169

 

[KTMphil]

We tried a new GH which is behind Channel X night club in Nan, the "Ban suan pruk gh" co-ords:


N18.78556


E100.76706

350 bht with aircon, very convenient location, would stay there again

Nan Radio 101 FM is on the grounds

 

[KTMphil]

Lone Rider wanted some final images for the Nan Road & Off-Road Printed Map, one of which was the Chao Fongkham House, this is on the grounds of Wat Phrakoed in Nan below

Wasn't obvious what the Chao Fongkham House was initially, but some locals helped us out

Looks like it's quite special, will find out some more about it

This was pretty cool on the same grounds

 

[KTMphil]

Another one he wanted was "The King of Nan's House". We had the co-ords, but this was overgrown and hidden away, not obvious to start with

We confirmed it was the right place & went in - what a gorgeous, old teak house, that King had style.

The co-ords of the King of Nan's house are:

N18.77718

E100.77197

 

[KTMphil]

A sunset drink on the Nan river, this guy paddling down stream caught our eye

Looks like he lost his prop

Off into the sunset

 

[KTMphil]

More to come/....

 

[KTMphil]

Nan's pretty famous for its boat races, was interesting seeing the launch this 15 meter beast by hand while we were there

Good place to stop for a beer on the river is (co-ords):


N18.77468


E100.77791

 

[KTMphil]

Next day, we wanted to come a different way back to Chiang Mai from the fantastic R1091/ R 1251, so planned something a little different starting with the gorgeous, tree shaded R 1168, which runs east of Nan

 

[KTMphil]

Then the windy R 1243, surface was pretty good considering rainy season just ended

Beautiful morning views

It's a really fun road

 

[KTMphil]

Through the town of Wiang Sa SW of Nan

Then south onto R 1026, which will take you south to Nan Noi

 

[KTMphil]

So far, planning unusual routes with the prototype Nan map was great, it is very user friendly.

It caught one of the locals eye in Nan Noi & wanted to explore it

He spent about ten minutes looking at it the said "Dee Mak" - thumbs up

 

[KTMphil]

There's a great local restaurant in Nan Noi (south of Nan) that Mr Rossi had stopped at a few times in the past, which does excellent food, co-ords are:

N18.32781

E100.71585

Looks like you can find a room for the night there too now

 

[KTMphil]

We did some planning with the map prototype Nan map over lunch in Nan Noi, & wanted to explore (see "explore" on the map below) an un-numbered road which was just south of R 1026 on the clip/ screenshot of the map below



THIS IS WHAT THE NAN ROAD & OFF-ROAD PRINTED MAP WILL LOOK LIKE

As expected, there were some great views that none of us had seen before

Corn was about ready for harvesting

Then onto R 1216, a road with some of the most spectacular views in Thailand

Playing around with the focus

Highly recommend going there now while everywhere is still green

 

[KTMphil]

A quick drinkstop in Phrae & a look at Wat Chom Sawan (real name Jomsawan), co-ords:


N18.15092


E100.15072



It says this is the oldest Wat in Phrae, built in 1912

Location in Phrae

Quite breathtaking inside

 

[KTMphil]

Next to the Wat is the Jamsawan Monastery which was built in the King Rama V era

From there, a blast up R 11 back to Chiang Mai - I think everyone will find the Nan Road & Off-Road printed map immensely useful, there's no other Nan province map that comes close.

 

[KTMphil]

One more of R 1243

 

[Captain_Slash]

Looking awesome along the 1216 going by those photos Phil, it looks like the Nan map is a definite winner too

 

[activechina]

nice route and bikes!

Quite nice northern Thai! So much like Yunnan. Gotta find a chance to ride your KTM990, Phil.

 

[KTMphil]

Quite nice northern Thai! So much like Yunnan. Gotta find a chance to ride your KTM990, Phil.

If you come now I have 2 of them

 

[Just Bob]

Oh crap. Here I sit in an airport hotel in Bangkok waiting for a three AM wake-up call to fly back to a snowy America and these photos just took me back over the last three weeks of riding bliss. A big thanks to everyone who posts up pics - esp Phil - that inspire an old fart to ride these roads. Time of my life! Keep 'em coming.

And the new Nan map was the cat's pajamas!

 

[KTMphil]

One more of the great vizability on R 1216 SW of Nan​

 

[Grogdor]

This thread seemed necro-worthy, hope you don't mind!

Any updates on roads in this area? Is the 1216 paved?? Can't quite tell from the pics...

I'm off to Mae Sai for a lil tourist visa out'n'in on cbr250r and was hoping to make it a loop via Nan.

View attachment 11119

 

[bsacbob]

Yep it's paved and the loop remains one of the best rides in the area.

 

[Grogdor]

Excellent! I'm liking how there's Streetview of all these roads, can quickly get an idea of pavement and scenery.

In avoiding the 101/11 might take 1024/1026 east out of Phrae and skip the 1217/1216 detour, will see how that goes... Gotta find a phone strap this morning or there will be a lot of map-squinting stops.

Planning to pop into CR for the Saturday night market, Bob?

 

[Loop]

Excellent! I'm liking how there's Streetview of all these roads, can quickly get an idea of pavement and scenery.

In avoiding the 101/11 might take 1024/1026 east out of Phrae and skip the 1217/1216 detour, will see how that goes... Gotta find a phone strap this morning or there will be a lot of map-squinting stops.

We did the 1024 from Phrae a couple of months ago.

Very slow going but really nice scenery.Probably averaged about 40k's/hr along it.

The ride along 1216 and through Khun Satan was well worth it IMO.

 

[Grogdor]

The ride along 1216 and through Khun Satan was well worth it IMO.

Thanks for that, stuck to the program and it was epic! Even caught a lil hilltribe new years bash at the top, rolled into Nan by moonlight... Whole trip was great, did ~1240km in 2.5 days along some amazing roads.

 

[bsacbob]

Excellent! I'm liking how there's Streetview of all these roads, can quickly get an idea of pavement and scenery.

In avoiding the 101/11 might take 1024/1026 east out of Phrae and skip the 1217/1216 detour, will see how that goes... Gotta find a phone strap this morning or there will be a lot of map-squinting stops.

Planning to pop into CR for the Saturday night market, Bob?

Sorry mate just seen your message I'm out on the road myself, so next time.

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