The link across Doi Tao lake

[KTMphil]

Finally found the link westwards from Doi Tao Lake into the mountains.



There's been a bunch of threads about the depleted Doi Tao Lake (which actually is the Ping River):


http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-...ds-link-to-Omkoi?p=62414&viewfull=1#post62414



http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-...t-of-Doi-Tao-Lake-and-westwards-link-to-Omkoi


There's one from Lone Rider regarding the Doi Tao Lake that I can find as well.



Google earth made it look like you could ride across. Was pretty shocked and disappointed to find, even with the lake gone, the remaining Ping River was still a mighty river.



P1250041 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1250074_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Capture by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

 

[KTMphil]

Either reserve water for the local farms or a fish farm. Very shallow whichever it was

P1250001 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



Off the black top & no sign of rivers, lakes or water anywhere yet

P1250002 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



There's plenty of water here for sure with the Ping River & at-tributaries nearby, 4 months of no rain and their veggies are pretty green and happy


P1250003 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Water pumps working their little hearts out. The manual hand pumps as in the foreground I think are for priming the motorized pumps

P1250004 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



Dry as nuns and talcon powder everywhere already


P1250005 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Interesting when you penetrate the surveyed "Doi Tao Lake" area how green everything becomes, with water just below the surface


P1250006 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

 

[KTMphil]

Would be quite confusing if you didnt know there was a lake here previously, how immediately, the parched land turns lush


P1250008 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



P1250007 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



What looked like a "trickle" & you wouldnt even get rolled-up jeans wet was far from that


P1250009 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



The Ping still had plenty of life


P1250010 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



From a distance this looked like it might be the ferry crossing. A barge big enough for cars & another boat sat on the far river bank. There were no signs of life. Maybe explore around a little see if there's a more alive option



P1250013_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



P1250014 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



Nice looking Pagoda to the right


P1250011_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

 

[KTMphil]

Surveying the riverbank sandy trails for options from the other bank of the Ping.

P1250015 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



Fishing villages cluster 1km apart. Rainy season they will be dis-assembled and moved to higher ground



P1250018 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



Numerous compounds on the western bank too


P1250019 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1250020 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1250025 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1250026 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




What else do you need? Fish, Chiang & watch the world go by


P1250028_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Some were more hiso than others


P1250029 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

 

[KTMphil]

No idea if this ferry is running. time to find out


P1250031 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Got a local guy to do some shouting, and low and behold here it comes


P1250033 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1250034 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



P1250035_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr


A little bit of confusion about what the foreigner is up to but all figured out in the end


P1250036 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



Maybe easier than lowering the boat ramp?


P1250038 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1250039 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1250042 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Ready to go, a little push off

P1250045 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1250047 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Pagoda on the far side


P1250048 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



P1250049 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1250050 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Very sandy base, looks like this would be useable in the wet season


P1250052 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





Some concrete on the really steep bits, Ping River in the background


P1250054 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1250055 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




River bed of the dried out Huai Mae Lai River


P1250056 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1250057 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Ping

P1250058 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Pagoda


P1250060 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1250062_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





Plenty of exploring on the western side


P1250063 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




P1250064_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Pagoda


P1250066_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Time to go back across and awaken the Uber driver


P1250071_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



Seemed confused as to what the foreigner was doing


P1250073 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Back across and some more surveying


P1250075 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




Fun new area to find.

 

[oldbloke]

Great pictures - looks like the Suzuki was just the machine for that excursion!

 

[Lone Rider]

Finally found the link westwards from Doi Tao Lake into the mountains.

There's been a bunch of threads about the depleted Doi Tao Lake (which actually is the Ping River):

http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-...ds-link-to-Omkoi?p=62414&viewfull=1#post62414

http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-...t-of-Doi-Tao-Lake-and-westwards-link-to-Omkoi

There's one from Lone Rider regarding the Doi Tao Lake that I can find as well.

Google earth made it look like you could ride across. Was pretty shocked and disappointed to find, even with the lake gone, the remaining Ping River was still a mighty river.

My trip report is here: Trip-to-Mae-Sariang-and-the-Doi-Tao-area

 

[Lone Rider]

Finally found the link westwards from Doi Tao Lake into the mountains.

There's been a bunch of threads about the depleted Doi Tao Lake (which actually is the Ping River):

http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-...ds-link-to-Omkoi?p=62414&viewfull=1#post62414

http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-...t-of-Doi-Tao-Lake-and-westwards-link-to-Omkoi

There's one from Lone Rider regarding the Doi Tao Lake that I can find as well.

Google earth made it look like you could ride across. Was pretty shocked and disappointed to find, even with the lake gone, the remaining Ping River was still a mighty river.

Great pictures Phil and looking forward to a follow-up report about another missing link

By the way, my trip report is here which includes Wat Phra That Doi Koeng (Kerng) temple (coordinates N17.95231 E98.60474) on the mountain range west of the Doi Tao Lake.

Trip-to-Mae-Sariang-and-the-Doi-Tao-area

 

[KTMphil]

Thanks for pointing out where that is as I didnt see it on the way down there.