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TIP Lonerider - Keep your plans loose :thumbup1:
Mrs & I did the Mae Hong Son Loop etc earlier this year & I plan nothing more than a direction. We stay if we like a place or move on as we feel. Personally, I hate booking ahead anywhere except arrival & departure nights into & out of a country. Plenty of homework for ideas done & then just wing it :D:scooter: Oh yeah, on the train, ask for the price of the 'extras' before you say yes LOL |
Haha thx for the info, yeah deffo loose plans, only place I have booked is first night in CM
Ummmm extras on the train, I'll bare that in mind Cheers Wayne |
At Chiang Mai
Arrived at the train station in good time as I need to get my ticket for the return journey back to Bangkok on the night of the 18 Jan 2015, managed to get the same type of compartment I have got for this journey. Whilst at the station I passed the time away talking to folk…as you do! Some German girls, but its been along time since I used any German and a couple from the UK. It was a good time and it passed the time.:D
In typical Thai train times we set off late, but only by 20 mins so that was not too bad. The compartment was ok but a little cramped and there was no way to lock the door once you left. Once we set off I went to the restaurant car for some food and it was very nice, ‘seafood spicy platter’ had it with a coke and a smile. No beer allowed on the train due to an incident previous. If you need anymore info on trains in Thailand then I suggest The Man in Seat Sixty-One - the train travel guide... as the website to use, its very informative. I went to sleep at about 2230hrs and was awake again at 0230hrs shaking like a rabid dog,:( what with the temperature drop further up north and the aircon in the compartment I was freezing, no way to turn aircon off so back on with the trousers and my fleece which I had on me with flying from the UK, problem sorted and eventually awoke again at 0650hrs. Coffee time! :clap: I am sat on the train still as I am typing this in note form ready to do an update as and when I can, using the time wisely, :rofl: how long will that last?! Looking out the window the scenery is great and I am looking forward to getting the bike tomorrow and setting off. Arrived at Riderscorner, got my room 380Bht for one night with aircon Time to chill and sort out the kit ready for tomorrow bier https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7471/...65d50d7c_h.jpgIMG_0248 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8604/...7c04bc64_h.jpgIMG_0250 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7485/...39c69d65_h.jpgIMG_0251 by Wayne 66, on Flickr Hua Lamphong Station, BKK https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7499/...55e6e24c_h.jpgIMG_0252 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8564/...bcff1da3_h.jpgIMG_0253 by Wayne 66, on Flickr Japanese Rail carriage and my compartment https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7550/...92f3e78b_h.jpgIMG_0254 by Wayne 66, on Flickr Note the banner top left https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7558/...bea1a14d_h.jpgIMG_0255 by Wayne 66, on Flickr Rider's Corner Bar & Restaurant - Chiang Mai Bikers Hotel Thailand Wayne |
Got the bike
I went to pick up the bike this evening so I could get it ready for the morning and I can get an earlyish start tomorrow
Its brand new, only of 500km on the clock.......Not a good idea just in case i drop it :oops2:...I can see the Baht signs now :rofl: Got him to swap out the fairing for some older stuff so it won't matter if I scuff it little. :innocent: Took the pics in the place where I got it from. Roll on the morning and I am setting off for Phrae on my first leg Also got all my paperwork to get into Laos :D :clap: https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8621/...ea053be5_h.jpgIMG_0257 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7500/...2ecb99a2_h.jpgIMG_0258 by Wayne 66, on Flickr Wayne |
bike looks good mate. Have fun and keep us posted.
Cheers Bones:mchappy: |
Are we there yet?..............too bloody right he is :clap:
Enjoy Wayne ! Oi, where's my Panang chicken fella ???:nono:bier |
Day 1 Chiang Mai to Phrae
Well, had a good if not long day today, although I did more miles than I had planned to do. Scenery was great and I travelled down some narrow roads through a National park. I got to the Ghost Canyon at about 1530hrs so it gave me time to look around before it closed at 1800hrs
Got to the hotel at about 1830hrs, showerd and out for some food, Hotel not too bad although it was 490 Bht which was more than I intended to pay. The hotel is the Namthong in the middle of Phrae, wouldn't say they were bike friendly as I had to leave it in the carpark with the rest of the cars, they did assure me that there is security on all night, we will see :rofl: The Canyon was quite good, the rock formation are a bit weird as you can see by the photos below Only had about 6 near misses today so thats not too bad for a starter :scooter: You need eyes in the back of your head Will try and get some video in the next couple of day also https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7467/...823b4c85_b.jpgScreen Shot 2014-12-13 at 17.35.28 by Wayne 66, on Flickr The route taken from the Montana 600 https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7570/...4143326a_b.jpgIMG_0261 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7533/...907f06e3_b.jpgIMG_0262 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7499/...ef92168c_b.jpgIMG_0269 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7529/...03ec8563_b.jpgIMG_0272 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8675/...87a19285_b.jpgIMG_0277 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8635/...c994942c_b.jpgIMG_0281 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8588/...0b5c9643_b.jpgIMG_0285 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7484/...0470f9d5_b.jpgIMG_0278 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7549/...5916e2fa_b.jpgIMG_0286 by Wayne 66, on Flickr Ghost Canyon, Phrae Wayne |
Day 2, Phrae to Sukhothai
Sat with a bottle of LEO beer and relaxing whilst I am writing this. I didn’t know if I would be bothered to write a report every time i got chance but I am quite enjoying it…with a bier . Got an early start today, up at 0600 and on the road for 0700 thanks to a bus load of Chinese tourists that were making a noise in the hotel I stayed in. As I was close to the dining area I could not help but hear them, never mind it gave me an excuse to get up and get going. Phrae to Sukhothai
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7507/...2f024cf1_b.jpgScreen Shot 2014-12-14 at 17.13.54 by Wayne 66, on Flickr I was a good trip and very scenic, I didn’t have breakfast, thought I would get some miles under the belt before I stopped to eat. Riding from one village to the next was good and all the smells of food which was cooking at that time in the morning was making me really peckish. So I decide to pull in, I was also thinking about fuel and lucky the place I decided to pull in to was also selling fuel, so what with the little bit of Thai I have managed to learn and a lot of pointing and gestures I got fuel for the bike and fuel for me….sorted. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7577/...ceac1f4e_b.jpgIMG_0288 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8576/...a22655ab_b.jpgIMG_0290 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7521/...b2b2c1bf_b.jpgIMG_0292 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8589/...41f11fd5_b.jpgIMG_0295 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7534/...c66775dc_b.jpgIMG_0296 by Wayne 66, on Flickr Breakfast Time to hit the road again and get to Sukhothai, on the route I kept stopping to play with the Gopro and try and get used to using the app I have for my iPhone, it allows me the use it wirelessly. I eventully got it to work and took a bit of video on the route. That was a task in its self… Tried to upload the file to Flickr and its saying its to big…anyone any idea on how to reduce the file size on a Mac Air? The route I took was a mixture of rolling hills and flat rice paddy fields with a few villages (towns) thrown in for good measure, so all in all it was a good journey https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8619/...801aff87_b.jpgIMG_0297 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7583/...3b33fa5a_b.jpgIMG_0300 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8612/...cc1ee04c_b.jpgIMG_0301 by Wayne 66, on Flickr I got to Sukhothai for lunchtime, about 1200 and stopped at a coffee house with wifi so I could look at Rideasia.net and the HUBB to try and find some recommended digs. Found the Garden house on Rideasia.net..coords N17.00484 E99.48989, very nice little bungalows, paid 300 Bht with a fan, you could pay extra for aircon…but being a Yorkshire man…. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8634/...fbcbbe40_b.jpgIMG_0302 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7556/...b9ea9ec4_b.jpgIMG_0303 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7559/...8527d349_b.jpgIMG_0308 by Wayne 66, on Flickr Once I was sorted out and had chilled for a bit it was time to do a bit of sight seeing. I went a visited the Sukhothai Historical Park…coords N17.01816° E99.70673°, it was a really nice place and in my mind well worth a visit. It cost 100 Bht to get in and an extra 20 Bht if you want to ride round on your bike…so guess what?….The bike it was! https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7539/...50157c9e_b.jpgIMG_0313 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7500/...82814f58_b.jpgIMG_0317 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7494/...b5dbb27e_b.jpgIMG_0320 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7498/...1efe9ea2_b.jpgIMG_0322 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7578/...d27484e0_b.jpgIMG_0326 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8595/...74c46673_b.jpgIMG_0343 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8588/...1f7378d3_b.jpgIMG_0345 by Wayne 66, on Flickr Spent a bit of time talking to this lady using ThaiEnglish and gestures https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7533/...c3762db4_b.jpgIMG_0348 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8619/...37c0c765_b.jpgIMG_0350 by Wayne 66, on Flickr This take me to now, sat here with a beer writing this to notes so I can cut and paste it later…once the photos have uploaded to Flickr, think I might have cobwebs before that happens Wayne |
Just for Bucket1960
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Enjoy the pic Bucket1960 :rofl: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7474/...2c91a0c4_b.jpgIMG_0383 by Wayne 66, on Flickr Wayne |
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The Mrs & I did a cooking course on the farm out of Chiang Mai & damn I'm a good cook :rofl: on the day, when someone else is preparing your ingredients:innocent: Enjoying the ride & pics :thumbup1: |
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Glad to be of service bier I do my own Thai and Indian when at home, love the stuff Thanks for enjoying Wayne |
Day 3 Sukhothai to Tha Song Yang
Yet another early start today, was on the road for about for about 0745, stopped off at a petrol station which had a 7/11 shop, got a 6 litre of water and filled up my CamelBak and binned the rest so I could fill it up with petrol. Only got a 7 litre tank and was crossing some big mountains today.
So better to be safe than sorry, as it happens I didn’t need it. :D The route to start off with was pretty long and mundane :bored: although the scenery was fine the road was not, then I got on to the 1175, now that was fun :clap: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7576/...8ccccd32_b.jpgDay 3 Sukhothai to Tha Song Yang by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8634/...74361fa6_b.jpgGoogle Earth Elevation shot by Wayne 66, on Flickr I did about 80 odd K’s then decided that I needed food so I stopped in Tak, food was great and cheap. That was the boring bit of the road done also. https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8590/...997bb349_b.jpgIMG_0384 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7493/...a80090c5_b.jpgIMG_0385 by Wayne 66, on Flickr Next up was Tak to Ban Mae la, don’t know why I went there? It was up near the Myanmar Border and it gave me a good route to do over the mountains on some more interesting roads, just what the Doctor ordered. :thumbup1: Saw some great sights/scenery on route and had some good roads to ride on. About 2 thirds in to the 1175 I was in need of a break so I just stopped off at the next little village I came across and went to the little shop, had a cold Nescafe out of a tin and a Red Bull type drink, what a pick me up https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7531/...ae5445c4_b.jpgIMG_0415 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8665/...b98b5b44_b.jpgIMG_0417 by Wayne 66, on Flickr Refreshments During the very early stages of the 1175 I saw a big white budda, had to go check it out, although when I got up there I could not find a way to get to the front to take a pic so had to make do with one from a distance but I got the Temple close up instead. Even managed to get in a traffic jam of cows and a lone woman trying to keep them in check https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7470/...ab98100a_b.jpgIMG_0392 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8660/...18523e07_b.jpgIMG_0386 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7540/...d87c3ee4_b.jpgIMG_0393 by Wayne 66, on Flickr Went over those mountains in the distance https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7536/...ce4d60f0_b.jpgIMG_0396 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7462/...75dc419a_b.jpgIMG_0398 by Wayne 66, on Flickr The temple where the White Budda was https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8580/...e4b1b949_b.jpgIMG_0404 by Wayne 66, on Flickr White Budda in the distance https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7498/...3b543483_b.jpgIMG_0412 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8561/...9d86b079_b.jpgIMG_0410 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7518/...5ec185a2_b.jpgIMG_0419 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7527/...2c747f01_b.jpgIMG_0424 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7536/...5b429651_b.jpgIMG_0427 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7502/...2e58c9a3_b.jpgIMG_0429 by Wayne 66, on Flickr Eventually made I it to Ban Mae la and decide that I had been and seen and it was time to move on, nowt much happening. So I re-joined the 105 and headed for Tha Song Yang. Only a small town but had a 7/11 and some local eateries. Stopped off in one of the eateries and in my best Thai for hotel I was pointed in the direction of the place where I will lay my head tonight, which is the BP Resort, coords N17.24866° E98.21464°. Nice little bungalows, 400 Bht with aircon…because boy I needed it and the bike is parked right outside, sorted :thumbup: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7560/...30b7f723_b.jpgIMG_0432 by Wayne 66, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7487/...cbe7a050_b.jpgIMG_0433 by Wayne 66, on Flickr The room for the night Popped back into Tha Song Yang for evening meal and now to plan for tomorrow, a long boring route up to Mae Hong Son where I think I am going to stay of a couple of days and do a ride out. Up to now I am averaging about 1000 Bht a day, give or take a bit, so about 20 quid, not too bad for fuel, food and bed. Still got another 13 days or so before I head in to Laos Wayne |
Loving this ride report. Keep the updates coming :thumbup1:
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I loved some of the sections that much, I turned around & did them again & wondered why my fuel rate was double what the wife was burning :rofl: :thumbup1: Watch out on the up hills for those two lane trucks :eek3: If you get the time, turn off left at Soppong & head out to Cave Lodge & do the Tham Lod cave tour :thumbup1: ACCOMMODATION-SECLUDED BUNGALOWS OVERLOOKING THE RIVER- 8 KMS FROM SOPPONG |
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