The Missing Link- Sangkhlaburi to Umphang and back! - Redux

[brian_bkk]

Fantastic trip report from Tony already.

https://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycle-forum/showthread.php/38208-The-Missing-Link-Sangkhlaburi-to-Umphang-and-back!

Captured the vibe of our trip so well..

Few pics from along the way from me below.
It certainly was like the UN.. American, Thai / Karen, Japanese, Russian and last but not least Aussie..

We met up with the Thai guys at a fabulous view point..

This guy was just sitting back relaxed watching the carry on...

Off along the trails we go.. Trent taking in some shade..

It wasn't long before it became rocky and steep.. A lot of fun and very challenging
Tony helping Jack.. He has a big load for a little guy on a little bike.. eg carrying our dinner and other supplies..

One of our Thai friends passing up the rocky hill.

Sir Trent Crashalot..

GT-Rider Style

Why me?

Mike and Jack with a good view point for pics and to help when needed.

What goes up must come down... It was steep, loose and lots of leaves with a big rut at the bottom.

After we made it down.. expecting the carnage to follow.. we positioned ourselves for the optimum photo locations

Here is some more video of the guys going up and coming back down the rocky and steep hill.

More to come..

 

[brian_bkk]

Onwards we go.. after arriving late.. we pull up at the ranger gate...

The sun is setting and we need to get to the camp site.. 30 mins ride to go..

A lot of fun and the Thai guys know how to eat on a biking trip.

"The Bangkok Weekend Warriors"

Khun Nui, what a fantastic fella. Looking after everyone..

Some of us should sleep in a little longer ;-)

The view from our 5 star room

The wardrobe laid out for the next day..

More sleepy heads.. The bamboo floor was not bad compared to the hard wood clinic floor the next night.

 

[brian_bkk]

After a load of three in one coffees from boiled creek water.. Time for the off again.

First the " The Bangkok Weekend Warriors' and Jack wait for the rest to catch up at the intersection..
As Tony mentioned in his mega, hang on for the ride report... Amazingly there are signs on these trees.. very helpful if you can read Thai ;-)

This guy is a good rider.. The one that balances his helmet on his head all day.. If I remember correctly he is in North Bangkok and would like to meet up for a ride.
We had so many offers to ride with the Thai guys.. Definitely will take up the offer near Kanchanaburi town.. Great to have local knowledge and more trails for the weekend getaways.

This was very slippery to get up on our 50 50 tyres.

That river crossing.. More on this with dropped bikes in the video further up..
Khun Nui excited like everyone else.. we were all having so much fun.. Hot and fun.

Sir Trentcrashalot,, Taking it easy after helping most people over the river.. Tony and Gene cooling off and Jack going walkabout.

Next more fantastic trails. So lovely and great riding. You ride along and this sign appears.. The Thai guys said this is the border..
Now I wonder.. Why here and not a million other places along the trail too..

The ESRI map is really good. some big green spots.. but also a lot of trails on the map..
Amazing how close you are to the border, the trails ends on the map and white.. If you proceed you are in Burma..
Guess the locals in this area don't really see or feel International borders.. Just some imaginary line..

The grass was tall.. Not sure what type of seeds, but when you rode through them they turn in to powder..
If you breathe in the next thing you can't swallow for about 4 attempts as they suck all the moisture in your mouth..
A bit of burning off here and some slippery dead grass to ride over on the side of the mountains

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Drinks break..

Cute kids near the drinks stop.

Mike kindly asking if we can have a family shot..

Must do a Jurgen here and next trip take the photo for them..

More to come...

 

[brian_bkk]

We stop further on at a village right on the border.. Even a village this size no mobile phone coverage.

First time I have ever been 3 days with out mobile signal.. Not even this long in the most remote areas with Rex and others has it been this long with this distance covered.

We take up half the high street..

5 baht for what ever he was selling..

Getting ready for the New Year celebrations

Helping protect Thailand's borders.

Time to ride back about 20 km to the refugee clinic. Where there is a fantastic waterfall and we get to sleep on a hard wooden floor.

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If you look closely in the pic above.. You can see the dust ahead from fellow GT-Rider Sir Trent Crashalot

More to come....

 

[TonyBKK]

Good stuff Brian!!! Keep it coming! I'm in Indo at the moment and will complete my ride report when I get back to Thailand. The last day, "The Day of Destruction", was just as amazing as the first two!
:happy1:

 

[DavidFL]

brian_bkk;289396 wrote:

A lot of fun and the Thai guys know how to eat on a biking trip.

That's quite a tree.

 

[brian_bkk]

Off to the refugee clinic.. makes you realise how good we have life..
Every time you think life is tough or not so good.. You don't need to look to far to see otherwise.

Asked who sponsors the clinic.. Had a reply.. David from America..

The main clinic building

When I walked in here.. a needle was being administered.. needless to say no pic of that..

This room looks less than appealing to most of us. A godsend to someone sick that needs treatment.

The treatment provided

Unloading the bikes for the day

Quite a tricky path to the waterfall

Jack our guide at the waterfall.
The Thai guys said that 1 in a million Thais visit this waterfall in one year.. Because it is so remote and out of the way.. Well worth the visit.
The clinic had power generated by this waterfall..

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The ' Bangkok Weekend Warriors' in all their off-road glory.. Cool refreshing waterfall at the end of day 2 of the ride..

Our digs for the night.. Happy for the roof over the head.. but a bamboo floor would have felt like luxury..

Night...

More to come.....

 

[Jurgen]

Another dream ride for me – just a dream till someone adds some asphalt to this trail. While I am sure that I will not soon follow these tracks, I enjoyed to glimpse along this remote region. Thank you for posting these awesome documents, your pictures reflect well the difficulties but also the rewards of this trip.

 

[brian_bkk]

The largest Asian Elephant I have ever seen.. In fact we all pretty much agreed that..
Such a majestic animal. Must be very old to be this size. Also looks well feed and kept.

Time to cross the river......... yikes...

Mike and co setting off...

Sir Trent Crashalot (luckily not Sinkalot) and Tony.

Mike looking very relaxed.. Just another voyage.

Khun Somkid's Photo.

Mikes broken frame...

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Jack doing a bamboo jungle fix for the trusty KLX..

Love the scratching of the head look.. Will this work, really??

After great craftsmanship in sculpturing the bamboo.. Time to put humpty back together again..

Along the way.. the rest of us suffered wear and tear to the bikes....

The last obstacle for the day.... Drag the bikes on the ground under this..

Stay tuned for the rest of Tony's report when he is back from holidays..

You really need to do this trip with Jack.. Jack is a legend.. Great guy and doubt you will get through this area by yourself
Besides. it is fun to have Jack take you around and if you are lucky like us.. You will get to ride with a great bunch of Thai guys..

Big thanks to Mike for inviting us.. Amazing what you can all do with 24 hrs notice..
Literally had my new (second hand) pick-up delivered at mid night.. and loaded and on the road the next afternoon with mine and Mike's bikes.

4 wheels for my 2 wheels and a mates two wheels as well.

Cheers
Brian

 

[jimbobs]

Brilliant really looking forward to ading some of my own reports in the near future. Can any of you guys tell me how you keep your Sat Navs to the bikes.I would like to fit my Garmin to my KLX.

Once again great report

 

[brian_bkk]

jimbobs;289511 wrote: Brilliant really looking forward to ading some of my own reports in the near future. Can any of you guys tell me how you keep your Sat Navs to the bikes.I would like to fit my Garmin to my KLX.

Once again great report

Thanks Jimbobs,

I have a Garmin Zumo. This is for bikers like us all gear up with mounting kit.

Believe you can also buy the bike kit for the Oregon.

Check out GPScity.. They are great.. Have any accessories sent US mail.. It is fast and doesn't get the attention of the customs man like DHL does.

Cheers
Brian

 

[heilong]

Great pics and report, Brian! Especially interesting was seeing your way back.

For GPS mounting I really like hardware by RAM Mount (USA), I have Garmin Montana, for which I separately bought the Garmin's AMPS Rugged Mount for the Montana - AMPS is the same standard that RAM Mount uses so it matches with RAM's hardware. Normally RAM makes cradles/holders for a lot of different devices (not only GPS receivers but also phones, radios, bottle holders etc.), some manufacturers make their own (compatible with RAM), like the case with Garmin Montana. RAM has their own holder for the Montana but Garmin's one is powered - can wire it up to the bike's electrical system and then it's not necessary to connect any cables to the GPSr, just clip it in the mount and it's powered. Once you have a RAM-compatible cradle/holder/mount for your device, you screw it together with RAM's mounting plate, which is standard and it couples with different mounts, some of them suitable for cars, motorbikes, ATVs etc. I've got a stainless handlebar mount, they also have a mount that uses the standard mirror mounting hole, or the hole in your steering stem. Great quality and very durable/reliable. +1 regarding GPS City.