The Golden Triangle Rider

[Captain_Slash]

Left Cnx the other morning and took a leisurely ride to Mhs, just before Mae Malai there is a new road that you can turn left onto that cuts out the town, I needed my 7-11 fix so had to go the old way. Once on the 1095 I started to enjoy the ride but after a while I was just getting fed up with the chronic pot holes and generally crappy road surface, there was a time when I really enjoyed this section to Pai but not at the moment I am afraid. I visited someone in Pai for about an hour then onwards and the rest of the journey was a lot more enjoyable, there are two bridges that are still being repaired but virtually all the road surface is in good nick

If Typhoo Put The T In Britain Who Put The Cu-nt In Scun-thorpe

[MBT]

I live in Mae Hong Son and ride into CNX on a regualr basis. As of today 9th December 2006 massive road works are starting in Pangmapha (soppong). A 12 meters wide superhighway is being laid through this tiny little town and work is expected to carry on for at least 6 months. However this shouldn't cause too many problems if riding from Mae Hong Son. The road out of to Mae Sa is a pig of a road. Enduro bikes no probs but my XJR1200 really pleads for mercy!

Be warned though...It is rumoured that road works are planned from Pangmapha (Soppong) all the way to MHS in due course and if they construct the road the same as the Pai-pangmapha route road bikes will have severe problems. Last year they cut 28kilometers of the road up completely then started resurfacing it a bit at a time from October through to June! It was pure hell and killed Pangmaha tourism dead in its tracks (the little it has)!

I will post reports on this route as and when required.

[Joko]

Hello MBT,
TQ for the info on the roadworks.Since a group of us will be riding from MHS to Chiangmai on boxing day...may i ask what do you mean when you mentioned "...this shouldn't cause too many problems if riding from MHS..." Am i correct to assume that the "going towards Chiangmai" stretch is Ok but "going towards MHS" is not Ok?

Cheers.

Joko

[MBT]

Joko,

Sorry I wrote it the way I ride the loop (clockwise) Obviously it will be the same both ways. What I was trying to touch on is the section from Mae Sa to Pai (and vice versa) is not a nice stretch on road bikes. They have been filling the pot holes with sand and grave and of course this only stays in the hole for a very short time hence leaving sand and gravel all over the place. Add that to the bumbs, ripples etc it's not comfortable or fun!

Actualy today (11th December)The work in Pangmapha (soppong) has not started. They have started to widen the road to make way for the new German style Autobahn but as yet road excavation has yet to start. Maybe Boxing day will be no problem for you! How many of you are riding that day? I will be leaving Pangmapha with a group of mates on Honda Dreams heading for Khun Yuam so maybe we will pass each other!

If you want a great little side trip from Mae Hong Son head up to Rak Thai Village about 45 kms outside of MHS. Very steep winding road up to around 2000m above sea level. Smooth laid asphalt a lovely little detour. It will add a couple of hours to your trip though. If you have GT Rider MHS Loop map I think it is written as Mae Aw (the old name) directly on the border. Nice cup of (expensive) chinese tea but well worth the ride!

Have a good trip!