The Golden Triangle Rider

[Captain_Slash]

I left Kanchanaburi this morning heading east on the 323 to the Tesco Lotus then took the right turn onto the 3429, this meets the 3209, I turned right heading towards Dan Makham Tia and carried on till about 5km before there when I saw the sign for Ratchaburi and turned left onto the 4002, this was a bit ropey for about 200m then turned into a nice new surface, after about 25km I came to the reason for this nice road, a golf club. We couldnt have the golfers Mercs going down rough roads now could we. The 4002 finishes at the junction with the 3492, I took the right turn and then soon joined the 3209 again having cut a corner off my journey, I turned right onto the 3209 and about 2km further on I turned left onto the 4040, 1km on and another left onto a road with no number, this was repeated at the next t junction, left turn and no number. After a few km the road did a 90 degree right turn and also carried straight on, I took the right turn and after a couple of km I found the road was numbered the 4009. This meets the 3274 where I turned left and carried on until it joined the 3087, another left and this goes all the way to highway 4. All of these back roads are in a nice rideable condition and are a mixture of bends and a few longish straights, but pretty flat. Highway 4 does not need mentioning it is just a dual carriageway, after Petchaburi there were about three police speed traps in the space of 100km. When I reached Chumphon I decided not to turn right and stay on the 4 as I have done this road twice before on my phantom, I carried straight on over the lights onto the 41 and stayed on this road for about 45km until I came to a right turn for the 4139, I took this turn and thought wow this is great as it went through very high limestone cliffs with great scenery and everything was lush and green. After about 12km I came to a village and straight over the crossroads then the road turned into a narrower concrete road and after about 5km it turned to unmade. Little did I know what I was in for, I carried on for a couple of kms and thinking I had taken the wrong turn I asked someone only to be told yes this is the way to La-un. I decided to press on and it just got worse, this was really in the wilds, steep very rocky roads and finally reaching a level ride it was muddy, (theres been a lot of rain here recently) a couple of times I nearly dropped it as I was sliding about so much. Then it was downhill which seemed to last for ever, finally after about 45 minutes I emerged from the darkness of the forest and began to see evidence of life, I carried on for another few km and finally I was in La-un and waiting for me was a nice wide tarmac road, the 6001. After getting back on tarmac the bikes fan finally wasnt needed anymore ( it had been on pretty much constant since I first went offroad) the 6001 came to a t junction at the 1007 and I took the right turn which eventually brought me to the 4 which I had foolishly decided to give a miss, the 1007 is a seriously twisty fun road to ride. I turned left onto the 4 and had about 32km to Ranong. I arrived there and went straight to the Suriyanon Hotel where I stayed two years ago when I was last here, it is now called the Wood House guesthouse but I got the same room as before and at the same price, 100 Baht. I was cursing taking the 4139 but if I hadnt then I never would have known what it was really like and the bike and me both made it in one piece so no harm done, it is doable on a road bike, obviously not a Goldwing or a Harley. Todays trip was 635km and the plan for tomorrow is to get to Trang, but preferably on tarmac this time.

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

[helenk]

We just did Samui-Ranong-Hua Hin-Bkk. Roads around Ranong really nice, especially after being trapped on Samui for over a year (actually three weeks).

Please could everybody call me Captain Beard from now on. It's Dave speaking, by the way, not Helen.

Look at our photos:
http://davkel4.allhyper.com/

[Davidfl]

Dave
How'd ya get the beard mate?

Davidfl
Keep The Power On