The Golden Triangle Rider

mikehohman · Last edited by mikehohman on 17.12.2009, 07:26; edited 1 time in total

Bought a new KLX 250 a couple weeks ago, and finally managed to get out of Bangkok for 4 days/3 Nights, up to the Sangkhla Buri area and around Kanchanaburi province.

Some notes on the trip and some photos are below.

Would love to meet up with any dirt bike riders, especially around Bangkok, who would like to go riding! I made this trip alone, and it was fun, but I do enjoy riding with others (and I think itâ€™s a little saferâ€¦).

Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Mike

Day 1: Bangkok to Sai Yok: Getting to Kanchanaburi pretty much sucks. 120 km of nasty asphalt and trucks and smog. But once past Kanchanburi, the landscape opens up and itâ€™s quite nice. I headed to the south side of the Kwai Noi river to make my way up the valley, and found some decent dirt roads, 1 in particular (that they are in the process of tarring).

Day 2: Sai Yok to Sangkhla Buri. I spent much of the morning trying to find a way thru the mountains over to the west side of the Srinakarin Reservoir. Iâ€™ve already been up 3199 to the dam, and I wanted to find a different way though, preferably dirt. Not much luck, my first attempt â€œdead endedâ€ in some beautiful sugarcane fields 10 feet high. My second attempt was stopped by a park ranger. There IS a road/track there (presumably to service the power lines that go thru), but he would not let me on it. In both cases, I found some great dirt anyway in the foothills north of 323 between Sai Yok and Sahakon Nikhom.

I did finally make it thru after Sahakon Nikhom, but turned north and went through the mountains up to Khao Laem National Park and then back onto 323. A beautiful run, and dirt most of the way. Then into Sangkhla Buri for the last 40km on Highway 323.

Day 3: Up to Three Pagodas Pass in the morning, and then west of Sangkhla Buri where I found some great dirt tracks up in the hills and in some rubber tree plantations. There are at least 2 roads out to the Burma border in this area. The 1st one was guarded by an Army Ranger company that would not let me pass (I guess there is a refugee camp at the border), but the second is open most of the way, and its wonderful dirt thru the mountains. Anyway, a great day just exploring all the tracks I could find west of Sangkhla Buri. Still much left to discover thereâ€¦.

Day 4: All the way back to Bangkok, coming over the mountains and down to the west side of Srinakarin Reservoir. Again, once you are off 323, it is mostly dirt, and the roads down to the reservoir were stunning, with many miles of bamboo tunnels. Then backtracking across to the south side of 323 and then south around Kanchanaburi and back to Bangkok.

The KLX is just great for me! It performed perfectly, and I really only once or twice wished for a little more power, when passing going uphill on Highway 323â€¦ (and when getting passed by a group of superbikes... )
I did have two flat tires, the front wheel on the way out of Bangkok, the back wheel on the last day, near Erawan Falls. In each case, the bike was easily fixed.

My new ride and some banana trees

Rice fields not far from Kanchanaburi

Mountains south of Sai Yok

Dirt road travelled while trying to get thru to Srinakarin Reservoir

Entrance to camp site where the park ranger politely turned me around...

Khao Leam Reservoir

Where i want to be....

Three Pagodas at Three Pagodas Pass

Tracks in the Rubber Trees

Single Track Obstacle

Dirt road on the way to Burmese Border

Khao Laem Reservoir

Khao Laem Reservoir on the morning of Day 4, heading out of Sangkhla Buri

Coming out of the mountains towards Srinakarin Rerservoir

Huai Mae Khamin Waterfall

You can see the photos on flickr here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikehohman/sets/72157622881295861/
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Marco · Posted: 16.12.2009, 22:36 Post subject:

WOW, Amazing quality pictures, so my question is what camera and how long you have been Pro in picture talking,,, really nice pictures
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Dougal · Posted: 17.12.2009, 08:17 Post subject:

Hi Mike,

Most probably heading that way in 10 days or so but on a road bike.

Stunning photos and a great report. Thanks.
.
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SilverhawkUSA · Posted: 17.12.2009, 10:29 Post subject:

Yes, terrific photos. I really like the color shades. Nice work.
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Franz · Posted: 17.12.2009, 10:34 Post subject:

Mike, stunning fotos, you've got 'the eye' for the perfect shot I must admit !!!! Cheers, Fr
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mbox999 · Posted: 17.12.2009, 10:53 Post subject:

Absolutely amazing pictures....and i like this KLX a lot too. 2 flat tires in 4 days sounds a lot though. Hope to see more of your pictures....
mbox
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Captain_Slash · Posted: 17.12.2009, 21:34 Post subject:

Youre right about the Bangkok to Kachanaburi bit being unpleasant, its great up around Sangkhlaburi and you did a great report with some stunning photos there
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Fishenough · Posted: 18.12.2009, 08:10 Post subject:

Fantastic pictures, that is the best rice paddy picture ever!

Looking forward to your future trip reports, hope the BKK crew meets up and you get out together often.

Ally and you take pictures of your bikes that if Kasawaki saw, they might wanna pony up a little cash for them.

Cheers

mikehohman · Posted: 18.12.2009, 10:59 Post subject:

Thanks everyone for your feedback, much appreciated!!

I have a Canon S90, a new compact camera. Its pretty cool, big sensor for a small camera, has full manual controls, and a pretty wide lens. And its really small, i have a DSLR too, but don't want to carry it on the bike, its not convinient for making quick photos, and dangerous if/when i go down... Smile

I think 2 flat tires in 4 days is too many too. The first one, the nipple seal blew, which makes me nervous. The pressure in the tire was right, so i think it must be a weakness in the tube. The second one, well, there was a nail sticking out of the tire that required pliers to pull out. Not sure how it got there, i was coming downhill on a dirt road at the time. Lucky for me I was almost out of the wilderness...

Thanks again for your compliments!! See some of you on the trail i hope soon.

Mike
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Davidfl · Posted: 18.12.2009, 17:48 Post subject:

Mike
Thanks for the report & brilliant pictures.
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burnjr · Posted: 24.12.2009, 15:27 Post subject:

NIce photo br
photos and a great report. Thanks.

Muzz · Posted: 27.12.2009, 13:25 Post subject:

Mike,

Stunning pictures. Well done. Now where did I leave my camera????
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Robin Holmes · Posted: 27.12.2009, 15:36 Post subject:

Great Pictures Mike. I have been looking at the S90, but can't seem to find out it it takes Video.
Everything I read tells me it doesn't, is this correct? If this is right.......pitty, the lesser camera I have (IXY1000) does and I'd miss it, but your pictures are stunning.
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mikehohman · Posted: 30.12.2009, 20:38 Post subject:

S90 does do video, but its only VGA 640 x 480 and not HD. Your IXY1000 will do 1024 x 768 at 15 fps, and also standard VGA 640 x 480 at 30 fps.

So, the video on the S90 will probably be fine. That said, if you want some good video in combination with a great point and shoot, you should have a look at the Panasonic DMC-TZ7, an all around bad ass camera with x12 zoom, killer HD Video, and pretty damn good photos too. That's my everyday camera, and i love it....

Good luck, and thanks again everyone for your encouragement.

Mike
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mikehohman · Posted: 28.01.2010, 16:12 Post subject:

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mikehohman · Posted: 28.01.2010, 16:17 Post subject: New camera from panasonic

Panasonic is releasing a new version of the ZS3, the ZS7. Building on the awesome ZS3, it adds

1. Integrated GPS
2. Full Manual Controls
3. Extended Zoom

This will be a most excellent camera to take dirtbike riding...

You can read a press release here:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1001/10012605panazs7.asp
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Craypot · Leader of The Pack Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 153

Brilliant photos. Kind of wish i bought the S90 instead of the Lumix now. Havent been to Sangkla Buri for about 17 years. Still looks like a nice place to visit.
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dirthonk · Posted: 31.01.2010, 22:01 Post subject:

bloody hell those photos are gorgeous!!
great report.
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