The Golden Triangle Rider

[saxonator]

Sunday Off-road mud slide

11 am Start:
1. Huay Tueng Tao to Coffee Village at Doi Pui
2. Doi Pui Meow Village to Pong Yang
3. Mae Rim to Doi Pla Kong and Ban Mae Pa
4. Ban Mae Pa back to Chiang Mai

After the heavy rain yesterday the terrain was just beautiful today and the new front sprocket on the TTR did magic wonders.



Huay Keaw Road to Huoy Tung Tao just before the pay booth we took a sharp left and took a shortcut to avoid paying as usual. Then back into the mountains and up to the coffee village. We took the ‘b’-route which is a little shorter and has better side. Then we worked our way back to the top of Doi Pui and stopped at the Meow Village for some nice coffee. After that we worked our way thru the bazaar with the bikes. Passing the flower gardens, shortly after that there’s a very small footpath with some gorgeous off-road and breathtaking views when the sky is clear. Please be aware, that this track involves good handling of your bike any mistake here could be fatal. If you get off the path here you won’t be able to get your bike back – absolutely no chance. So please only experienced riders this way. It is very rocky out here with steep climbs and steep descends on slippery surfaces that are made for walking not riding. The rest is real fun riding until Mae Rim. Beware off snakes out here.
<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/CopyofDSCF3741.jpg" border="0" alt="tribal"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/CopyofDSCF3771.jpg" border="0" alt="view top"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3730.jpg" border="0" alt="waiting"></a>


I’ve seen a cobra today, not big but poisonous enough. It didn’t even bather to look my way. Totally cool sliding it’s path back into the bush.

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3738.jpg" border="0" alt="narrow passage"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3740.jpg" border="0" alt="uphill"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3743.jpg" border="0" alt="Giorgio"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3744.jpg" border="0" alt="grin"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3749.jpg" border="0" alt="sshhhh......."></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3752.jpg" border="0" alt="path"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3754.jpg" border="0" alt="up"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3756.jpg" border="0" alt="stone 1"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3758.jpg" border="0" alt="rocky"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3759.jpg" border="0" alt="rocky 1"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3760.jpg" border="0" alt="rocky 2"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3777.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


Once in Pong Yang we couldn’t resist having a stopover for another espresso at X-center. Then it started raining for about 10 minutes.

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3779.jpg" border="0" alt="corner 1"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3781.jpg" border="0" alt="corner 3"></a>

After that we were back on our bikes and were riding direction Prem International School, and then at a big gat we took a left and went back to the mountains and rode toward Ban Mae Pa. From there we had real heavy off-road with muddy surface and green moss on the top this staff is more slippery then an oil massage. None off us fell and we managed to get thru somehow. The descent was now full with meter-deep potholes and besides the slippery surfaces it took a lot of riding skills to stay on the bike.

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3782.jpg" border="0" alt="mud slide"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3791.jpg" border="0" alt="soup de..."></a>


<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3793.jpg" border="0" alt="sloppy"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3798.jpg" border="0" alt="pothole surfing"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3799.jpg" border="0" alt="pot hole surfing 2"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3801.jpg" border="0" alt="tricky"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3802.jpg" border="0" alt="those are deep"></a>





At one point George decided to push the bike on a narrow passage. I’m too lazy to jump off the bike and push and just kept going.

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3804.jpg" border="0" alt="pushy"></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3805.jpg" border="0" alt="pushy...."></a>

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3808.jpg" border="0" alt="nicer"></a>

How lucky I still remembered this track from years ago. It is just so much more fun to ride without GPS. Doi Pla Kong is such a nice riding area with lotsa tracks out there.


<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3811.jpg" border="0" alt="rice field"></a>

About 5:30 we were done with our exercise and returned to Chiang Mai over Mae Taeng.

Grand Total: 176 km off-road with some asphalt. Total riding time 6 hours.

[Davidfl]

Saxonator
Great stuff mate. You're really enjoying your Sundays!
How long do you expect the TTR to last riding trails like this every weekend?
_________________
Davidfl
Keep The Power On

[saxonator]

David!

the boss himself - I'm realy honored. The TTR will last forever just like my old XR (stupid enough I sold it). I'm still looking for the right sprocket set. I allready reduce 5 teeth on the front sprocket with this strange 420 chain. I will upgrade soon to a 520 chain and then I have to find out the right setting again. They make those bikes to run fast, but lacking tork when going uphill, especially wiht my 12o kilo onboard.

Anyway good to hear from you. See ya'

Saxonitator

[BignTall]

Great stuff Saxonator!!! You're a man for relishing in the muck.

That tight trail above Doi Pui we labled the "Turtle track" due to this creature we found on it just before the rocky section.


Great to see the trail filling in with the help of the rain. Looks like you boys had a blast.

As you stated only recommended for those comfortable on a dirt bike as it gets awkward.
_________________
Cheers all.

"Looking for the woman that takes the wheel when I'm seeing double."

[saxonator]

Thanks BignTall,

indeed we had a blast. I like small tracks and rocky sections alot. Good I changed my front sprocket to 14 teeth so I could manage to get up without problems. I think turtle trail is a nice name. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the cobra we've seen so we could name it turtle cobra trail or whatever.

Cheers and 'til soon

<a><img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/DSCF3799.jpg" border="0" alt="pot hole surfing 2"></a>

[saxonator]

Here's some videos from the tour!

http://s252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/?action=view&current=DSCF3747.flv

http://s252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/ingagadavida/?action=view&current=DSCF3739.flv

[Ian Bungy]

For those of you Who Don't Know, Rudi aka Saxonator Plays the Key Board at the Bar By Chiang Mai Gate, Get around there and Check it out, Fantastic Band, Nice People and Of Course the Man Himself Great Stuff Mate, Keep It Up!!!
_________________
Cheers Ian
www.chiangmai-xcentre.com

[saxonator]

Thanks Ian,

playing down in Koh Samui on the 19th/20/21 with Boys Blues Jazz Project. See You on sunday for esspresso.


Sax-nator