The Golden Triangle Rider

ray23 · Posted: 10.01.2007, 18:55 Post subject: Ride Saturday 1-13-2007

We will be going to Kallasin for lunch, we won't take the Khan Kean highway, but the back roads more fun less traffic.

We will meet at the Jet Gas station on the Khan Kean highway at 0900

Anyone is welcome to join us.

ray23 · Posted: 14.01.2007, 14:50 Post subject:

This one was really a great ride. Three couples took two different routes, coming and going. I picked the first rout, not bad but not nearly as good one on the other riders who had experience in the area. His route was nothing but good road you could actually make a good drive for a car on it. I will post the route as soon as I figure it out mysellf. Sure beats that long boring ride on the Khan Kean highway. Once you get past Kumpawapi, turns into beautiful rolling hills with great views. The ride was around 400 Klms so we didn't poke around the villages much but I did see some fun that could be had doing just that.

We stopped in a small village on the way, the idea get some coffee. No the ladies decide that it was lunch time and they didn't have a problem one eating a second lunch a hour and half later in Kalisin. One of the posters gave us a lead on several different places to eat at the Living Arts exactly as he described right down to the slow service. But a great place with wonderful people working there, Hey we were taking a break anyway. We got the food as we ordered it not bad considering one guy was a Brit, one American and one Frenchmen. This was really upsacle for us as a norm we have no idea where the good places are when we stop. Heck we even finished off with Ice Cream Sunday's.

Only one near miss in a fairily good size village. Lots of those farm tractor/trucks around. We were in town so the speeds were slow. One of the putt putt trucks lets one of the guys past and then pull out right in front of us taking up the entire road. Some quick braking as there was simply no place to go. Get it slowed down enough to clear it, only to find about six feet of steel for roofing hanging out the back, So I had to really clamp down front and back. This is where you really appreciate a good bike. On the 750 I would have hit it no doubt about it, with the 535 heck I had inches to spare. LOL Only incident of the day, but you always have to be ready for it, cause you simply don't know when they are going to happen.

The guys teased me a lot as we have a friend who ran into something similiar he ducked and went under the bar and his wife didn't. So I got his name for awhile LOL.

The ride back was just wonderful some of the best country roads I have been on in Thailand not a pot hole to be found. Just gorgeous country.

We stopped off at Kumpawapi so I could see the monkies, what a bunch characters and they are not confused about who is in charge. That was the first time I had been around them free like that. Dogs don't mess with them, must be a story there somewhere. The ladies just had to feed them boy have that got that down pat. These monkies were on the roofs of the houses in the area, in the electrical wires and the trees in the park. Just sit down in the middle of the road and only moved inches when they were going to get hit by a car. One greedy guy managed to steal an entire bag of goodies right out of the wifes hand.

Headed back to Udon and had dinner at the huge BBQ place here, my first time there. The French guy has thing about eating crocodile, so we went there but come to thiink of it he had fish LOL.

You know it just doesn't get any better, great hobby, beautiful country, great friends and a wonderful experience. My back is paying big time for it today. So I will kick back for a few days but I will be out there again this weekend.

Sure beats sitting in front of a computer everyday and vegging in a bar. Thailand and Issan are what you make them.

Captain_Slash · Posted: 15.01.2007, 04:04 Post subject:

It sounds like you had a great ride Ray, I am still in Si Saket, been here a week already, its a really friendly place here.

ray23 · Posted: 15.01.2007, 04:40 Post subject:

We are supposed to ne on the othre side of Kahn Kean next weekend Lucky is planning the trip so not clear on the particulars yet But I will post it when I know. Thats a bit closer to where yuo are if it fits your plans.

The route we followed
HERE ARE THE ROAD NUMBERS AND MAP FOR OUR TRIP ON SATURDAY

LEAVE ON HIGHWAY 2 SOUTH
TURN LEFT FOR KUMPHAWAPI
KUMPHAWAPI--SI THAT--WANG SAM MO NO. 2023
WANG SAM MO--SAM CHAI--SAHAT SAKHAN--KALASIN NO. 227
AT KALASIN TAKE KHON KAEN HIGHWAY NO. 213
TURN RIGHT ON THE NO. 2110
TURN RIGHT TO HAI MEK -- NONG KUNG SI
NO 2299 NORTH TO THA KHANTHO AND TURN LEFT
TAKE A RIGHT TURN FOR KUMPHAWAPI
KUMPHAWAPI--HIGHWAY NO 2-- NORTH TO UDON

HOPE MY MAP MAKES SENCE OF MY DIRECTIONS

ATB DILWYN

Captain_Slash · Posted: 15.01.2007, 04:50 Post subject:

I will be leaving here on tuesday and probably in Aranyaprathet by saturday but we will meet up again somewhen Ray. I dont have my map with me in the internet cafe but I suspect I rode some of those roads last year while staying with my mate about 15km south of Khon Kaen as I took a few day trips out and explored quite a few roads

ray23 · Posted: 15.01.2007, 04:53 Post subject:

Dal sent a map with the route via e-mail but I can't figure out to post it. I'll keep posting our rides and anyone is more then welcome, Captain slash as much a you ride we are bound to cross paths again. It was definetly a enjoyable meeting for all, look forward to the next one

Captain_Slash · Posted: 24.01.2007, 06:23 Post subject:

I just looked up your route on my map and it sure looked a good one

ray23 · Posted: 24.01.2007, 18:19 Post subject:

The first part of the ride has a few bumps but nothing that bad. You have to be careful through villages all of suuden you are in a 90 degree turn without much warning.

Captain_Slash · Posted: 25.01.2007, 03:55 Post subject:

I got into Udon today, I tried ringing you from my hotel the Si Saket but the message kept saying your phone was not registered on this network

ray23 · Posted: 25.01.2007, 04:40 Post subject:

Got me seems to be working OK

Captain_Slash · Posted: 25.01.2007, 04:46 Post subject:

I thought I had the wrong number but while I was eating in Piccolo Roma an American guy started talking to me and it turned out he was your neighbour and he told me I have the right number

ray23 · Posted: 25.01.2007, 04:57 Post subject:

Well you found the right Italain Resturant, I PM'd the number to you agian. I fits from one the business cards there might be a digit missing. PM me and I'll try calling you

Captain_Slash · Posted: 27.01.2007, 05:13 Post subject:

Well I did that route today and it sure was a good one, I see what you mean about the 90 degree bends though, on the way back when I got to Kumphawapi I turned right onto the 2350 and rode up to Nong Han then left onto the 22 to Udon. I had ridden a couple of the roads before as when I go from Nong Khai to Si Saket I come down through Nong Han and out through to Roi Et

ray23 · Posted: 27.01.2007, 05:20 Post subject:

Should have told you to check out the Monkey park in Kumpawapi really very different. oh well maybe next time. Did you check out the 750?

Captain_Slash · Posted: 27.01.2007, 06:01 Post subject:

Yes I went in this afternoon and spoke to her, she was very helpful and said that any Honda dealer in Thailand should be able to order one in but it takes about three months, there is no warranty as its imported but she thinks first class insurance is not a problem. I looked through their Honda catalogue at all the bikes available, there is a Shadow Slasher which is identical to a Harley Sportster but unfortunately only a 400 cc, the 400cc Shadows are only about 50.000 Baht cheaper than the 750

ray23 · Posted: 27.01.2007, 10:39 Post subject:

Glad you got the info you needed, once you pass that 750 are you into Gold Wings if yuo don't go to a sport bike? If I remember right the 535 is pushing as much if not a more horsepower as the 750, that surprised me.

That 535 is like a gutsy little phantom LOL handles about the same.