The Golden Triangle Rider

Captain_Slash · Posted: 27.11.2007, 22:33 Post subject: Ubon-Sirithon Dam-Buntharik-Ubon

I took the 217 out to the Sirinthon dam and stopped there for a wander, the water level is only about 1.5 metres below maximum at the moment

Picturesque

Nice and relaxing here

Out of town this far the 217 is fairly quiet and a pleasant road to ride

I am heading south now and have just taken a left onto the 2396 when I see these tapioca harvesters at work

I notice these trees planted amongst the tapioca, does anyone know what they are and their purpose, to deter pests perhaps

That is a large root

The 2396 is in quite good condition but not race track quality

There is a turning to the left saying waterfall so I go for a look

The end of the road but I can just about hear water

This is what I heard

In the rainy season I should imagine it would be quite spectacular here

Its a walk back to find the bike

I get back on the 2396 and after a while its a T junction and both ways are the 2182, I take the left and after about 1 km I turn left again

Just after this sign the road narrows to a narrow concret road for about 1 km

Then its this nice piece of race track quality road up to the checkpoint

It stops here about 7 km later but apparently tomorrow its open possibly for the border market so I might come back and see how much further I can go towards Laos

I return and take another piece of road that also only goes for about 5 km to a village

Here the small reservoir is completely full

In the village there are quite a few trailers loaded with tapioca

I get back to the 2182 and head towards Buntharik

Theres no 7-11 in Buntharik but this store sells my favourite brand of water so no problem. From here its the 2182 for about another 10 km then its a right onto the 2172 which joins the 217 and back home. Its been a hot day, a bit windy to start with but a pleasant ride and no problems with any bad road conditions
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If Typhoo Put The T In Britain Who Put The C_unt In Scunthorpe

Biggus · Pedestrian Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 7

Nice ride report.

You rode right past my house but I'm not home(in the states and wishing is was back there).

I drove up that same road last December but the check point was not there. I continued across the bridge and into the jungle, (in the car). After a kilometer or 2 I decided to turn around while I still could and before the sand got too deep. When we came back across the bridge some Thai military guy is waiving his hands so I pull up in the drive way to the little encampment they have there. The guy starts to give the wifey the third degree about what we are doing going to Laos and if we were buying YABA. He was spouting off in Lao and was pretty rude. Besides the guys painting the lines on the road and the crazy military dude there was nobody around. I always thought it was a strange place for a well constructed road to nowhere but it has some nice twisties.

Biggus[/quote]

Auke · Posted: 28.11.2007, 11:36 Post subject:

"I notice these trees planted amongst the tapioca, does anyone know what they are and their purpose, to deter pests perhaps"

Well, that is the new saviour for Eesarn - rubber trees, You see them everywhere ranging from mature trees to small saplings like you show. The Government promotes the growing of rubber trees (same thing in Laos). Main difference is that in Thailand very often existing agricultural land is converted to rubber while in Laos the forest is cleared to grow rubber.
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Take the unfamiliar road or trail, you never know what you might find.

Captain_Slash · Posted: 28.11.2007, 22:38 Post subject:

Auke, thanks for educating me on that one, I had no idea they were young rubber trees
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If Typhoo Put The T In Britain Who Put The C_unt In Scunthorpe