Beer Belly Buddies Tour Of The North

May 26, 2016
7
8
3
65
Chumphae Thailand
View attachment 113867 View attachment 113868 View attachment 113869 View attachment 113870 View attachment 113871 View attachment 113872 View attachment 113873 View attachment 113874 View attachment 113875 View attachment 113876 View attachment 113877 View attachment 113878 View attachment 113879 View attachment 113880 View attachment 113881 View attachment 113882 View attachment 113883 View attachment 113884 View attachment 113885 View attachment 113886 View attachment 113887 View attachment 113888 View attachment 113889 View attachment 113890 View attachment 113891 View attachment 113892 View attachment 113893 View attachment 113894 View attachment 113895 View attachment 113896 View attachment 113897 View attachment 113898 View attachment 113899 View attachment 113900 View attachment 113901 View attachment 113902 View attachment 113903 View attachment 113904 View attachment 113905 View attachment 113906 View attachment 113907 View attachment 113908 View attachment 113909 View attachment 113910 View attachment 113911 View attachment 113912 View attachment 113913 View attachment 113914 View attachment 113915 View attachment 113916 View attachment 113917 View attachment 113918 View attachment 113919 View attachment 113920 View attachment 113921 View attachment 113922 View attachment 113923 View attachment 113924 View attachment 113925 View attachment 113926 View attachment 113946 View attachment 113947 View attachment 113948 View attachment 113949 View attachment 113950 View attachment 113951 View attachment 113952 View attachment 113953 View attachment 113954 View attachment 113955 View attachment 113956 View attachment 113957 View attachment 113958 View attachment 113959 View attachment 113960 View attachment 113961 View attachment 113962 View attachment 113963 View attachment 113964 View attachment 113965 View attachment 113966 View attachment 113967 View attachment 113968 View attachment 113969 View attachment 113970 View attachment 113971 View attachment 113972 View attachment 113973 View attachment 113974 View attachment 113975 View attachment 113976 View attachment 113977 View attachment 113978 View attachment 113979 View attachment 113980 View attachment 113981 View attachment 113982 View attachment 113983 View attachment 113984 View attachment 113985 View attachment 113986 View attachment 113987 View attachment 113988 View attachment 113989 View attachment 113990 View attachment 113991 View attachment 113992 View attachment 113993 View attachment 113994 View attachment 113995 View attachment 113996 View attachment 113997 View attachment 113998 View attachment 113999 View attachment 114000 View attachment 114001 View attachment 114002 View attachment 114003 View attachment 114004 View attachment 114005 View attachment 114006 View attachment 114007 View attachment 114008 View attachment 114009 View attachment 114010 View attachment 114011 View attachment 114012 View attachment 114013 View attachment 114014 View attachment 114015 View attachment 114016 View attachment 114017 View attachment 114018 View attachment 114019 View attachment 114020 View attachment 114021 View attachment 114022 View attachment 114023 View attachment 114024 View attachment 114025 View attachment 114026 View attachment 114027 View attachment 114028 View attachment 114029 View attachment 114030 View attachment 114031 View attachment 114032 View attachment 114033 View attachment 114034 View attachment 113867 View attachment 113868 I recently got back from my latest 7 night tour of the North of Thailand. This is something I aim to do every 8 weeks or so.
I've been living in Isaan for the last 11 years and never tire of riding in the North. There's always a new road or track to discover and the changes of season, routes and riding company, make each tour completely unique.
This was 2,750 km of smiles, riding for the first time with Charles B S Shaw (Stuart) who was great company and a good rider. We were very lucky with the weather despite it being the middle of the rainy season, and only got wet a couple of times in the whole trip.


Not a pleasant start. First two hours were torrential rain. Hardly rained on us at all after that for the whole week though. Roadworks between Tak and Mae Sot are not much fun either. Gonna be a great road when finished though.

View attachment 113946

Took this when the rain stopped the other side of Lom Sak.
View attachment 113947

Picture Book Guesthouse, Mae Sot 600B. Would use again.
View attachment 113948


View attachment 113985

Roadworks after Tak
View attachment 113986

The man knows how to order food!
View attachment 113987


Day 2 Mae Sot to Mae Hong Son. Glorious weather. Met up with Charles B S Shaw (for the first time) in Mae Sot. Fantastic roads all day. Stopped for lunch in Mae Sariang.
Took a detour onto the R4009 just before MHS. Superb ridge top views from very high up. Some incredibly steep bits of road here, most of which is brand new concrete surface. Some storm damage, wouldn't want to do it on a cruiser!
View attachment 113988

My attempt at keeping the rain out. Half a pair of Marigolds. Not needed in the end as I bought new, higher, boots.
View attachment 113989


View attachment 113990

View attachment 113991

View attachment 113992

View attachment 113993

View attachment 113994

View attachment 113995

View attachment 113996

Protein top up in Mae Sariang
View attachment 113997

View attachment 113998

R4009 detour
View attachment 113999

R4009
View attachment 114000

View attachment 114001

Mae Hong Son
View attachment 114002

Day 3 of 8. Mae Hong Son loop. Never get tired of this amazing road.
First time I did it was 12 years ago. The road surface then made it much more of a challenge than it is today. Superb, new surface all the way.
We took a short detour to Tham Lot cave which is well worth the effort. Finished up at Chiang Dao. The Cave bar there is pretty cool but pricey once the 5pm (opening time) to 7pm ''Happy Hour'' finishes. A large Leo will cost you 120B. The bar opposite charges 75! Accommodation is pricey in Chiang Dao too. These huts were 800B. Great location but you're paying for it. Very hot day, was 36 deg when we got to the resort at 4pm.
View attachment 114004


View attachment 114003


View attachment 114005

View attachment 114006

View attachment 114007

View attachment 114008

Chiang Dao. You pay extra for the view!
View attachment 114009

View attachment 114010


Another incredible, full day of twisties. The newly surfaced 1178 is a lot of fun. Great weather all day until 20min before we got into Doi Mae Salong when we got soaked for the last time on this trip.
View attachment 114011

View attachment 114012

View attachment 114013

View attachment 114014

View attachment 114015

View attachment 114016

View attachment 114017

Day 5, left Doi Mae Salong at sunrise. Awesome views and almost every bend gets a ''Wow'' shout from me. Looks like the valleys below have been draped in crisp white sheets.
Made our way over to Phu Chi Fa. All the roads around there for miles have been re surfaced and are a joy to ride now. Can't wait to come back up and have another go on the 1155.
Had a good night out with Mark McConaghy in Chiang Kham, who took us to a superb restaurant in the town (with a really good live music band). The Boutique Resort Hotel number 5 we stayed in is a tacky horrible place with place that I won't use again.

View attachment 114018

View attachment 114019

View attachment 114020

View attachment 114021

View attachment 114022

Chiang Kham to Na Noi. With pretty severe hangovers, we made our way to Na Noi via the 1148 which we've both done many times before.
Personally, I think its MUCH more fun going North (other direction) as the vast majority of the twisty, fun bits are uphill in that way.
Staying in a superb new resort for the first time in Na Noi (see pic. 600 Baht, great quality). Think I'm going to make my next trip just in this and the Phu Chi Fa area. So many more small roads to explore.
View attachment 114023

View attachment 114024


Superb resort on the South Side of Na Noi North of Sisaket Dam. Co ordinates... 18.320923, 100.712201 Rooms are 600Bht.
I really like this place. Very comfortable rooms and there's a damned good relaxing restaurant in town with good food and a menu in English too.
This is going to be my first night stop on tour to the North in future. The restaurant is here....https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/ร... See more
View attachment 114025


We headed off for the ferry crossing over Sisaket Dam. We've both done this a few times before and to be honest the novelty has well and truly worn off for me now. I really enjoy the last 20km of the 1026, the scenery is awesome but the port has become dirty horrible place. You don't see anyone in the restaurants now and there's a good reason for that. The 1339 south of the Dam to Nam Pat is in a shocking condition with really bad potholes and loose surfaces over many km. I won't be going this route again 'til I hear of any improvements. We proceeded to Sukhothai for our last night out before ''Stuart'' headed home westwards, in the opposite direction to me this morning. Someone here recently asked about places to stay in Sukhothai. I recommended this location and Ivo Hoornstra said the resorts were ''Shitty'' this is not true. The T R Guesthouse behind Bar 64000 (Which is really cool and not expensive. Lge Leo 75B) is a really superb place with the best bed I slept in during the whole week. Top notch rooms for 600B. The biker bar/restaurant has a chilled out atmosphere and a terrace overlooking the street. Good food too.

View attachment 114026

View attachment 114027


View attachment 114034

View attachment 114028

The place looks like the aftermath of a natural disaster. The road to the South is apalling now. I'll be riding around the dam in future.
View attachment 114029

Bar 6400 Sukhothai
View attachment 114030

View attachment 114031


Blast back home on almost a deserted highway 12.
View attachment 114032


View attachment 114033
 

GTR-Admin

Administrator
Staff member
Mar 22, 2016
181
99
28
Thailand
Hi Steve

Thanks for taking the time and making the effort to publish an account of your recent trip - lots of stunning photos, well done mate!

Reports like this have always inspired others to "just get out there and do it" - there's nothing more effective than leading by example.
 

Rod Page

0
Subscribed
Jan 7, 2010
823
74
28
Yes indeed an excellent report packed with useful information & great photos. A refreshing read in easy to follow format.

Look forward to more such reports.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Steve Coupland
Sep 4, 2007
1,192
15
38
That's a great report, brings back some good memories. Interesting about the ferry crossing. Still seems to be a favourite with the tour groups, but I must admit, after three or four trips I have been inclined to take a different route
 
May 26, 2016
7
8
3
65
Chumphae Thailand
That's a great report, brings back some good memories. Interesting about the ferry crossing. Still seems to be a favourite with the tour groups, but I must admit, after three or four trips I have been inclined to take a different route

Me too. The novelty has well and truly worn off. I came down the Western side via the 1022 and 1163 a few months back, that's not a lot of fun! 30+km of tight twists and turns on loose surface with 95% of any views obscured by trees. Met only one other car on that road. Won't do that again either :) Hope they get the ferry port sorted, there's rubbish and dog shit everywhere. The ramp on the southern side is in a pretty poor state too, rutted and muddy.
 
Sep 4, 2007
1,192
15
38
Have not tried that side, but have been the eastern side a few times. A fairly full varied day if going Nan to Loei. from Wiang sa its the 1162 then 1243 then 1083 1268 to Ban Khok. One of these stretches is very remote, but surface was OK a while ago, very little traffic, then winds along the border and drops onto what now is renumbered to be highway 21 near Phu Ruea. Some great scenery along the way and mostly quiet roads.
 
May 26, 2016
7
8
3
65
Chumphae Thailand
I know what you mean, I've ridden them all. Think it's that 1243 that caught me out a few months back. I was heading West through Nan and should have stopped there really as I'd already put quite a few hours in but pressed on for ''a bit more'' got on that road and wished I hadn't, took ages to find a place to stay. Bizarre, the surface wasn't great but right in the middle of it there was a 20km? section of brand new tarmac with armco and fresh lines. Don't think I saw more than two scooters and a farmers truck all afternoon. Finished up in Fak Tha and the only room I could find was one next to a hooker who was doing a fair trade through the night!

I'm doing 7 night trips in the North every 8 weeks and running out of places to go that I haven't done before now but never get bored of it :)
 

Silom

0
Oct 3, 2006
19
1
3
Thanks Steve for the great report and details of the road.
Looking forward to drive some of these stretches very soon:)
 

Moto-Rex

0
Subscribed
Jan 5, 2008
961
337
63
Great report mate, with brilliant photos. It’s a Northern Thailand highlights tour, and a great reverence for anyone planning a ride in Northern Thailand.

Good to see you included the 4009 in your ride.

I just love this shot below.

20626594_10154571777291540_1480224282762540632_o.jpg


I've had a few cold beers in this little establishment. lol
20626222_10154571865261540_716214603373324026_o.jpg



Thanks for taking to time to put together such a great report.

Cheers Moto-Rex
 

NELSKA

Active Member
Aug 8, 2017
37
27
18
61
Chiang Mai
Hello David.
This wat is located in Ban Nam Aug Roo 136 km to the North-Est of Mae Sot on the 105 road, close to Myanmar border
GPS 17.533734, 97.949296

More infos here : Google Maps

Have a nice trip !