My old mate Chris had come over from England again and we were out for some fun in the dirt and remote areas.
We hired a CRF250 from Chiang Rai Big Bikes and I was riding my KLX 250.
3rd DECEMBER 2019. First day was a pootle around Chiang Saen.
Off the 3166, Wat Pa Daeng, recently restored and outside the Chiang Saen bypass, on a low hill.
From the 4037, we took the concrete road to Huay Gwan, riding the nice little trail around the north edge of Huay Gwan reservoir, to the war memorial.
Then the dirt road north and out to Bahn Rai on 1129.
We rode up to the Viewpoint at Wat Prathat Pa Ngao, the large temple on the hill, SE of Chiang Saen, just over the Kham river. Great views of Chiang Saen environs and the Khong river, to the north and the east.
4th DECEMBER 2019. Into the Lam Nam Kok National Park and the Kok river.
Departure from Viang Yonok Hotel, Chiang Saen
It didn't take long....... No.1.
The beautiful mountains of the Lam Nam Kok NP.
We tried to get down the trail from Loh Sa to Loh Bue but it was steep and washed away. Actually, we got both the bikes a bit stuck in a ravine and had to manhandle them back up onto the trail, one at a time. All part of the fun...
The trail hits the river near the rapids at Pha Kwang. A beautiful spot and a place to go camping one day.
We then rode southeast along the river, down to the Karen village of Bahn Kwae Wuwa Dam and checked into the My Dream Guest House.
A great place to stay right on the Kok River. The fire was most welcome.
Every day was even colder after this, with morning temperatures around 7 - 10 deg C..
5th DECEMBER 2019. From the Lam Nam Kok National Park and the Kok river to Thaton.
A misty cold morning on the Kok river.
No.2......
We soon came to "The Motorcycle Bridge"..
We had both crossed this in 2010 when there was only half a handrail and one layer of loose planks.
If you listen carefully, you can hear the recorded "F**k me", about halfway across.......
Now in 2019, it was in better shape, with full handrail and double planking. Too easy really....
After crossing, we then rode southeast on the south side of the river.
Looking across the river to the Ruam Mitr Elephant Camp.
When we got to Kham Nu, we turned southwest around the great little loop through Pong Nam Ron past the waterfall, which finishes with a single track technical section back to the river road. The roads and trail here are extremely steep. One side of the loop is the Akha Hill House and the other side is the Bamboo Nest.
We then took a dip in the Prasert Hot Springs.
We then rode northwest back along the Kok river on the south side and took the super dirt road across to Doi Gart Phi near Wawi on the 3037.
After riding north, up on to the 1089, we turned up the short dirt road that leads to the Burma border, north of Tha Makeng.
The concrete road finishes and dirt road 49 leads on across the border into Burma.
We stayed the night in Thaton, in the Garden Home.
6th DECEMBER 2019. From Thaton around the full border road around the back of Doi Pahampok.
This was to be an exciting day for us. I last rode this superb border road in about 2013. As far as I am aware, it had been closed since the last army coup. But I was up at the checkpoint about 3 weeks ago, on a road bike and managed to pass the fiirst checkpoint. However the eastern end of the road is very broken, so I had to return after 1.5 klms. But now, back again, this time on a dirt bike and on a mission to ride the road.
..... More coming soon......
We hired a CRF250 from Chiang Rai Big Bikes and I was riding my KLX 250.
3rd DECEMBER 2019. First day was a pootle around Chiang Saen.
Off the 3166, Wat Pa Daeng, recently restored and outside the Chiang Saen bypass, on a low hill.
From the 4037, we took the concrete road to Huay Gwan, riding the nice little trail around the north edge of Huay Gwan reservoir, to the war memorial.
Then the dirt road north and out to Bahn Rai on 1129.
We rode up to the Viewpoint at Wat Prathat Pa Ngao, the large temple on the hill, SE of Chiang Saen, just over the Kham river. Great views of Chiang Saen environs and the Khong river, to the north and the east.
4th DECEMBER 2019. Into the Lam Nam Kok National Park and the Kok river.
Departure from Viang Yonok Hotel, Chiang Saen
It didn't take long....... No.1.
The beautiful mountains of the Lam Nam Kok NP.
We tried to get down the trail from Loh Sa to Loh Bue but it was steep and washed away. Actually, we got both the bikes a bit stuck in a ravine and had to manhandle them back up onto the trail, one at a time. All part of the fun...
The trail hits the river near the rapids at Pha Kwang. A beautiful spot and a place to go camping one day.
We then rode southeast along the river, down to the Karen village of Bahn Kwae Wuwa Dam and checked into the My Dream Guest House.
A great place to stay right on the Kok River. The fire was most welcome.
Every day was even colder after this, with morning temperatures around 7 - 10 deg C..
5th DECEMBER 2019. From the Lam Nam Kok National Park and the Kok river to Thaton.
A misty cold morning on the Kok river.
No.2......
We soon came to "The Motorcycle Bridge"..
We had both crossed this in 2010 when there was only half a handrail and one layer of loose planks.
If you listen carefully, you can hear the recorded "F**k me", about halfway across.......
Now in 2019, it was in better shape, with full handrail and double planking. Too easy really....
After crossing, we then rode southeast on the south side of the river.
Looking across the river to the Ruam Mitr Elephant Camp.
When we got to Kham Nu, we turned southwest around the great little loop through Pong Nam Ron past the waterfall, which finishes with a single track technical section back to the river road. The roads and trail here are extremely steep. One side of the loop is the Akha Hill House and the other side is the Bamboo Nest.
We then took a dip in the Prasert Hot Springs.
We then rode northwest back along the Kok river on the south side and took the super dirt road across to Doi Gart Phi near Wawi on the 3037.
After riding north, up on to the 1089, we turned up the short dirt road that leads to the Burma border, north of Tha Makeng.
The concrete road finishes and dirt road 49 leads on across the border into Burma.
We stayed the night in Thaton, in the Garden Home.
6th DECEMBER 2019. From Thaton around the full border road around the back of Doi Pahampok.
This was to be an exciting day for us. I last rode this superb border road in about 2013. As far as I am aware, it had been closed since the last army coup. But I was up at the checkpoint about 3 weeks ago, on a road bike and managed to pass the fiirst checkpoint. However the eastern end of the road is very broken, so I had to return after 1.5 klms. But now, back again, this time on a dirt bike and on a mission to ride the road.
..... More coming soon......