The 1154 is a great road, recently resurfaced, running through the Mae Yom National Park. The road runs between Ngao on highway 1 and Song. Most traffic going this route goes on the 103, south of the Yom river, leaving the 1154 on the north side of the river, peaceful for riders to enjoy the natural scenery.
Plus there is an undeveloped natural hot spring tucked away in the jungle; N18 deg 38.360', E100 deg 04.626'.
In the middle of Long town there is a coffee shop, that used have a yellow bomb hanging outside (the bomb has now been moved to the back of the house).
I called in for coffee and met the owner of the property, Khun Dong. The story of the bomb is famous in Phrae.
I had a long chat Khun Dong about the history of Phrae and Long. That is him with the beard in the pic below, being interviewed and talking about the British Bombay Burma Company that was based in Phrae, a century or more ago.
He also told me about the Saparn Dum, the Black bridge. He drew a pretty good mud map for me and so off I went exploring.
Passed a lovely looking resort..?
The map was excellent and I found the bridge over the Yom river, easily; N18 deg 02.515', E099 deg 54.969'.
A very well made bridge, hot rivet and steel girder construction.
The story is that the original bridge had been built by German engineers. During World War 2, an American bomber destroyed the old bridge, this was to sabotage the Japanese use of the railway line.
There are a lot of shrapnel pockmarks on the old bridge supports.
The railway line was repositioned and a new bridge was built by Japanese engineers in 1948.
Across the road in the orchard are further signs of the bridge attack.
All in all, at least 6, 80 year old bomb craters are clearly visible;
"No dynamite or electrocution fishing".
A view of the Yom River nearby.
A bit later I went in to the Mae Yom NP. What a lovely spot. I had been camping there a few years ago.... must do it again soon.
Then I rode down to Wang Chin looking for a hand made chocolate farm / factory; N17 deg 53.693', E099 deg 36.280'.
Khun Noi and her daughter at the Wangcome Farm hand-made Chocolate shop. I was treated to various types of chocolate. 100% cocoa chocolate does not taste great.
But the 72% cocoa chocolate is good, so I bought a few bars to take home, each individually wrapped with loving care.....
A couple of old things in Chiang Muan.
It was a butterfly day on the way home. I rode about 20klms through swarming butterflies.... special indeed.
Plus there is an undeveloped natural hot spring tucked away in the jungle; N18 deg 38.360', E100 deg 04.626'.
In the middle of Long town there is a coffee shop, that used have a yellow bomb hanging outside (the bomb has now been moved to the back of the house).
I called in for coffee and met the owner of the property, Khun Dong. The story of the bomb is famous in Phrae.
I had a long chat Khun Dong about the history of Phrae and Long. That is him with the beard in the pic below, being interviewed and talking about the British Bombay Burma Company that was based in Phrae, a century or more ago.
He also told me about the Saparn Dum, the Black bridge. He drew a pretty good mud map for me and so off I went exploring.
Passed a lovely looking resort..?
The map was excellent and I found the bridge over the Yom river, easily; N18 deg 02.515', E099 deg 54.969'.
A very well made bridge, hot rivet and steel girder construction.
The story is that the original bridge had been built by German engineers. During World War 2, an American bomber destroyed the old bridge, this was to sabotage the Japanese use of the railway line.
There are a lot of shrapnel pockmarks on the old bridge supports.
The railway line was repositioned and a new bridge was built by Japanese engineers in 1948.
Across the road in the orchard are further signs of the bridge attack.
All in all, at least 6, 80 year old bomb craters are clearly visible;
"No dynamite or electrocution fishing".
A view of the Yom River nearby.
A bit later I went in to the Mae Yom NP. What a lovely spot. I had been camping there a few years ago.... must do it again soon.
Then I rode down to Wang Chin looking for a hand made chocolate farm / factory; N17 deg 53.693', E099 deg 36.280'.
Khun Noi and her daughter at the Wangcome Farm hand-made Chocolate shop. I was treated to various types of chocolate. 100% cocoa chocolate does not taste great.
But the 72% cocoa chocolate is good, so I bought a few bars to take home, each individually wrapped with loving care.....
A couple of old things in Chiang Muan.
It was a butterfly day on the way home. I rode about 20klms through swarming butterflies.... special indeed.
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