Chairity ride Gut Chop elementary school 8-10-2008/ finished

[ray23]

We met up at the Caltex sation on the Nung Bua Lampho highway to leave at 0900 now were on Thai time so more like 0945. But got some time to talk with and meet some of the other riders . The two primary groups were the Eagle Riders and the Slow Riders (Don't let the name fool you) These are the guys who put the ride togethre I thought it was going to be the Harley guys, but only showed up as far as could tell. I think we had about five guys from the ride list there. All and All about 30 bikes and a support vehicle.

The trip what can I say head out on the Nong Bua Lampho highway and about 15 Klms past Nung Bua Lampho yuo go right eventually you will make a left and you will end up at Gut Chop elementary school. Buddy this is Issan you will be in the country at least 20 Klms from a road you can find on map.

So the best thing I can tell you is follow the tailights in front of you :lol:

The guys had thier act together at every turn there was always someone there to direct you. One of the things I like about joining Thai riders you always end up in places you don't have a clue how you got there. You end up seeing places most guys never get a chance to check out.

I got to really hand to my wife this time she was busy as can be with that camera and a lot on the road shots, During the ride Dil and I chatted about my bouncing Betty got to get some suspension work done :roll:

Anyway some of these photos she took in curves with one are around me and holding for dear life, as we bounced through them. The one photo's you will see in there of the blue Goldwing is Lucky and we were actually in a pretty sharp curve while he was playing around.

I got the biggest kick out the photographers taking photos of each other shooting photos. Hey! what can I say we had a ball which is the norm.

I'll post photos of the school and the kids later, that will take a bit more explaining, so it is going to have wait a bit.

 

[ray23]

You know Rt2 is really good road a lot of it two lanes in both directions, just refinished, unfortunatley only 2 Klms of curves. But once you make that turn there are millions of Pot holes till you get to the shcool. The wife as usual was yellign at me about the potholes. I doubt anyone could make the full length and not hit a few :cry:

Arriving at the school. we were the first group. A large amount of the riders waited for others at the turn off we thought they had an accident, but turned out one of the guys had a falt. Also there was also a new driver in support pickup, so it was taking a long time before they arrived.

Roughly translated the sign says:

Make a plan and save money and you will have a good life. This I'm told is one of the kings sayings

 

[ray23]

Really a typical Issan country school. I did notice one room labled in english outdoor classroom, what that means is more students then they have normal rooms for. I think they will have to mow the grass on the football field I think I saw about nine new footballs in the gifts. More then likely the best thay can hope for in the village is a sixth grade education.

Those are the gifts laid out, not really a whole lot to most of us, but really a lot to this school. Things like paper and pencils are in short supply in most of these schools, not in this one anymore. There were a lot more education products purchased then things to play games with. Good thought put in to this one

 

[ray23]

Always pretty girls around sorry guys these two are attached to riders :lol:

This was really cool they had a circlular grill set up on top of a butane burner. Thye cooked suasages and scrambled eggs on it and made sandwhiches. I like to to tell myself we were so important that they did this for us farrangs. This wasn't the school but the ride group. After that they brought out the village Thai food and we really pigged out

 

[ray23]

Well the last of the group finally arrived. The guy on the Mike had been chattign away on that thing for about two hours at this point, don't think anyone was listening. Lost me after Su Waa Dee Krap. Finally enough was enough they made us sit down and listen the presentations.

 

[ray23]

Now the real reason for the ride the kids. I have to telll yuo that are just a great joy to be around. Start speaking a little thai to them and thye get just shy a can be. But, they always have that little gleam in thier eye, that say, you old git get out of the way and we will have some real fun :lol:

 

[ray23]

What can I say kids and bikes this is where it started many years ago for a lot of us. That bright shiney bike rumbling down the road caught your eye. Now go ahead and try to convince me that owning and riding a bike doesn't bring that same kid back out of you again :lol:

These kids rarely see bikes like we ride and 30 of them together with guys sitting them on seats and taking pictures believe me they love this

 

[ray23]

The Mandantory Ice Cream line. The evdor was there when we arrived this wa evreral hours later. But, it probably made his day.

I saw some of the Thai guys giving money to one Thai's looked like they were chipping for the ice cream. I walked ove and gave him 500 baht, he woudln't have anyhitng to do with that, it was to much, gave a 100 that worked. Next tiem yuo want to complain about Thai's taking advantage of yuo. Might be the Thai's your hanging out with These were just a bunch of great guys trying to give back to someone a little less fortunate then them.

Hmm!!! whats this looks like two vulchers eyeing the Ice cream to me. Unfortunatley someone mentioned we had better get going before the rain hit. Darn there went the ice cream :?

 

[ray23]

So off we go to Ubonrat dam for a lunch believe it or not. No photos of the trip we have ridden it so many times now we should be able to do it with our eyes closed. But I have to tell you I enjoy as much now as I did the first time I rode it. Surprised myself me and the 400 had been running with the big dogs all day an ended up in the middle of the pack. Not my fault some of the guys stopped for a beer :lol:

After the buffet lunch the guys broke out a bottle or two or three

It 1600 by then and three of us headed back to Udon

 

[ray23]

Well guys what can I say, you get invited to one of these and you don't go you are really missing out on a great day. This is the second I have been on. Everyone just has good time get to see the real Thailand and meet the real people here.

For those of you who didn't make it what can I say, sorry you missed one hell of day :wink:

 

[johngooding]

Hi Ray,
Thanks for the report and the photo's, great to see you had such a good time and brought some fun to the village school as well.
Sorry not to be able to join you, but had agreed to join some of the Khorat lads, on a trip to Sakon Nakon Sat and Sun, Great reception and hospitality, Jim and I the only Falangs, fun trying to communicate, but again a good time had by all. Will look out for next opportunity to join you.
Best wishes, John KK

 

[ray23]

Sounds good

 

[ray23]

Capt Slash when you getting back you need to carry the ball awhile :wink:

 

[ray23]

Your such detailed person by a bike first. :lol: Be great to have you back

 

[Dougal]

Great report Ray. Loved the photos.

That is some screen you got there; I sympathise with your wife. How far out does she have to lean to get them shots?

That's a lot of bikes! I always chuckle when you see some of the small diminutive Thais riding one of the big bikes. Makes the bike look huge!

Great thing to do for the kids.

I reckon the biggest kid there was that fella in the blue shirt!!

 

[ray23]

Big kid you bet every chance I get :lol:

The screen is a standard Tuk Tuk Screen, unfortunatley they are very thin and crack almost instantly, I have to go down size a bit.

Lots of comfort but it does slow things down.

The wife is much smarter then that over my shoulder or the helmet. The ones that surprise me are the ones she get of the people behind, first of all that anyone is behind us. :roll:

The beauty of a digital camera is the photo doesn't look good you can delete it. First time she was looking through the view finder got sicker then a dog, in the curves. Got her convienced to just point and shoot. Amazingly there really are very few rejects.

This time around they were all from inside photos shooting towards the outside light, they came out very dark. But we had plenty so no problem.

One thing for sure I have to get that bounce taken care of bit unerving when leaning into curve heavy and the darn thing bounces it's way through. Tried adjusting the rear shock, one way it knocks your teeth out with the jarring and the other yuo get the m bounce. Tried adjustmetn four times now. I think I'll try a different mechanic. Might just be time for a new rear shock. Hard to tell here speedo is only showing 30K which is nothing. But, TT (tis Thailand) who knows what the real milage is :cry:

Believe me Dil's wife takes some amazing photos. But, she is more experienced.