Chiang Khong – Vientiane return -Kopchaideu 25th Anniversary party.
This trip was a slow demanding ride for me with the annoying physical complaint of my right hand getting serious pins and needles to go off to sleep. Carpal tunnel syndrome you might say, but 3 doctors have examined me & nope, its not carpal tunnel. It has become a mystery & I’m presently stuck in Chiang Mai seeing doctors to get the definitive diagnosis & source of the problem. A pinched nerve in the spine has also been considered by so far the opinion it is not that. The latest theory is that it is a nerve - radial / median / ulnar – issue only that needs to be nailed down. Fingers crossed because at the moment I’m snookered, and unable to ride more than 50 kms at a time, without needing a break to rest my arm!
Starting from Chiang Khong, I had nights in Chiang Mai, Phrae, Loei and Nong Khai before hitting Vientiane city for the 25th anniversary Kopchaideu party.
On the way down I was able to ride 80 kms at a time, before I needed a break, however on the return I was only capable of 40 kms stretches = the return trip from Vientiane was a nightmare.
Then on the last day riding Nong Khai – Loei was a ride through hell.
1. Both my front forks blew seals & blew oil out everywhere.
2. A got a piece of steel in the balding rear tyre, that was the last planned trip with that tyre.
3. My rear shock was also leaking again.
So combined with my dodgy arm it was a totally torturous ride.
In the end I had to call it quits & bail out in Loei, truck the bike & myself back to Chiang Mai for some TLC on both rider and machine.
www.gt-rider.com
Not being on the road for a long time like this it was interesting to see how things were.
Sadly lots of places have closed but accommodation prices have dropped back a lower level & there is some excellent value for money out there now,
A few comments & notes for the trip. The roads have gotten better, with much more 4-lane dual carriage way & concrete or asphalt. In comparison to asphalt, some of the concrete roads are not so enjoyable and also retain a lot more heat than the asphalt roads.
R11 Chiang Mai – Lampang = the clickety click 4 lane concrete highway.
After crossing the ridge line from cox to Lampang there's a lovely sweeping downhill section, but you do need to watch out for cars cruising at a good speed and slamming on the brakes.
In a sweet left-hander Iwas sitting behind a car nicely at 100-120 kph in the fast lane as he was overtaking.
And then suddenly a 60kph speed limit sign and he slams on the brakes hard.
I almost run up his arse, but managed to brake enough, straighten the bike up and swing left between the two cars. No chance if swerving out to the right and hitting the concrete barrier.
I'm not sure these speed limit signs are carefully thought out or located.
It is noticeable that some of these provincial concrete 4-lane highways are of variable standard. Some are relatively smooth and some are bloody annoying. The worse one being R101 Den Chai - Phrae imho.
In contrast, R11 south from Den Chai to the provincial border with Uttaradit is a gem of a smooth, flowing billiard table asphalt road.
Approaching Uttaradit the speed cops are out in force, nicking everyone for exceeding the ridiculous 90 kph speed limit on the 4-lane super.
There was a long queue of cars backed up & almost everyone was getting pulled over.
I slowly ride alongside the left hand side of the road to come up to the checkpoint barrier, and out between the 3 cops with their hands out waving everyone in. They were a bit startled by me popping out, nodding & riding slowly between them, as if it was nothing to do with me, silly old farang; but as I cleared the line of 3 policeman, there was as shout stop stop, which could have been directed at anyone, and I just kept going slowly at 20 kph and carried on. Nothing happened, but I guess it is possible they noted my rego. Time will tell if there’s a ticket in the mail.
To be continued
This trip was a slow demanding ride for me with the annoying physical complaint of my right hand getting serious pins and needles to go off to sleep. Carpal tunnel syndrome you might say, but 3 doctors have examined me & nope, its not carpal tunnel. It has become a mystery & I’m presently stuck in Chiang Mai seeing doctors to get the definitive diagnosis & source of the problem. A pinched nerve in the spine has also been considered by so far the opinion it is not that. The latest theory is that it is a nerve - radial / median / ulnar – issue only that needs to be nailed down. Fingers crossed because at the moment I’m snookered, and unable to ride more than 50 kms at a time, without needing a break to rest my arm!
Starting from Chiang Khong, I had nights in Chiang Mai, Phrae, Loei and Nong Khai before hitting Vientiane city for the 25th anniversary Kopchaideu party.
On the way down I was able to ride 80 kms at a time, before I needed a break, however on the return I was only capable of 40 kms stretches = the return trip from Vientiane was a nightmare.
Then on the last day riding Nong Khai – Loei was a ride through hell.
1. Both my front forks blew seals & blew oil out everywhere.
2. A got a piece of steel in the balding rear tyre, that was the last planned trip with that tyre.
3. My rear shock was also leaking again.
So combined with my dodgy arm it was a totally torturous ride.
In the end I had to call it quits & bail out in Loei, truck the bike & myself back to Chiang Mai for some TLC on both rider and machine.
Bike Transport In Thailand
Thailand is a reasonably lengthy country & if you're travelling to a destination at another end of the country you may not want to ride both ways. Fortunately there are a couple of options for transporting your bike across the country. By the Post Office Post A Bike Post your bike via the...
www.gt-rider.com
Not being on the road for a long time like this it was interesting to see how things were.
Sadly lots of places have closed but accommodation prices have dropped back a lower level & there is some excellent value for money out there now,
A few comments & notes for the trip. The roads have gotten better, with much more 4-lane dual carriage way & concrete or asphalt. In comparison to asphalt, some of the concrete roads are not so enjoyable and also retain a lot more heat than the asphalt roads.
R11 Chiang Mai – Lampang = the clickety click 4 lane concrete highway.
After crossing the ridge line from cox to Lampang there's a lovely sweeping downhill section, but you do need to watch out for cars cruising at a good speed and slamming on the brakes.
In a sweet left-hander Iwas sitting behind a car nicely at 100-120 kph in the fast lane as he was overtaking.
And then suddenly a 60kph speed limit sign and he slams on the brakes hard.
I almost run up his arse, but managed to brake enough, straighten the bike up and swing left between the two cars. No chance if swerving out to the right and hitting the concrete barrier.
I'm not sure these speed limit signs are carefully thought out or located.
It is noticeable that some of these provincial concrete 4-lane highways are of variable standard. Some are relatively smooth and some are bloody annoying. The worse one being R101 Den Chai - Phrae imho.
In contrast, R11 south from Den Chai to the provincial border with Uttaradit is a gem of a smooth, flowing billiard table asphalt road.
Approaching Uttaradit the speed cops are out in force, nicking everyone for exceeding the ridiculous 90 kph speed limit on the 4-lane super.
There was a long queue of cars backed up & almost everyone was getting pulled over.
I slowly ride alongside the left hand side of the road to come up to the checkpoint barrier, and out between the 3 cops with their hands out waving everyone in. They were a bit startled by me popping out, nodding & riding slowly between them, as if it was nothing to do with me, silly old farang; but as I cleared the line of 3 policeman, there was as shout stop stop, which could have been directed at anyone, and I just kept going slowly at 20 kph and carried on. Nothing happened, but I guess it is possible they noted my rego. Time will tell if there’s a ticket in the mail.
To be continued
