I spent the weekend enduro riding with some friends from Baan Ricky up and around Sai Yok Yai, Kanchanaburi, West Thailand. The riding was excellent, and making new friends with Ricky and others up there was awesome as well. A few words and pix below. Sorry not more of the riding, but my riding partners never slowed up enough to give me time to shoot. I did get some video, and hope to post soon, but video takes so damn long to edit.
Brian E. (Brian_bkk) and i rode up early Saturday morning from Bangkok to Baan Ricky's, just outside of Sai Yok Yai, about 95 km northwest up the 323 from Kanchanburi Town and 220km or so from Bangkok. We arrived about 10:30 AM and met various people there. Ricky himself has had this place for several years, but it's a work progress, and he's improving it all the time, if slowly. The property fronts 323 and he's got a huge freestyle jump there along with a rather large restaurant, open to the public. Heading up the drive you have the main house on the right, and the first of several planned bungalows on the left. Further along you come to the MX Track on the left and a 2-story grandstand/gym on the right. Further along to the back gate and a few km of fields to the mountains, and access to some seriously fun enduro trails.
We met Ricky, an Englishman/German, incredibly gracious host, and his friends Mike, a Swiss, and Michel, a Swede. Also there were Alan (Welsh) and Phil (Oz) of A-Tec racing, who lead adventure dirt bike tours out of Pattaya i guess, and their friend, another taffy, Noel. As we arrived, Ricky, Michel and a few Thai riders were out enjoying the MX track.
After meeting everyone, getting a tour, and getting the bikes ready, Alan, Noel, Michel, Brian and I headed out for almost 6 hours of trail/enduro riding in the area north and west of Baan Rickey. We had all sort of conditions and terrain, including dirt roads, muddy double track, singe track thru forrest/bamboo, some decent altutuide gain, all through some really beautiful landscapes, including a great mountain backdrop, taro fields, pineapple fields, sugarcane, corn, etc. etc. Highlight i guess was a great trail through the jungle so fun we rode it twice.
Back to Ricky's about 6:30, washup, and then dinner at Rick's on-site restaurant. Food was excellent Thai. After dinner about 9:00 PM we all piled into Rick's Van and he drove us to the Hin Dat Hot Springs, a perfect way to relax after a long day on the bike. The springs are great, 43C, with a cool mountain stream running along side, so you can jump back and worth from steaming hot to icy cold as you like. Refreshing, rejuvenating, relaxing... and if you listen closely enough, you can still hear those m*^&^% f(*^$&&^ Japanese colonels cavorting with their lady friends... (Sai Yok Yai is about 20 km up the road from Hellfire Pass)
Up early the next morning for more riding. We headed south and east of Sai Yok as Brian and I were headed back to Bangkok. More excellent trails, but by the time we reach Sai Yok Noi, Alan's WR250s were acting up, so they were done for the day to make repairs. Brian and I headed south across the river and road dirt roads through the hills back to Kanchaburi and then back to Bangkok to close out the weekend.
A great time was had by all, and really nice to meet all the boys. Rick has a real nice spread there, well situated for all kinds of fun, and we are already planning the next trip up. Thanks Rick and Alan and everyone for the great weekend!!
Here are some pix, hope you like. Captions on top:
Sunrise over Baan Ricky
Ricky
The main house
The (first) bungalow, shared by me, Brian, and Noel.
Garage
Water tower left, main house right
Looking back towards the main house. 323 in distance. Mike in front of house.
Viewing stand for the MX Track, with bikes and gym below
The MX Track. Great view of the mountains in the distance.
One of Rick's several YZ's
Phil's bike, brought in from Oz i think
Michel on another YZ
Tat on the back of one of the Thai MX riders
Some guy we met on the trail
His friend. Check out those hands...
Swiss Mike, at breakfast
Woman topping peppers
Fuel stop
Trail
Clearing obstructions
Going under obstructions (Brian)
On the trail, Alan, Brian, Noel, Michel
Michel
Self Portrait
Noel, cathcing zome zzz'z waiting for riders to quit forking around and come on
Michel, taking a break
Dirt and mud
Dinner and a movie...
Boots
One of the wonderful views
Brian E. (Brian_bkk) and i rode up early Saturday morning from Bangkok to Baan Ricky's, just outside of Sai Yok Yai, about 95 km northwest up the 323 from Kanchanburi Town and 220km or so from Bangkok. We arrived about 10:30 AM and met various people there. Ricky himself has had this place for several years, but it's a work progress, and he's improving it all the time, if slowly. The property fronts 323 and he's got a huge freestyle jump there along with a rather large restaurant, open to the public. Heading up the drive you have the main house on the right, and the first of several planned bungalows on the left. Further along you come to the MX Track on the left and a 2-story grandstand/gym on the right. Further along to the back gate and a few km of fields to the mountains, and access to some seriously fun enduro trails.
We met Ricky, an Englishman/German, incredibly gracious host, and his friends Mike, a Swiss, and Michel, a Swede. Also there were Alan (Welsh) and Phil (Oz) of A-Tec racing, who lead adventure dirt bike tours out of Pattaya i guess, and their friend, another taffy, Noel. As we arrived, Ricky, Michel and a few Thai riders were out enjoying the MX track.
After meeting everyone, getting a tour, and getting the bikes ready, Alan, Noel, Michel, Brian and I headed out for almost 6 hours of trail/enduro riding in the area north and west of Baan Rickey. We had all sort of conditions and terrain, including dirt roads, muddy double track, singe track thru forrest/bamboo, some decent altutuide gain, all through some really beautiful landscapes, including a great mountain backdrop, taro fields, pineapple fields, sugarcane, corn, etc. etc. Highlight i guess was a great trail through the jungle so fun we rode it twice.
Back to Ricky's about 6:30, washup, and then dinner at Rick's on-site restaurant. Food was excellent Thai. After dinner about 9:00 PM we all piled into Rick's Van and he drove us to the Hin Dat Hot Springs, a perfect way to relax after a long day on the bike. The springs are great, 43C, with a cool mountain stream running along side, so you can jump back and worth from steaming hot to icy cold as you like. Refreshing, rejuvenating, relaxing... and if you listen closely enough, you can still hear those m*^&^% f(*^$&&^ Japanese colonels cavorting with their lady friends... (Sai Yok Yai is about 20 km up the road from Hellfire Pass)
Up early the next morning for more riding. We headed south and east of Sai Yok as Brian and I were headed back to Bangkok. More excellent trails, but by the time we reach Sai Yok Noi, Alan's WR250s were acting up, so they were done for the day to make repairs. Brian and I headed south across the river and road dirt roads through the hills back to Kanchaburi and then back to Bangkok to close out the weekend.
A great time was had by all, and really nice to meet all the boys. Rick has a real nice spread there, well situated for all kinds of fun, and we are already planning the next trip up. Thanks Rick and Alan and everyone for the great weekend!!
Here are some pix, hope you like. Captions on top:
Sunrise over Baan Ricky
Ricky
The main house
The (first) bungalow, shared by me, Brian, and Noel.
Garage
Water tower left, main house right
Looking back towards the main house. 323 in distance. Mike in front of house.
Viewing stand for the MX Track, with bikes and gym below
The MX Track. Great view of the mountains in the distance.
One of Rick's several YZ's
Phil's bike, brought in from Oz i think
Michel on another YZ
Tat on the back of one of the Thai MX riders
Some guy we met on the trail
His friend. Check out those hands...
Swiss Mike, at breakfast
Woman topping peppers
Fuel stop
Trail
Clearing obstructions
Going under obstructions (Brian)
On the trail, Alan, Brian, Noel, Michel
Michel
Self Portrait
Noel, cathcing zome zzz'z waiting for riders to quit forking around and come on
Michel, taking a break
Dirt and mud
Dinner and a movie...
Boots
One of the wonderful views
The bike arsenal Ricky has is impressive and all the bikes are kept in a immaculate condition. There was a great international crowd from all walks of life, with one common passion: riding DIRTBIKES
