GT Rider Up Country Dinner # 25 - Sa Iab (the Sakthong)

[DavidFL]

November 2020 GTR Dinner

The GTR Dinner for November will be in Sa Iab on R1120.
Google Maps

The date: Wednesday 25 November.

Dinner venue: The place to be is the Sakthong Cafe
Google Maps
The Sakhong Cafe is brand new @ 5 months old.
Up market, the place is air con, spacious & well organized with a full value for money menu – Thai or farang.

The Sakthong is a well know winery company marketing their own Sakthong whiskies, wines & liquers.

and there are lots to try.

Accommodation

The place of stay is the Mountain Lodge, which is only 4 months old.

Google Maps

This is the only place on town.
There are only 22 rooms available & they want us to block book the resort.
There are two blocks @ 590 / 750 single or double bed.

First in first served - 790 or 590 baht double or twin bed room.

Block 1 is 590 baht for single or double bed.

Block 2 is 790 baht for single or double bed.

First in first served.

Block 1 is 590 baht single or twin. 5 Double & 5 Twin bed rooms.
Block 2 is 790 baht single or twin. 5 Double & 6 Twin bed rooms.

Block 1 - 590 Baht. 5 Twin & 5 Double rooms
1. Grahame Edwards 1 Double
2. Toenee 1 Double Bed
3. Mike Rust 1 Double Bed
4. Tom89 1 Double Bed
5. Tuen 1 Double Bed
6. Mark Lakota 1 Twin Bed
7. David Unk 1 Twin Bed

Block 2 790 baht. 5 Double & 6 Twin rooms
1. Tim & Vero 1 Double Bed
2. Steve Prince 1 Double Bed
3. Ian Rauner 1 Double Bed
4. Robert Hoghead 1 Double Bed
5. Brian Sage 1 Double Bed
6. Scotty 1 Twin Bed

All the double beds have now gone.
Only Twin Bed rooms left.

The Camper Van = Dave DKT @ 790 baht

Sa Iab
Sa Iab city is famous for the villagers resistance to stopping the Kaeng Sua dam on the Yom River.
Riding The Yom River & R1091
The forest cover around Sa Iab is beautiful & the road R1120 is as good as they get for riding.
Come in from Chiang Muan, Nan or Phrae, please yourself which way you come or go, but R1120 will rock on the day for big bike riding.

 

[mikerust]

Count me in for Block 2 also. Do we pay now or there?

 

[Tom89]

Put me down for Block 2 Double room

 

[DavidFL]

Mike Rust, Tom89 & ToeNee, the 790 baht block 2 doubles have gone already.
I will put you down for a 590 baht double in block 1

The current status
Block 1 is 590 baht single or twin. 5 Double & 5 Twin bed rooms.
Block 2 is 790 baht single or twin. 5 Double & 6 Twin bed rooms.

Block 1 - 590 Baht. 5 Twin & 5 Double rooms
1. Grahame Edwards 1 Double
2. Toenee 1 Double Bed
3. Mike Rust 1 Double Bed
4. Tom89 1 Double Bed
5. Tuen 1 Double Bed
6. Mark Lakota 1 Twin Bed
7. David Unk 1 Twin Bed

Block 2 - 790 baht. 5 Double & 6 Twin rooms
1. Tim & Vero 1 Double Bed
2. Steve Prince 1 Double Bed
3. Ian Rauner 1 Double Bed
4. Robert Hoghead 1 Double Bed
5. Brian Sage 1 Double Bed
6. Scotty 1 Twin Bed

All the double beds have now gone.
Only Twin Bed rooms left.

The Camper Van = Dave DKT @ 790 baht


Mike pay when you get there, but if you dont turn up you still have to pay.
It will be great to see you there.

 

[mikerust]

Cheers I'll be there.

What time on Wednesday are we expected? Roughly?

 

[DavidFL]

Cheers I'll be there.

What time on Wednesday are we expected? Roughly?

Get there when you feel like it.
Most guys would aim to be there about 4pm at a guess.

 

[DavidFL]

To confirm for Wednesday 25 November the GTR dinner at Sa Iab staying at the Mountain Lodge.

15 rooms have been booked
Wednesday 25 November

Block 1 - 590 Baht.
1. Grahame Edwards 1 Double Bed
2. Toenee 1 Double Bed
3. Mike Rust 1 Double Bed
4. Tom89 1 Double Bed
5. Tuen 1 Double Bed
6. Mark Lakota 1 Twin Bed
7. David Unk 1 Twin Bed

Block 2 - 790 baht.
1. Tim & Vero 1 Double Bed
2. Steve Prince 1 Double Bed
3. Ian Rauner 1 Double Bed
4. Robert Hoghead 1 Double Bed
5. Brian Sage 1 Double Bed
6. Scotty 1 Twin Bed
7. Dave DKT 1 Twin Bed
8. David Lek 1 Twin Bed

For any late comers please book your own room.

See you all there.

 

[DavidFL]

Sa Iab the GTR dinner venue tomorrow - Wednesday 26 November

Thirty Years of Resistance: Stopping the Kaeng Sua Ten Dam on the Yom River - EarthRights International

Riding The Yom River & R1091

See you all there

The Hotel
Google Maps

The Dinner venue
Google Maps

 

[DKT Dave]

Sure will. Looking forward to it.

 

[mikerust]

DavidFL,

Thanks for a great evening. Perfect for me for a first ride on a new (to me ) bike after a more than 10 year abscence from riding.
Great location, great company, nice hotel, nice cafe, too many free shots and I retired to bed before the karaoke and more free shots.
I hope Ian's eye is OK!

 

[DavidFL]

Another brilliant ride, night & event.
Even after 40 years here it never ceases to amaze me how some of these unknown, smaller towns & venues always come up trumps for friendliness, service and damn good vibes.
S Iab really is a nowhere place with NO 7-11 or ATM even! The closest one is in Chiang Muan 24 kms to the North.

But we hit the jackpot with both the Mountain Lodge & The Sakthong Cafe.

The delightful hotel owner.

Incredibly most people arrived within about 45minutes of each other, despite having different routes & departure times from wherever.

With the super clean fresh air, quite a few hang out in the car park chatting away as good bikers do.

Sorry I did not get anymore car park piccies, but I was of exploring the delights of Sa Iab city for which a stack of photos will come in a separate report.

Eventually we all gravitated to the wonderful clean air Sakthong Cafe, owned by the Mountain Lodge lady, & had a magnificent evening.
It was definitely an entertaining evening, with the first big group of farang ever & it was incredibly impressive how the staff were able to cope so well, efficiently & professionally with what must have been some serious training. Several people commented on how well trained & organized they were.

Hanging out in the restaurant

As agreed with management we moved into the large VIP dining hall for the real food and free samples of the renowned Sakthong hooch.

The royal hooch taster

Hotel reception doubled up as a bartendee and proved to be a gal with an almost insatiable thirst

The night fired up with karaoke singing by the owners daughter up from Bangkok, but was soon dominated by a night of Jimmy Barnes & ACDC on the big projection screen.
Apologies for the lack of photos from me, but I was too busy enjoying free shooters, plus making sure everything was running smoothly.

Closing down the Sakthong

The Sa Iab dinner was an absolute gem of an event & trip.
Many thanks to our new GTR friends at both the Mountain Lodge & The Sakthong.
Should anyone want to swing on by

The Mountain Lodge Facebook
Google Maps

The Sakthong Cafe Facebook
Google Maps

Two absolute gems in a super delightful up country rural town with no 7-11 or ATM - go check it out.
You wont be disappointed by the people at the Sakthong & the Mountain Lodge.
Highly recommended for something different, plus fantastic roads. R1120 rocks.

 

[DKT Dave]

A fantastic night in a great location. The most hospitable, fun loving owners and staff of a family run establishment you could hope for!

3 Cheers for the Sakthong Cafe and Mountain Lodge Hotel!

Some beautiful bikes in this group!

Bungy pointing out the Trip Box!

The Shooter station set up by the owners!

A late night shot of Robert with the bikes!

A sunrise car park pic.

Some immaculately presented bikes! Even the dust on these machines was clean!

The sun rising over the hills behind the Mountain Lodge.

 

[DavidFL]

A fantastic night in a great location. The most hospitable, fun loving owners and staff of a family run establishment you could hope for!

3 Cheers for the Sakthong Cafe and Mountain Lodge Hotel!

View attachment 138334
Some beautiful bikes in this group!

View attachment 138335 View attachment 138336 View attachment 138337
Bungy pointing out the Trip Box!

View attachment 138338 View attachment 138339 View attachment 138340
The Shooter station set up by the owners!

View attachment 138341 View attachment 138342 View attachment 138343
A late night shot of Robert with the bikes!

View attachment 138344
A sunrise car park pic.

View attachment 138345 View attachment 138346 View attachment 138347 View attachment 138348
Some immaculately presented bikes! Even the dust on these machines was clean!

View attachment 138349 View attachment 138350 View attachment 138351
The sun rising over the hills behind the Mountain Lodge.

Thanks a lot for those photos. I didn't get enough at the event.
But again, what a night & fabulous place.
5-stars for the Sakthong & their hospitality.

 

[Tom89]

A fantastic night in a great location. The most hospitable, fun loving owners and staff of a family run establishment you could hope for!

3 Cheers for the Sakthong Cafe and Mountain Lodge Hotel!

View attachment 138334
Some beautiful bikes in this group!

View attachment 138335 View attachment 138336 View attachment 138337
Bungy pointing out the Trip Box!

View attachment 138338 View attachment 138339 View attachment 138340
The Shooter station set up by the owners!

View attachment 138341 View attachment 138342 View attachment 138343
A late night shot of Robert with the bikes!

View attachment 138344
A sunrise car park pic.

View attachment 138345 View attachment 138346 View attachment 138347 View attachment 138348
Some immaculately presented bikes! Even the dust on these machines was clean!

View attachment 138349 View attachment 138350 View attachment 138351
The sun rising over the hills behind the Mountain Lodge.

A fantastic night in a great location. The most hospitable, fun loving owners and staff of a family run establishment you could hope for!

3 Cheers for the Sakthong Cafe and Mountain Lodge Hotel!

View attachment 138334
Some beautiful bikes in this group!

View attachment 138335 View attachment 138336 View attachment 138337
Bungy pointing out the Trip Box!

View attachment 138338 View attachment 138339 View attachment 138340
The Shooter station set up by the owners!

View attachment 138341 View attachment 138342 View attachment 138343
A late night shot of Robert with the bikes!

View attachment 138344
A sunrise car park pic.

View attachment 138345 View attachment 138346 View attachment 138347 View attachment 138348
Some immaculately presented bikes! Even the dust on these machines was clean!

View attachment 138349 View attachment 138350 View attachment 138351
The sun rising over the hills behind the Mountain Lodge.

Great photos David. It was a good night out with a good bunch of people.