Lamphun to Khun Tan Railway Station - The long way

Ally

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Dec 13, 2007
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What fabulous weather we have right now in Chiang Mai. And to know there are so many roads out there, just begging to be ridden, I couldn’t wait to make another excursion.

If you want fast, curvy, mountains, views, railway station and a 350km loop from Chiang Mai, this ride is a real treat.

Setting out at 09:30 from Hang Dong and travelling down the tree lined 106 to Lamphun, I couldn’t help but think about this road 100 years ago. Has it changed that much? Apart from the tarmac and the electricity and paint, I doubt it very much.

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When you get into Lamphun, it’s a little confusing but if you know where the 106 enters and exits, 12:00 and 19:00 respectively, you just keep circling the town until you find this junction.

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The 106 south of Lamphun is a wonderful road in it’s own right, all the way down to Li but today I wanted to ride the 1184.

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At Mae Ao, I took the left onto the 1184 and finally free of any traffic, I enjoyed every straight & every curve. It is a fast road and a very good surface.

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At the bottom of the 1184, Ban Puang T junction, I took the left, towards Soem Ngam.

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I stopped for a break at Mae Fok Reservoir and watched this lady fishing. A tranquil setting, only my tinnitus to listen to, along with bird songs and the lapping water on the shore. After the last hour, this road surface was a pain but with care it was still enjoyable.

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After lunch & refuel at Soem Ngam (175 km’s from Chiang Mai), I continued north towards Lampang Luang. On arrival I saw how this area has now degenerated into a tourist spot, I didn’t bother stopping for a look at this fine temple, let alone take a photo of street vendors sqwarking around a carcus (sorry, just my cynicism). I now took the 1034 to Hang Chat and stopped at the Shell coffee shop and sampled their Americano with a Brownie.

Here I met Ake, who arrived at the coffee shop at the same time. We got chatting and it turns out he is a real entrepreneur, a couple of restaurants and a gym in Nakorn Sawan and a website
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which includes bikes, merchandise and would seem well linked with Harley Davidson in Thailand and a jolly nice chap too.

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Next it was west on the 11 to Mae Tha and then a U turn & left onto the 2031.

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My last trip down here a year ago was very disappointing, the road works rally messed the bike up. Well on joining the road I was smiling ear to ear but all that changed after about 5km’s. Between wet and spongy and dry and gravely, the road through to Tha Pla Duk was just like the lower half of the road I travelled last year.

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I took the right to join the 3003 up to Khun Tan National Park and visited the Railway Station.

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By now it was 16:00 and after giving kanom’s to as many of the dogs as possible and enjoying the walk amongst what seemed an old world place, frozen in time.

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The 16:15 from Lamphun was late and after waiting for a super snap of it trundling off into the tunnel, at 16:45 I gave up hope and continued my journey back to the 2031 and north to the 1230.

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I turned onto the 1229 and rode through to Mae On and finally back towards Chiang Mai & Hang Dong with the sun just hitting the horizon at 17:55 with another 181 km’s totalling 356 km’s.

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As with all my posts, there are a shed load of other photos in my albums here ...

Ally
 

Marco

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Oct 15, 2006
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Nice one Ally

Specially liked your starting and ending pictures,,,sound's like
good morning and good night...

keep em' coming
 

Ally

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Dec 13, 2007
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Thanks Marco, yes it sounds that way.

Quite a contrast to the brightness of so many other images we see.

Thanks for the comments.

Ally
 

Ally

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Dec 13, 2007
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Next time I will do that Colin, took me ages to get that red muck out of places I didn't know existed.

Tomorrow I will start cleaning the bike !

Ally
 

KenYam

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Nov 2, 2007
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Hey Ally another top effort - I am in the same boat as Pikey except I am here for maybe 6 weeks before going back to work so I am up for a ride anytime / anywhere that suits. I 've gotta say I think I will buy a Kawasaki 650cc for 225k if its all true bloody cheaper than a Pommy Truimph ah Pikey - shit its unbelieveable a 72 HP reasonable bike ( not a classic ) for 225K in Thailand. Anyhow I hope your new year is going as great as mine, cheers.
 

Ally

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Dec 13, 2007
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My next trip is planned already:

Wednesday 28th Jan 09:30 Big C/HomePro @ Hang Dong Road, down the 108 to Chom Thong, check out Mae Ya Waterfall that Slash posted this week, lunch in Chom Thong, down to Doi Tao & look at the water level and then back up the 106 for afternoon tea in Lamphun.

Pikey & Kenyam if you wanna come along I would be happy. Any others want a ride, see you at Big C next Wednesday.

Only condition is, you will need to put up with my camera :twisted:

Ally
 

DavidFL

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www.thegtrider.com
Ally wrote: My next trip is planned already:

Wednesday 28th Jan 09:30 Big C/HomePro @ Hang Dong Road, down the 108 to Chom Thong, check out Mae Ya Waterfall that Slash posted this week, lunch in Chom Thong, down to Doi Tao & look at the water level and then back up the 106 for afternoon tea in Lamphun.

Pikey & Kenyam if you wanna come along I would be happy. Any others want a ride, see you at Big C next Wednesday.

Only condition is, you will need to put up with my camera :twisted:

Ally
Slash
You might have competition following you - lift your game in the photo department! :roll:
Bring it on Ally :)
 

Marco

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Oct 15, 2006
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Seems like many of us looking for new KAWA,, i'm intrested as well, it would nice "side" kick, for local commuter.
 
Oct 4, 2006
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Liked the pictures - particularly the train station - looks like an old English branch line disappearing into a tunnel.
 

Ally

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Dec 13, 2007
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Yep, those signals and railway paraphernalia take me back a few years.

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My dad was a fireman on the Great Western and his dad was too! He used to enjoy listening to recordings of trains rattling over rails, under bridges and past water troughs & he would commentate the journeys from memory. Bless him.

He would have liked this place too.

Ally
 

KenYam

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Nov 2, 2007
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Ally see you tommorrow @ 0930 hrs Big C carpark Hang Dong for Bike ride - looks like the weather will be perfect. It would be great if a handfull of riders turn up and make a day of it hey.

regards Ken F
 

Ally

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Dec 13, 2007
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Brilliant Ken

Yes indeed it would make a good group ride, a variety of roads and a couple of places of interest.

See you tomorrow morning @ Big C !

Ally
 

Pikey

www.tbbtours.com
oops, just caught up on this thread and will have to skip this as I am in the shop until 8/2. The ride is happening as I write so I hope it turned out well.

I've a few friends coming soon and have planned a ride with them from 10/2 to 13/2 (4 days/3 nights). Proposed route is CNX to Chiang Rai via 107/Tha Ton/Doi Mae Salong/Mae Chan. Day 2 to Golden Triangle and kip in Chiang Khong. Day 3 down to Nan via 1148. Day 4 back to CNX via Phayao. Anyone wanting to join, meet at the X-centre for a 10am departure.

Cheers,

Pikey.