Riding the Kok river in full flood

[ianyonok]

The Kok river was at a near record high about a week ago, so I decided it was time to ride down it.

Rode over to Thaton early morning and paid 1500 Baht for the experience.
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Some willing helpers included in the fee.
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Off we go.
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Past the Shan temple in Tha Makeng
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The boatman decided it was safest to negotiate the bridge at Wiang Pia, in reverse.
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No problem, a good 6" of clearance above the KLX
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Watch out for flotsam
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Past the old Huay Khum Resort
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There were a couple of other boats about
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Watch out for rocks

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Some rough water
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The most beautiful time of year and blue skies sometimes.
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Plenty of partly submerged trees

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A slower way to do it
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Through some rapids
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The beautiful Lam Nam Kok National Park
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Pulled in for lunch at My Dream Guesthouse
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Base camp for trekking
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On down the river to the "motorcycle bridge"
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More rapids......
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..... and rocks
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I went as far as the National Park Headquarters as the rest of the river is not so exciting. The boatman and I manhandled the biked out onto the grass.
What an incredible ride............
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[ianyonok]

The rest of the day...........

I decided to try and ride back northwest along the south side of the river.

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The bridge has definately seen better days. The first time I rode this there were no hand rails.........!
<img src=""[url="http://s419.photobucket.com/user/ianyonok/media/KLX on the Kok/2013-08-01140753.jpg.html"]

A different view now

<img src=""[url="http://s419.photobucket.com/user/ianyonok/media/KLX on the Kok/2013-08-01141852.jpg.html"]

The route started easily
<img src=""[url="http://s419.photobucket.com/user/ianyonok/media/KLX on the Kok/2013-08-01142201.jpg.html"]

and got only smaller and harder
<img src=""[url="http://s419.photobucket.com/user/ianyonok/media/KLX on the Kok/2013-08-01142610.jpg.html"]
<img src=""[url="http://s419.photobucket.com/user/ianyonok/media/KLX on the Kok/2013-08-01143634.jpg.html"]

<img src=""[url="http://s419.photobucket.com/user/ianyonok/media/KLX on the Kok/2013-08-01144245.jpg.html"]
<img src=""[url="http://s419.photobucket.com/user/ianyonok/media/KLX on the Kok/2013-08-01144429.jpg.html"]
<img src=""[url="http://s419.photobucket.com/user/ianyonok/media/KLX on the Kok/2013-08-01145437.jpg.html"]

A new bridge over a tributary
<img src=""[url="http://s419.photobucket.com/user/ianyonok/media/KLX on the Kok/2013-08-01150045.jpg.html"]
<img src=""[url="http://s419.photobucket.com/user/ianyonok/media/KLX on the Kok/2013-08-01150058.jpg.html"]

Now the trail gets tough as we climb up in the National Park.
<img src=""[url="http://s419.photobucket.com/user/ianyonok/media/KLX on the Kok/2013-08-01150543.jpg.html"]

It was about here I saw a large black cobra.
<img src=""[url="http://s419.photobucket.com/user/ianyonok/media/KLX on the Kok/2013-08-01151020.jpg.html"]

and tougher still (this was steep).....
<img src=""[url="http://s419.photobucket.com/user/ianyonok/media/KLX on the Kok/2013-08-01152036.jpg.html"]

...until impossibly steep. I could not get up this on my own and I checked a further 50m of steep trail. I'll be back here in the dry season with a friend to help push bikes up this hill.
<img src=""[url="http://s419.photobucket.com/user/ianyonok/media/KLX on the Kok/2013-08-01152943.jpg.html"]

When you no longer see other bike tracks, you know it will be tough... Nothing for it but to ride back to Chiang Rai.

This how the locals do it
<img src=""[url="http://s419.photobucket.com/user/ianyonok/media/KLX on the Kok/2013-08-01160617.jpg.html"]

The new bridge over the Kok, just northwest of the Ruam Mitr elephant camp.
<img src=""[url="http://s419.photobucket.com/user/ianyonok/media/KLX on the Kok/2013-08-01170532.jpg.html"]

A great day was had..

 

[tehsk30]

A truly incredible ride n the awesome photos....

 

[101Pauly]

There's some great trail riding from near the bike bridge over up to Ban Kok Noi then up and over and down into Wawi... with fantastic views here and there... or continue to follow the south side of the river all the way to Tha Thon... did those rides last March though, no floods!

 

[Moto-Rex]

Very nice report Ian.

Stunning photos, I've got to do this one day.

Thanks Moto-Rex

 

[DavidFL]

That looks like it was a serious fun trip on the river with it in flood like that. Well done.
I really must sail the Kok sometime.