Route queries

Jul 19, 2007
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Hi,

We are a few riders working together at Sepon Gold and Copper in Savannakhet. Next week we're planning a short ride down south. Pakse - Attapue - Salawan - Sekong.

Has anyone driven on Route 18 between Thang Beng and Attapue lately. What is the state of the road?

Next question - has anyone been on the road between Salavan - Muang Nong - Ban Dong (exiting on route 9). Any difficulties?

I am on a Honda Africa Twin with road tires. The other guys are on 250's with off road tires so either I find a new set of tires quickly or pursuade the guys to take an easier route.

Cheers
 
Jul 19, 2007
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Thanks for the tip - exactly the info we were looking for. I am not sure I'll attempt it even with knobbies on - but it depends on the weather I guess.

...mushi...??? Sorry - that one zipped by just over my head.
 
Jan 22, 2005
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Hi Seterik,

Rt 18: The road/dirt track sand and bull dust is OK, it's the river crossings that can bring you some grief. We went through here 2 months ago on a BMW 650 riding 2Up and the water was Balls deep in a couple of places. Now that it's been raining some, I'd think the water to be deeper yet...

Cheers,
David and Mai
Chiang Khong
 

DavidFL

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David wrote: Hi Seterik,

Rt 18: The road/dirt track sand and bull dust is OK, it's the river crossings that can bring you some grief. We went through here 2 months ago on a BMW 650 riding 2Up and the water was Balls deep in a couple of places. Now that it's been raining some, I'd think the water to be deeper yet...

Cheers,
David and Mai
Chiang Khong
Why not contribute a brief trip report + photos to share all the info with us.....
 

bill

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Mar 29, 2004
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David wrote: Hi Seterik,

Rt 18: The road/dirt track sand and bull dust is OK, it's the river crossings that can bring you some grief. We went through here 2 months ago on a BMW 650 riding 2Up and the water was Balls deep in a couple of places. Now that it's been raining some, I'd think the water to be deeper yet...

Cheers,
David and Mai
Chiang Khong
I would agree with that.
Even in late Jan 2009 some of the creek crossings on Rt 18 were deep enough to have the exhaust outlet on my DRZ burbling underwater as I exited up the embankments.

If I did it again I would time it for late Feb, ie end of dry season but before the first rains.
 
Jul 19, 2007
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That sort of does it for me - I'll do the light version of the trip and let the Young One's deal with the hard part.

My job will be to find accomodation and make sure the beer is chilled.

One the way to work from Vte to Sepon a couple of week ago a collegue and I managed to take a wrong turn southeast of Xaybuathong, south of Mahaxai and we ended up with no road going across muddy ricefields then had to ford Xe Noi to get onto Route 10 about 50 km north of Vilabouly. A lot of work. Have some pictures but don't not sure how to post them.
 

camski

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Apr 23, 2009
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Hi Set,

Looks like youre planning a similar trip to myself. Unfortunately im not on field break until the 18th of the month otherwise would have been good to catch up and put a face to the name.

Regards
Cam (PBM)
 

Moto-Rex

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Jan 5, 2008
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I was speaking to a young English couple who said they rode RT18 two up on a musket about one month ago.

UPDATE 29/5/09....Im starting to think that young english couple were getting there roads mixed up. Either that, or it's a lot differant in the dry to what it is now.
 
Jul 19, 2007
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We have now successfully been there and come back. On the day the 3
young guns in the group got a late start from Attapue towards Phou Asa
on Route 18a. They crossed the 1st river without problems. By now there
was a serious rainstorm going and the road turned to "ice". Two of the
guys crossed the 2nd river but the 3rd managed to drop his bike twice.
The second time it almost floated away. On land they could not get is
started again and started to tow it. Tow rope made out of a belt and a
bike lock . The 3rd guy went ahead and found a village and called on the
rescue service. A mechanical buffalo was dispatched and that's how they
road into the village where they spent the night.

The next day they managed to get the bikes started again but got lost
and instead of continuing on 18a they found a track going back up to the
plateau where they exited at the y-intersection at Pakchong. It was very
steep and extremely slippery - 1st gear - straddling the bikes and
pushing with the feet. Still each of them dropped their bikes several
times.

I am glad I did not go - me and the other old boy in the group went back
to Pakse on the main road.
 

Moto-Rex

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Jan 5, 2008
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Seterik wrote:

Next question - has anyone been on the road between Salavan - Muang Nong - Ban Dong (exiting on route 9). Any difficulties?

Cheers
Thanks for that update Seterik. Did you happen to give the Salavan-Ban Nong track a shot?
 

bill

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Mar 29, 2004
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Seterik wrote: We have now successfully been there and come back. On the day the 3
young guns in the group got a late start from Attapue towards Phou Asa
on Route 18a. They crossed the 1st river without problems. By now there
was a serious rainstorm going and the road turned to "ice". Two of the
guys crossed the 2nd river but the 3rd managed to drop his bike twice.
The second time it almost floated away. On land they could not get is
started again and started to tow it. Tow rope made out of a belt and a
bike lock . The 3rd guy went ahead and found a village and called on the
rescue service. A mechanical buffalo was dispatched and that's how they
road into the village where they spent the night.

The next day they managed to get the bikes started again but got lost
and instead of continuing on 18a they found a track going back up to the
plateau where they exited at the y-intersection at Pakchong. It was very
steep and extremely slippery - 1st gear - straddling the bikes and
pushing with the feet. Still each of them dropped their bikes several
times.

I am glad I did not go - me and the other old boy in the group went back
to Pakse on the main road.
Seterik
Thanks for the update.
Glad I didn't lead you astray with my cautionary advice.
Late Feb is the go for that track, and its a very worthwhile ride if you can get time off then.
 

jerome

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Feb 1, 2006
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hi seterik,
looking forward to see your pictures!!got some feedback from shayne!
how s the AT is doing?
jerome