It was a chilly morning when I left, but the white silk scarf prevented draughts.
It was clear up to Kiu Satai but foggy on the west side of the mountains
By midday I was on the 1346 to Phrao, always a pleasure.
My dream touring bike
Went to have a look at the hot springs in Phrao
There were a couple of pools to go in, but I didn't linger
First night stop was to be in the Pong Duet Hot Spring, off the 1095 up to Pai. I'd been there in the rainy season and knew it was a great place to be in the cold weather.
The cold air and hot mineral bath was most therapeuthic..
Got the hammock up before dark
and cooked some dinner.... a very average cheese broccoli quick meal
After a cold night, I was in the hot spring early next morning. Great to lie in a hot stream in the jungle.....
Next morning at a lunch stop, came across a couple of huge tea leaf drying and processing machines, at the back of a restaurant.
The Thunderbird has landed...
It was a beautiful clear day and I had great views from the Kiew Lom Viewpoint NW of Pai. I could clearly see Doi Chiang Dao on the skyline, 60 klms to the east.
An hour later, the view at Pangma Pha viewpoint was also great.
Next campsite was above the Pai river just north of Mae Hong Son.
While there, I saw several inflatable boats pull in to the bank, just arrived from Pai, by river. That's along way in a rubber boat, but I bet the scenery is great.
Rode into the city to visit Herbert at the Pizza Primavera restaurant, for some decent dinner.
Next morning, I cooked some fish sticks....... which were disgusting.......
So, warmed up some smoked ham, which was pretty good with home made bread.
Then rode off south to my main destination.
David and Herbert had both mentioned, that north of Khun Yuam, the road 4009, from Ma Ja, up into the mountains and to Nong Khiaow lake, had been concreted and was well worth a ride. How right they were..........
Here is the turn off the 108, about 25klms north of Khun Yuam.
1. What a road, 4009.... Spectacular...... Steep, sharp hairpin bends and a rapid scary ascent up high into the mountains.
It's on a par with the 4018 Phaya Phipak road and the 1149 Doi Chang Moob Burma ridge road, both in Chiang Rai.
No-one else on the road. Beautiful scenery.
Some of this is really quite scary when on a 60 year old bike, with little 7" single leading shoe drum brakes....
But we made it to the top and pretty quickly, you've gone up over 1,000m, where the views are stunning.
From this point you can see the road and the ridge you just rode up.
Then soon you come to..
2. Nong Khiaow Lake.
A lovely spot. The lake is a couple of klms long. I didn't have time to check it out unfortunately, but it is promoted as a tourist destination and there is an interesting hill tribe village next to it.
Riding on, after about 15klms, you come to..
3. Mae Surin Waterfall. A beautiful waterfall, hidden in the cleft of a gorge. Probably the tallest single fall in the country.
I had planned to hike down to the base of the fall, but the NP rangers said No can Do. Doubtless a steep trail and perhaps they were just not keen on doing it......
I set up camp at the waterfall. The campsite was big enough for about 100 tents....... but only me there..... and total darkness after the sun set.
After a very cold night, a couple staying in a little cafe up the road, had a welcome fire going.....
I had another quick look at the spectacular waterfall. You can see it on Google Earth clearly.
This fella was just hanging near me in the morning.... as big as your hand.....
Then I rode off to...
4. The BuaTong Fields. The flowers had finished a couple of weeks earlier. But well worth a visit if you haven't seen them before, at the end of November. Although the area does get very crowded with Thai tourists.
In this shot, you can see the next destination with the communications tower on the top..
On a tip-off from David, I had found.....
5. Phu Chee Phuea.
Few people know about this mountain I would guess. Just one little wooden sign in Thai.
I followed the 4 klms of dirt road, wet and sticky in places...
and could soon see better, the south side of Phu Chee Phuea.
I parked at the gatehouse and walked the rest of the steep way up.
A good climb up.. with a 50m set of exposed steps cut into the mountainside and no handrail. Not for those who suffer from vertigo..
On the top; 18 deg 53'17"N 98 deg 06'39"E
This is looking roughly east to south at 10:00 in the morning, so a better view on this side in the afternoon.
Difficult to see in a photo as looking into the sun, but I could make out the huge mound of Doi Inthanon to the SouthEast over 50 klms away.
3 chimes on the bell needed to show respect to the spirits of the mountain.
Solar powered communications tower. A couple of guys were building a bathroom nearby and I saw a pickup, as there is another dirt road going round the back of the mountain right to the top.
Definately one of the best high vantage points in the north. This is looking roughly northwest down to the Buatong fields.
Due to the shape of this mountain and lack of large trees at the summit, the vistas in all directions are incredible.
This is a panoramic view from a small house about halfway to the summit on the southwest face. There is a small rectangular balcony you can sit on and admire this very special view. This is a 180 degree panoramic view from northwest to southeast.... Stunning...
The photograph doesn't do it justice........ you need to be there.......!
After walking down the mountain and riding back down the dirt road, I rode off the rest of the 4009 and then onto the 1263 for the usual lovely ride along the rest of the short MHS loop through Mae Chaem.
Doi Inthanon was looking good on a such a clear day.
So, next time you get a chance...... ride the 4009.
There are so many good reasons why.........
It was clear up to Kiu Satai but foggy on the west side of the mountains
By midday I was on the 1346 to Phrao, always a pleasure.
My dream touring bike
Went to have a look at the hot springs in Phrao
There were a couple of pools to go in, but I didn't linger
First night stop was to be in the Pong Duet Hot Spring, off the 1095 up to Pai. I'd been there in the rainy season and knew it was a great place to be in the cold weather.
The cold air and hot mineral bath was most therapeuthic..
Got the hammock up before dark
and cooked some dinner.... a very average cheese broccoli quick meal
After a cold night, I was in the hot spring early next morning. Great to lie in a hot stream in the jungle.....
Next morning at a lunch stop, came across a couple of huge tea leaf drying and processing machines, at the back of a restaurant.
The Thunderbird has landed...
It was a beautiful clear day and I had great views from the Kiew Lom Viewpoint NW of Pai. I could clearly see Doi Chiang Dao on the skyline, 60 klms to the east.
An hour later, the view at Pangma Pha viewpoint was also great.
Next campsite was above the Pai river just north of Mae Hong Son.
While there, I saw several inflatable boats pull in to the bank, just arrived from Pai, by river. That's along way in a rubber boat, but I bet the scenery is great.
Rode into the city to visit Herbert at the Pizza Primavera restaurant, for some decent dinner.
Next morning, I cooked some fish sticks....... which were disgusting.......
So, warmed up some smoked ham, which was pretty good with home made bread.
Then rode off south to my main destination.
David and Herbert had both mentioned, that north of Khun Yuam, the road 4009, from Ma Ja, up into the mountains and to Nong Khiaow lake, had been concreted and was well worth a ride. How right they were..........
Here is the turn off the 108, about 25klms north of Khun Yuam.
1. What a road, 4009.... Spectacular...... Steep, sharp hairpin bends and a rapid scary ascent up high into the mountains.
It's on a par with the 4018 Phaya Phipak road and the 1149 Doi Chang Moob Burma ridge road, both in Chiang Rai.
No-one else on the road. Beautiful scenery.
Some of this is really quite scary when on a 60 year old bike, with little 7" single leading shoe drum brakes....
But we made it to the top and pretty quickly, you've gone up over 1,000m, where the views are stunning.
From this point you can see the road and the ridge you just rode up.
Then soon you come to..
2. Nong Khiaow Lake.
A lovely spot. The lake is a couple of klms long. I didn't have time to check it out unfortunately, but it is promoted as a tourist destination and there is an interesting hill tribe village next to it.
Riding on, after about 15klms, you come to..
3. Mae Surin Waterfall. A beautiful waterfall, hidden in the cleft of a gorge. Probably the tallest single fall in the country.
I had planned to hike down to the base of the fall, but the NP rangers said No can Do. Doubtless a steep trail and perhaps they were just not keen on doing it......
I set up camp at the waterfall. The campsite was big enough for about 100 tents....... but only me there..... and total darkness after the sun set.
After a very cold night, a couple staying in a little cafe up the road, had a welcome fire going.....
I had another quick look at the spectacular waterfall. You can see it on Google Earth clearly.
This fella was just hanging near me in the morning.... as big as your hand.....
Then I rode off to...
4. The BuaTong Fields. The flowers had finished a couple of weeks earlier. But well worth a visit if you haven't seen them before, at the end of November. Although the area does get very crowded with Thai tourists.
In this shot, you can see the next destination with the communications tower on the top..
On a tip-off from David, I had found.....
5. Phu Chee Phuea.
Few people know about this mountain I would guess. Just one little wooden sign in Thai.
I followed the 4 klms of dirt road, wet and sticky in places...
and could soon see better, the south side of Phu Chee Phuea.
I parked at the gatehouse and walked the rest of the steep way up.
A good climb up.. with a 50m set of exposed steps cut into the mountainside and no handrail. Not for those who suffer from vertigo..
On the top; 18 deg 53'17"N 98 deg 06'39"E
This is looking roughly east to south at 10:00 in the morning, so a better view on this side in the afternoon.
Difficult to see in a photo as looking into the sun, but I could make out the huge mound of Doi Inthanon to the SouthEast over 50 klms away.
3 chimes on the bell needed to show respect to the spirits of the mountain.
Solar powered communications tower. A couple of guys were building a bathroom nearby and I saw a pickup, as there is another dirt road going round the back of the mountain right to the top.
Definately one of the best high vantage points in the north. This is looking roughly northwest down to the Buatong fields.
Due to the shape of this mountain and lack of large trees at the summit, the vistas in all directions are incredible.
This is a panoramic view from a small house about halfway to the summit on the southwest face. There is a small rectangular balcony you can sit on and admire this very special view. This is a 180 degree panoramic view from northwest to southeast.... Stunning...
The photograph doesn't do it justice........ you need to be there.......!
After walking down the mountain and riding back down the dirt road, I rode off the rest of the 4009 and then onto the 1263 for the usual lovely ride along the rest of the short MHS loop through Mae Chaem.
Doi Inthanon was looking good on a such a clear day.
So, next time you get a chance...... ride the 4009.
There are so many good reasons why.........
