Day 4 - Isaan's northern roads, following the Rivers Hueang & Mekong, Thailand - The end

When I went down for breakfast it was drizzling, although it was my last day and the ride home, I didn’t relish getting wet through.
Once I had packed the bike it was still coming down, time to go.
A bit of luck, about 2 k’s down the road it had stopped and the roads were dry.
The plan was to take the 2 to Udon Thani then follow the ring road round to the 210, which goes to Nong Bua Lam Phu, then the 228 in to Chum Phae and home.
On my way into Udon I missed the ring road turning as I was in the wrong lane and ended up in a short tunnel, a quick about turn and I was on the right road.
It was, however, a bit of a boring road so I set the sat nav for some smaller roads and had a good ride, eventully!

Total of 790.6 k’s over the 4 days.



























Wayne

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That time came around again. It was time to visit my not so local Immigration Office for my 90 day report. Instead of taking the car and going down the main dual carriageway I decided to take the bike and take a more scenic route, going on the dual carriageway is about 220km round trip, scenic route was about 234. Most of the journey is done on Route 2159.
I took the same route out and back. Just riding straight there and looking about then on the way back stopping at Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya University (Chaiyaphum Monk University), Mueang Chaiyaphum, the Chaiyaphum Provincial Culture Centre and the entrance to the Phu Laen Kha National Park.
There was also time for a nice coffee at the Warmhouse Cafe and Bakery at N 16.14639 E 101.90717, very nice indeed
I also stopped at Robinsons in Chaiyaphum to go to Top Market to get some bits I cannot get in Chum Phae.
Anyway it turned a mundane run out into a good run out.












Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya University (Chaiyaphum Monk University), Mueang Chaiyaphum






Chaiyaphum Provincial Culture Centre












Warmhouse Cafe and Bakery






Wayne

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A quick ride out to Chulabhorn Dam Pt 1

The weather was nice, so why not.
I had a quick ride out to Chulabhorn Dam, N16.53404 E101.64905, its a bit further down the road where I went for a coffee in my first post on this thread.
A nice place which is well manicured and looked after.
There is a coffee shop there and a place to get some food.

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A quick ride out to Chulabhorn Dam Pt 2

I wanted to stop and get a nice fresh ground coffee at the viewing point from my first post, but when I got there the lady was no longer there, just someone selling instant. So I had a bottle of water a rode home to have a Coffee and my shop

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A Day Out Exploring 010823 Pt 1

I get out on the bike quite a bit, but mostly popping into town or doing a quick loop around my area. It's been a while since I went out properly.

I have been down the 2216 a few times now, both on the bike and in the car and as you're traveling towards Nam Nao on the right there is a good range of hills just south of the Phuphaman National Park and I have fancied seeing if you could get through them traveling from east to west and ending back up on the 2216.

I plotted a series of waypoints on the Montana, A to L which gave me a rough route to the 2216 and set off the following day.





The weather held off (nearly) and I had a good days ride. I took my mini compressor, tyre gauge and puncture repair kit in the tank bag, along with a hot coffee from my coffee shop. Then it was off to the fuel station on the 12 before heading up the 201 for a bit and slinging a left heading towards the 2216















Wayne

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A Day Out Exploring 010823 Pt 2

As I started to hit the hills the road went from normal to a mix of gravel track and hard compact mud and it stayed like this until I was back on the 2216. I let about 10lbs of pressure from both my front and rear tires to give me a bit more grip.
There was also a place where cars had to ford across a what looked like a small river, on inspection it looked very slippery, fortunately there was a metal bridge big enough for bikes to cross. If I had had to cross the ford I think I would have been sat in the water!

Once on the 2216 I stopped for a coffee, waited until the tires had cooled down a bit and put some more air in before continuing on home. Whilst at the Coffee Shop the rain came down, although it didn't last long.





























Wayne

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Another day out exploring 160823 pt 1

When I went for another 90 day report in Chaiyaphum my wife came with me this time and we went in the car along the dual carriage way and on the way back I was gazing out of the window as you do and got to thinking if I could get across the hills to the west of Kaeng Khro. I wanted to cross both ridges traveling east to west traveling across the bowl in the middle.
So a rough route was planned just using waypoint markers and a few days later I set off to see what the day would throw at me.





The first 45k's was just down the dual carriageway heading towards Chaiyaphum then I slung a right and started heading west.

Crossing the first ridge was on narrow concrete roads at first then it went onto a hard compact mud track, then back onto concrete road.





















Once I had crossed the ridge I headed south as I wanted to visit a temple I had seen when looking at my route, the view was great.
Temple Prong Chang Pha Sawan, N16.07911 E102.09968











Wayne

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Another day out exploring 160823 pt 2

From the Temple I went towards a dam across the Lamprathao Bon Reservoir but I found out the the road had collapsed. So I decided to carry on crossing the bowl and continue with the journey rather than go round.



I rode in a southwest direction heading towards Chaiyaphum and went past the entrance to the Tat Ton Nature Park and Waterfall But did not go in, although I might take my wife one day.
Then I headed towards another viewpoint I wanted to go see on the ridgeline at the other side of the bowl.
This turned out to be interesting, especially on a bike weighing in at about 200kg

The track started off nice and flowing









Then it got worse







I came across a fork on the track, which was not on my mapping, forward was sloppy mud and slightly right was dry and uphill. I only had about 800 meters to where I needed to be but clearly this wasn't a beaten route.
I decided to go straight on, so I left the bike and walked down the track looking for the best route through. I wouldn't have bothered if I had been on my old CRF250x.
Anyway, route decided and off I went, and the bike started sinking and the rear wheel was spinning. I had to help paddle the bike through, I got a bit of a sweat on. It was only about 100m and I was back on the dry, thankfully.

Then I was at the viewpoint. Phahuanak View Point, N16.05659 E101.94893


Left fork took me to the car park



A coffee and a bottle of water was in order.













It was then time to start heading in the direction of home









Wayne

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Blue Lagoon, ‎⁨Phu Pha Man⁩, ⁨Khon Kaen⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩ 270823

Ohm. and I went for a ride out to the Blue Lagoon N16.66442 E101.83150.
I had seen it when I had been looking where to go on my previous trips out.
The place is a quarry which is filled with water and it's been turned into a bit of a tourist spot
There are a couple of places to eat local food and a small coffee shop. We got talking to the guy who owns the coffee shop, he's also a bike rider.
Once we had been there I took Ohm to a shrine she wanted to visit. Then it was home.
A good 6 hours out and only a few spots of rain.


























Pork noodle soup and Noddle Salad Isaan style








Wayne

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A few hours out, Isaan, Thailand 031023

I been a while since I managed to get out and go somewhere rather than popping into town due to the rainy season, it has started to ease off but its not quite finished yet
I took the plunge today and went out for a few hours an area where I had not been
So I stopped off and got my ritual hot coffee in my flask cup from our shop and off I went.





It was good to get out, and I was time to test out my new gear on a decent run, see separate thread.






Fields were still flooded


Rivers still high




Catching the days food











I also found quite a nice temple on the way, I caught a glimpse of it in my wing mirrors so went back to check it out.
Wat Pa Phu Phrabat N16.43877 E102.24201





















Wayne

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More time out on the bike exploring Isaan, 161023

It was good to get out again. I went roughly in the same direction as my last day out, but further east heading closer to Khon Kaen.
As usual the roads were a mix of tarmac, concrete and loose gravel.





The temple, I couldn't get the name, is at N16.37508 E102.22701.
The ground is still wet in places and flooded but I was surprised the reservoir was not higher

My new riding gear is working well, jeans are a bit warm but not overly (no worse than my old RST trousers) and the jacket is doing a great job of letting the air flow through.









































Wayne

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3 days, Isaan and beyond 281123

The plan was to go up north and see Snakeboy from this site, as I have not seen him since around 2017/18 due to other commitments. We first met when we rode together in Laos early Jan 2015. So I was looking forward to the trip. Then the plan was to go further up north to meet some likeminded people from the GT riders forum, https://www.gt-rider.com/se-asia-motorcycling/ , and have some food, drink and banter.

Day 1 Home to near Lampang.

I set off at about 0630 as my trusty Montana 600 was saying about 430k's to where I need to be and I am not getting any younger so I like to be able to stop as frequently as necessary. The journey as to take me roughly west on the 12 then north on the 11
I was cold when I sent off and there was some mist on the early stages of the 12 cutting through the mountains. I was wearing my new gear and my arms we stinging with the wind blast, at least I know the jacket is working well and letting air in!!





Both on the 12 and 11 there were good dual carriageway roads twisting and turning through the mountains dotted with great views, which meant I didn't not have to ease up on the throttle as much and the ride flowed well.


‎⁨Phu Pha Daeng Wildlife Preserve Area⁩, ⁨Lom Sak⁩, ⁨Phetchabun⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩














‎⁨Khao Kaeo⁩, ⁨Khao Kho⁩, ⁨Phetchabun⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩






‎⁨Nakhon Thai⁩, ⁨Phitsanulok⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩



Wayne

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Day 1 continued

Snakeboy had given me co-ords to a Temple which was on route, very nice it was too..

‎⁨Wat Phra That Suthon Mongkhon Khiri⁩, ⁨Den Chai⁩, ⁨Phrae⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩. N17.97569 E100.01490

















Then it was back on the road to Snakeboy's for the last hour








Meeting an old friend


Some great Northern Thailand food and hospitality, delicious





Wayne

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Nice!

Plan to tour Thailand in 2024 and I will ship my bike from Kota Kinabalu to Port Klang and then ride up North to the Thai/Malaysia border crossing.

Hope we can meet up!

You’re welcome to stop by for coffee and local food if you are coming in this direction. I am about 10km from Chum Phae
Message on here or pm me when you have a plan

Wayne

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