The first proper ride out on my new CB500x
I felt a bit like I was on a BMW, riding out to a coffee shop LOL. I've owned BMWs!
But it was a nice ride out.
The view point is on the way to Chulaphorn Dam in the Phu Khiao/Khon San area.
N16.50742° E101.69127°

The road there was good, going through a lot of villages, there was even a bit if gravel/dirt road to contend with, then heading in the the hills and mountains. Coming back I stayed on the bigger roads but even they were good. No stops on the way there or back as it was more of a run out for the new bike.
Once there the view was great. There was a food stand and a coffee place, they grow and grind their own beans.





















Wayne

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It was great getting out on the bike and doing a couple of days away.
I had just had my 1000km service so it was time for my friend from Roi Et and I to have a ride out.
We planned on going to the Phu Tap Beok and Phu Kradueng areas on some of the smaller roads. This happened on day one but day two was a bit hit and miss.

I was going to meet my mate at a PTT fuel station just outside Chum Phae as it was on the route to where we were going, rather than him come out of his way to come to mine. He had done 170km before we started the trip.




Ready for the off

Once I got to the station it was time for a coffee and wait, I was there about 30/40 minutes before Fred turned up



So, another brew was in order, then a fill up of fuel. We were then off!!


Day 1


Day 1 Google Earth


Close up of the last km's as we close in to the campsite

We had planned on stopping at a waterfall at the start of the trip, (hence the bit that sticks out early on the route) however when we got there it was closed. So we did an about turn and carried on. It was only about 8Km from our turn off so it was no great loss.
The roads on day 1 were great, some long straights, some long flowing corners and some tight hairpins later on. All with a lot of ups and downs, and I don't mean problems. So a good mixed day in my opinion
We didn't have places planned to visit we just stopped as and when for food and photos


Nam Nao





Once we had got some K's under the belt it was time to feed my stomach so we stopped at a noodle place on the outskirts of Nam Nao




Tom Yum Pork Noodles

Fed and watered it was time to get a shifty on.

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Once we had left the noodle place we continued on the 2216 and followed it all the way to where it meets the 21. We stopped a couple of times on the 2216 to take some photos but other than that it was just time to enjoy the road. The 2216, is about 100km long riding route in Phetchabun province of Thailand. Sweeping curves and tight corners, high elevation, steep up to 12% at certain stages. The best part of all, hardly any traffic.













From there we got on to the 21 for a bit then turned right at some traffic lights and got on to the 3013, this led us on to the 2372 before we turned right again and on to the 2331, which went up and up to the Phu Tap Beok. The 2331 is a scenic road with some great views of the valley below, lots of bends, and sharp up hill hairpins. You are climbing all the time.
Once we neared the entrance to the Phu Tap Beok National Park we slung another right and head up to where the campsite was.




Fred on his CB500x

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When we got to the campsite we parked up the bikes and went to pay for the pitch. If you don't want to carry a tent they have tents and small bungalows there for you to use. A pitch for your tent was THB 100, about GBP 2.40
Campsite Coords N16.89694. E101.10652



Some views from the campsite viewpoint, we were at about 1600 meters






This is the road we had just ridden




Time to set up shop for the night


A room with a view

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When we had got sorted out it was that time, o'clock
So we sat and chilled for a bit before going to get some food.



There was a restaurant a stones throw from where we were sleeping, so we walked over a grabbed a bit to eat.
There was a nice view from the restaurant.





I had a prawn kind of soup with some omelette in it with herbs. It tasted good, but little did I know I was going to reap the rewards later.



When we had finished eating we went back to the tents armed with some more and carried on the motion, it was also beginning to get a bit chilly, 15 degrees, some might say "that's not cold". I can agree. But having not had a winter in 9 years, living in Thailand and working in Iraq, then yes I was cold. Fortunately I had brought my fleece and Fred got in his sleeping bag after putting his fleece on.



We rounded the evening off with a tot of 15 year old Dalmore which I had put in a hip flask





As time was getting on, it was time to hit the hay
Then my fun and games began

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Well! All was going great, in the tent, nice and warm in the summer sleeping bag until about 0015 hrs and then it hit me, I am glad I woke up. I needed the loo so bad. The toilets were 5 baht a go and I had 3 coins. I managed to get there just in the nick of time. Such pain in my stomach. No loo roll but thankfully a bum gun. Anyway, that was done and I set off back to my tent and as soon as I got there I need to go again, another 5 baht down. Once I had done I managed to get back to the tent and have another 3 hours sleep before it hit me again, my last 5 baht. This time I stayed up as my stomach was churning. Now I think about it I think is was the prawns.
I stayed awake this time as I could not settle. On a plus side I managed to get some night shots of the valley below.
At about 0500 hrs I needed to go again, no 5 bahts, I did however have a tent, and a plastic bag, I will leave the rest to your imagination lol
By about 0600 the shops had started to open and I managed to get some change for the next round.
We were going to go to a temple on the top of Phu Tap Beok with a large stupa but I said to Fred that I need to find a Pharmacy in either Lom Sak or Lom Kao.
I needed some Imodium and quick. I do carry a First Aid Pack with bandages, plasters, and headache stuff etc but I didn't have any Imodium, school boy error on my part.
We left the campsite at around 0800 hrs after my last visit to the loo.










Just as the sun was starting to break

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