31/5/2024

Na Suan, Si Sawat District to Mae Wong District, Nakhon Sawan
219km, about 4.5 hours ride time

Didn't sleep well at Baan Sanechadra as was thinking how to resolve the water ingress to my boots. Asked a mate who I was going to meet in a few days time to order for me a boot cleaner and waterproof spray. Hopefully, with a clean and waterproof spray the boots would work in inclement weather.

When I left Na Suan at 0915 the weather was glorious and the route had great views. Exactly what I wanted!

I stayed 2 nights at Mae Wong District. It's a small town and it doesn't even have a laundrette.

The room was huge and it had a covered car porch.
The original plan was to stay for a night only on the way to Sukhotai.
Decided to stay another night as the weather forecast wasn't that great and i did not want to get wet again.

It's the raining season at Thailand so it is what it is. My rain jacket and rain pants work well but the TCX boots were a real letdown.

Furthermore the rear disc brake pads were getting low and needed to be changed. I brought spare brake pads front & rear on this tour. I actually had 2 sets of the rear brake pads, a new EBC sintered compound which I like and a used Nissin brake pad which came with the bike but was changed out early.
I decided to tackle the rear pads job myself since I had a covered car porch.
My mechanical skills are what I would describe as shite or what you would say as born with 2 left hands!
All was well until I wanted to put the new EBC pads on the caliper and noticed that there wasn't much clearance to fit the caliper back with the new brake pads. I did not have the tool to push the brake cylinder back to gain clearance.
After 30 minutes of cursing and cussing I took the used Nissin brake pads which could still be used and the caliper slided in nicely.
So i did replace the rear brake pads but was using the used Nissin pads.

2/6/2024

Mae Wong District to Sukhotai
161km, 2.5 hours

Departed 0700hrs and arrived Sukhotai at 0930.
Weather was good.

Padthai is one of my favourite Thai food




Saw this at a Amazon coffeeplace.



Went to the museum and it was quite interesting

Next day went to the Sukhotai Historical Park. Did not rent a bicycle. Decided to walk as I needed the exercise.

4/6/2024

Sukhotai to Khao Kho, Petchabun
201km, around 3.5 hours

Left Sukhotai 0700.
Weather was very pleasant with nice scenery.
The route reminded me of the road I took at Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines.

5/6/2024

Khao Kho - Non Khun, Khon San, Chum Phae
173km, 3.5 hours riding

Departed Khao Kho at 0645. The ride was very peasant indeed 24 to 26 Celsius. Scenery was awesome and the road had some twisty sections.
Thumbs up!

Met up with Wayne who is a fellow member of HU. He and I had been communicating a few months before my tour started.
We had lunch and then I rode a short distance to my hotel.

6/6/2024
Chum Phae to Khon Kaen - Chum Phae
185km, 3.5 hours total ride

Day trip to Khon Kaen as there is a Triumph dealer there. Went to get the rear brake pads replaced and they also checked the chain tension and lubed chain.
Took an hour to get the rear brake pads sorted.

Wayne accompanied me on his Honda CB500X and we had coffee while we waited for my Tiger to be fixed.

On the way back from Khon Kaen to Chum Phae, I was stopped at a police checkpoint.
He asked for my driving license. When I gave him my Malaysian driving licence he asked for IDP (international driving permit). I told him that as per ASEAN agreement, member countries do NOT require IDP as the home country license would be recognized.
Thus my Malaysian driving license is valid at Thailand and vice-versa for a Thai driving license at Malaysia.
He was clearly fishing around for some money if I did not know the law.
He asked me to go and I winked at Wayne!

I do have a IDP but I let it lapse as it is valid till mid May only. The validity is for 1 year and since there is the ASEAN agreement on recognition of reciprocal driving license I did not bother to renew the IDP.

7/6/2024

Chum Phae to Chiang Khan
200odd kms, 4 hours

Met up with Wayne At Capell Coffee at 0840.
Took a few pcitures and we set off for Chiang Khan.
For once I did not use Google maps to lead me as Wayne was leading and I just rode behind him. We took an indirect route and not just following the 201 to Chiang Khan.

Scenery was awesome and we had lots of photo stops.

I only wish we had stayed another night at Chiang Khan as it looked like a cool place to chill.

When we arrived Chiang Khan, we did not have any accommodations organized yet. We went for coffee and I then rode out to a hotel I wanted to check out if it was suitable for us while Wayne continued his coffee. It was suitable for us and I rode back to Wayne and we went to check in.

I especially liked the Chiang Khan night market.

To me it was the best organized night market I had been at Thailand. It was orderly. Wayne and myself had a meal and drinks there.
This night market reminded me of the Seoul night market.

continued

I actually did not take many pictures and Wayne took all the pictures of me. When you are are traveling solo you don't get yourself in the pictures.