Day 10 - Nong Rua to Khon Kean

Day 9 - Phare to Nong Rua

We moved off from Phare slightly earlier at 10.30am. Just out of town, we stopped for petrol and check out tyre pressure. I realized that I got a small nail in my rear tyre. Shit! Why me... Funny thing is that the tyre didn't seem to be losing much pressure if any. I decided to leave the nail in the tyre and monitor to make a decision later.

We took route 11 southwards to Phitsanulok and route 12 eastwards towards KhonKean. There was lots of road work on route 12. It was not easy as traffic was held up behind large trucks on 1 way lanes that were broken with lots of gravel and sand. There were limited safe overtaking opportunities.

We stopped for the night at Nong Rua town (45km west of Khon Kean) where Bua was waiting for us. She brought us to a very new Yothikran hotel for 400b a night and we went for Mookata dinner nearby.

At the end of the day, my tyre pressure was still holding well.

Quote of the day: I got nailed.

Distance travelled: 430km

Ride time: 10.30am to 6.30pm

Day 8 - Chiang Rai to Phrae

We visit Singha Park at Chiang Rai where they are having a mountain bike competition. Nice place but far too crowded today. Originally we had planned to stay over  at Uttaradit but we ran out of daylight and stayed over at Phrae instead. We got a room at the Nakhon Phare Tower hotel for 750B including breakfast. Good value.

Phrae is far larger than I thought. Lots of good food everywhere. It definitely less cold in Phare compared with Chiang Rai. Will definitely visit this place again!

Quote of the day: Smallest roundabout ever

Distance travelled: 270km

Ride time: 12pm to 6pm

Day 7 - Thoed Thai to Chiang Rai

Unwillingly, we made the trip down the mountains and headed towards Mae Sai for lunch but felt that it was too crowded when we got there. So we had lunch at the Golden Triangle instead. After taking some photos, we saw a group of Malaysian bikers from Penang. But they weren't very friendly so we left it as such. 

Today's plan is to stay at Chiang Sean but it was not to be. After 1 round around the town, both agreed that Chiang Sean is too small a town with nothing interesting except a commercial port. By this time, it was already 4pm, so we decided to head back to Chiang Rai for another night before proceeding southwards.

This time we stayed at Baan Bua guesthouse for 450B as Orchid guesthouse is full for the night. 

Quote of the day: We are tired and lazy.

Distance travelled: 130km

Ride time: 12pm to 5.30pm

Day 6 - Visit to Mae Salong

Jimmy likes Thoed Thai town a lot and has specially requested that we stay another night here to rest, relax and recuperate. We will be visiting Doi Mae Salong which is only about 25km away and return for the night. 

After lazing around all morning, we made the trip to Mae Salong at about 1pm. We are lucky that we brought small bikes on this trip as it will be very challenging with bigger and heavier bikes in the mountainous terrain with many steep hairpin climbs and descends.

Mae Salong town is visibly much more Chinese than Thoed Thai where there's more of an ethnic mix. Although the food was good and we had a great lunch, and some ladies in ethnic dress tried to sell us trinkets, there wasn't much to see at the marketplace. It is also more commercialized with many guesthouses and teahouses available.

Another 5km up brought us up to the temple with a spectacular view of the mountains and Mae Salong town. This view alone is worth the trip.

We got back to Thoed Thai town at about 5pm. While having some cup noodles outside the 7-11, we saw a couple of ambulances rushing out, and back into town. Later that evening, we learnt that there had been an accident and 2 guys on a motorbike had passed away. We really need to have much more respect for these mountain roads and ride more cautiously.

Quote of the day: I'm in China

Distance travelled: 65km

Ride time: 1pm to 5pm

Photos will uploaded later as I'm not used to using a Samsung.

Day 5 - Chiang Rai to Thoed Thai

Stayed in bed late today as we anticipated an easy 100km+ ride only. But as usual we were proven wrong again. We woke up 10.30am with heavy heads after drinking till 4am the night before and had breakfast nearby before setting off at 12pm.

The drama started immediate as I meet with a minor accident at the Chiang Rai clock tower roundabout barely 500m from our hotel. A bike tried to overtake me from me left as I was trying to exit the roundabout and I had to jam my brakes to avoid a collision. Lost traction on the front wheel and down I went with the bike. Luckily there was minimal damage on my body and the bike. The bastard ran away but I escaped injury as I was properly dressed for the ride.

Shaken but undeterted, I realized that my riding was noticeably more cautious today. We made our way to Doi Hua Mae Khem to visit the hill tribe village village and market. But we left disappointed as there was nothing remarkable to see. The mountain air is fresh and the views were great but journey was not easy as the road conditions were not good to say the least. Not worth the ride.

We retreated about 30km down and stayed in Thoed Thai town instead. The weather is noticeably cooler in the highlands once the sun is down. Nothing much in this town with only a few small guesthouse, a 7-11 and a few Karaoke bars. Well at least we got a nice room at the Rim Tann guesthouse, a decent dinner and some nice cold beer for the night.

Distance travelled: 140km

Ride time: 12pm to 5pm

Quote of the day: Stupid roundabout.