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.

Day 4 - Kampheang Phet to Chiang Rai

After a simple breakfast, we left the hotel at 10.30am to make our way northwards to Chiang Rai. The journey on highway 1 was rather boring and the road conditions left much to be desired. Loads of potholes and 'smooth road surface' 

After our lunch in Lampang, Highway 1 towards Phayao began to give us some twists and turns to make our ride more interesting. It was already about 5pm when we reach Phayao lake where we took a break for some photos. We had less than an hour of daylight left and there was 90km to go before we reach Chiang Rai.

We didn't plan to do any night riding in Thailand but we didn't had much choice. Along the last portion of the ride, it was already pitch dark and I pondered if we would have been better off spending the night in Phayao instead.

Checked in to Orchid guesthouse for 500b and went to the Chiang Rai night bazaar for dinner. We had beer at Paradise bar along Jetyod Road before going for a Thai massage and calling it a night.

Distance travelled: 470km

Ride time: 10.30am to 7pm

Quote of the day: We are getting lazy

Day 3 - Ratchaburi to Kampheang Phet

The train arrived late at Ratchaburi train station at 9.30am. (1 hour and 30 minutes behind schedule)

We quickly retrieved our bikes from the station master and geared up for the ride. Another 100B lost for tips.

It was already 10.30am and we had to make up for lost time. Today destination is Kampheang Phet town that I'm familiar with. We stopped for photos with the huge dragon sculpture at Suphan Buri where we had a quick lunch and jimmy replaced his blown headlight bulb.

Today's ride was straight forward and the sun was blazing. I was expecting it to be a little cooler.

We reached Kampheang Phet just before 6pm and quickly check into hotel for 340B.

Dinner was settled at the nearby market and we quickly returned to the room to have our bath and do our laundry. The smelly clothes have been on the back of my mind for the past 2 days. What a relief.

Quote of the day: I need to do my laundry

Distance covered: 430km

Ride time: 10.30am to 6pm

Day 2 - Bidor to Hatyai

It's not raining when we woke up.. But... My clothing is still wet. Reluctantly, we dragged ourselves out of bed as we suspect that the good weather wouldn't last. I decided to ride in my bermudas and we started at 9am after a simple breakfast opposite the hotel.

After 5 hours, covering the remaining 370km of the highway, we reached the Thai border at 2pm. Today's ride was straight forward and unremarkable but I did get a slight sunburn on my lower legs.

After clearing Thai immigrations and customs, we rode a further 60km to the Hatyai traIn station to arrange for the next part of our journey. By Thailand State Railway.

2nd class sleeper berth ticket from Hatyai to Ratchaburi cost 906B. (6.45pm to 8.15am)

Transport for our bikes cost 1220B + 200B tips for the porters.

As we still had 3 hours to spare till the evening train leaves, we went for a late lunch, quick bath followed by a well deserved body massage. It's good to be back in Thailand.

Upon boarding the train, we found out that the Thai railway has banned alcohol consumption/sale on the train. It's going to be a long long night for us.

Quote of the day: No beer on Thai railway.

Distance travelled: 430km

Ride time: 9am to 3.30pm

Day 1 - Singapore to Bidor

We arranged to meet up with Mark and Jonathan at Gelang Patah Petronas station at 2pm. 

(They were on their way to malacca to attend a friend's wedding)

But jimmy was late. It started pouring while we were waiting for him.

We tried waiting out the rain but it was in vain.

The show has to go on, so we wore our rain coats and started riding at 3pm.

It's was a wet wet ride all day. We were able to maintain a comfortable cruising speed of 90km until we ran into a thunderstorm at the Seremban area. It was dark, raining heavily and traffic was nearly at a standstill. I started doubting my decision of timing the ride as such as I already saw the stormy weather forecast beforehand. And we pressed on anyways.

We decided that it was not sensible and dangerous to carry on riding in the rain. It was 11pm when we turned off the highway into Bidor Town. We took 8 hours to ride 470km! 

After a quick dinner, we check in to a very nice KTC hotel for 98RM. Nice little hotel for a sleep over.

Quote of the day: Soaked to the balls.

Distance travelled: 470km

Ride time: 3pm to 11pm 

The little blue bird - Nighthawk 250

We last went on a long ride to Northern Thailand over 4 years ago in August 2010.
She is still running strong and had been a faithful transport motorcycle ever since.

The time has now come for another incredible adventure. Let the good time roll again.

1 man out

Uncle Fred has informed that he will be pulling out of the ride due to a fractured rib sustained last week. We wish him all the best for his recovery.

Nonetheless, the show has to go on.

It'll be 2 x Honda CB 250 Nighthawks for this trip.