Royal Enfield Tour 2022. Part One.

[chrissables]

An enjoyable ride through parts of Isan and the north of Thailand.

Day one. 15.01.22 Pattaya to Ban Kruat. 487km.

A bit of a convoluted route to get to Prasat Khao Noi.

https://goo.gl/maps/5GVDVU1fxnDJRuPK6

I was going to visit some other sites, but with the camera having issues I gave them a miss.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vAOZzrrxxoO

[chrissables]

Day 2. 16 Jan.22 Around Buriram. 198km

Into town to buy a new camera battery and a few historic ruins on the way back to my hotel.

The first stop Prasat Hoa Woa

https://goo.gl/maps/cA1Ntx8BeP6tKsNQ6

The second stop was Prasat Kracharb Phong, basically a pile of rubble from an ancient Prasat in the jungle.

 https://goo.gl/maps/Jj5fJoHjU9tfEnyv6

My third stop was at Ancient Fort of Salaeng which I could not find, but I found a cannabis tree where it was supposed to be!

https://goo.gl/maps/4mHEkJA4PoUFMonp9

https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqorBW8Gy6

[chrissables]

Day 3. 17 Jan 22. Ban Kruat to Prasat Sdok Kok Thom. 237km

I took an early ride south today from Ban Kruat to Prasat Sdok Kok Thom, well worth the ride to view this place. It’s very clean and great to wander around for a while.

I did try to find another smaller temple, but either google was wrong or it’s behind barbed wire hiding in the jungle.

https://goo.gl/maps/sYobzRFJ5S4gHXdR9

https://www.relive.cc/view/v26MxB7AB3O

[VocalNeal]

Did you get up north yet?

[chrissables]

Day 4. 18.01.22 Around Ban Kruat Prasat hunting. 70km

Today’s first goal was https://goo.gl/maps/3Y7WCb48WX7R47gS8

I ended up riding through sand tracks until a dead end and a long way from it.

My next goal was Prasat Khok Kranan which with a local farmers help I found, just a piles of rocks in the jungle.

https://goo.gl/maps/smbmUWt5JBsHdRYZ6

 The last site was Prasat khao Plai Bat if my transliteration is correct. https://goo.gl/maps/MZKPy6C7aYKdLxvd9

Google maps took me to a place with no road according to a local farmer who suggested walking. I carried on and there was a machine building a way through the scrubland.

The farmer mentioned another way there, and I found out if you enter Wat Khao Plai Bat (it seems my transliteration was right). Keep going through the temple grounds as far a fork. I went right and parked at a monks place and followed signs to the top, about 25 minutes I guess. At the top a saw tracks back down which must the take the left fork. I have no idea if you can ride up, I may go again to try.

 https://www.relive.cc/view/vNOPYJwKM26

[chrissables]

1 minute ago, VocalNeal said:

Did you get up north yet?

Yes, posting now ????

[chrissables]

Day 5. 19 Jan 2022. Ban Kruat local Khmer sites. 147 km

Todays first site today was Prasat Khao Plai Bat 2

https://goo.gl/maps/ayqdXb2VJcYwuBMh7

 Near to Prasat Khao Plai 1 and an easy walk up once you find the Thai temple nearby. The problem is there a new roads that google does not recognize. It’s a steepish ride to the Thai temple, park up by the new building.

 Second site I went back to  Prasat Khao Plai Bat 1 to see if you could ride up. The way to find the route it seems is to walk up and walk down the car tracks to see where they come out. I did not bother.

The third site was Prasat Ban Bu, which is the grounds of a local school. The guy at the barrier allowed me access and to ride right up to the temple.

https://goo.gl/maps/bRugWAsmNebiHE9Z7

 Just up the road I stopped at Prasat Nong Bua Rai

Which I have been before.

 https://goo.gl/maps/CKwGY81z8RACtZfr5

 After a quick photo I rode to Prasat Nongkong

https://goo.gl/maps/Gxg1spha3FvrmFbY7

A few kilometers of easy compacted sand was an easy to ride up to the temple.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vdvmdnA9mxq

[chrissables]

Day 6. 20.01.22 Ban Kruat to Lopburi. 328 km.

A boring and unpleasant ride today, just straight and busy roads.

Lopburi seems closed, found a hotel which is ok, can’t find bars or restaurants that are open online.

I went to see a couple of the Khmer sites, the first one was not on google maps but in the center of town, Wat Indra.

Just around the corner was Prang Khaek, which was a better find. Monkeys everywhere though.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqDd8WxZwq

[chrissables]

Day 7. 21.01.22 Around Lopburi

I decided to stay local today, my first stop was

https://goo.gl/maps/f93Kb5hLbtSmD5iNA

Nice to view the tree roots growing through the walls and the lotus flowers.

Just up the road was an old building, but I am not sure of its name.

I then rode to https://goo.gl/maps/6ceJT11ADXsuycDm6

This is an ancient wall held up by scaffolding with an area of dog <deleted> and rubbish in front. Really needs cleaning up

Just down the road I could not find what I was looking for due to corrugated tin shacks everywhere and dogs that were not the most friendly!

https://goo.gl/maps/sVdyMn8JEJtjUkqw8

Onto another place with yappy dogs trying to bite my ankles.

Wat Nakorn Kosa

https://goo.gl/maps/TyZwMa2iZo7ydEs36

My last stop was Pra Prang Sam Yod

https://goo.gl/maps/9uP9tshktEF38UQv9

Totally taken over by monkeys and I was given a stick to ward them off if they get too feisty.

[chrissables]

Day 8. 22.01.22. Lopburi to Tak. 406 km

After leaving Lopburi I stopped to take a look at this old Khmer Temple, Wat Prathat

 https://goo.gl/maps/TsBMMAdjtC2ND11X6

Following that, a ride around Thai Switzerland before riding on to Tak.

https://goo.gl/maps/7iEnArphb4TZY1Pq6

https://www.relive.cc/view/vXOnwQJw856

[chrissables]

Day 9. 23.01.22. Around Tak 163 km

Today i took a ride to Khlong Wang Chao National Park

As I wanted to get high in the mountains as possible.

https://goo.gl/maps/UnuhvDQzQzR5e4Fi8

 A 220 baht entrance fee was too high considering what they offered.

There was a camping area near the park entrance on a river that was packed. As continued on up the mountain as my plan I came to a wooden bridge when the tarmac road finished. Usually no issues at all, but today I was not confident riding across at all. There were grooves in and I have a total lack of balance at times. The further I went I the mountain the less happy I was, so I decided to give it a miss and rode back

Very strange to feel like that and will go again on another bike.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vNOPYRYNW26

[chrissables]

Day 10. 24.01.22. Tak to Mae Sariang 368km

Today I decided to ride road 12 to Mae Sot as it been years since I last rode it. It was cold but great riding.

Along the R105 I turned up R1267 to the viewpoint Mon Kru Ba Sai.

https://goo.gl/maps/zPAtjZ3vmKTis9Y69

On my way up I was stopped and asked to pay an entrance fee off 200 baht. But after explaining I was just taking a photo at the view point he let me ride up with no charge. Good guy!

Next stop was Mon Khuy mountain (should be Mon Kluy)

https://goo.gl/maps/kzsKQdFf3x5Qcdnv7

I last rode up over 3 years ago and it was far more difficult this time, well for me on a Bullet!

From there on to Mae Sariang.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vXOd5RdL8k6

[Kwasaki]

4 minutes ago, chrissables said:

boring and unpleasant ride today, just straight and busy roads.

Just do a left or right off of them and be surprised of some back road journeys being more fun. 

[chrissables]

Day 11. 25.01.22 Mae Sariang to Pai. 292km

A cold start this morning but bright and clear. Just one stop at Ban Microwave, as always stunning views.

https://goo.gl/maps/2c3f3JtKtATv7pvf8

I carried on after the microwave towers to the high point, top of the world, where the best views are.

From there a nice ride to Pai.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vMq5W8oGP8O

 

[chrissables]

Day 12. 26.01.22. Pai to Chiang Mai. 196 km

Today was a lot colder than yesterday but I was prepared for it and really enjoyed a leisurely ride to Wat Chan then onto Samoeng Viewpoint before riding to Royal Enfield for a service.

They were booked a week ahead! But they agreed to do the work.

A slight issue refusing to answer if I was fully juiced up with the magic juice found me hunting for another hotel though. I was going to ask her if she had proof of not having HIV, but for once I kept quiet.

[chrissables]

Day 13. 27.01.22. Around Chiang Mai.

Today i went for a stroll around the walled city this morning which was enjoyable.
An afternoon ride up to Doi Suthep and on to Doi Pui was great. I managed to get a photo of Doi Inthanon due to little burning smog blocking the view. I tried to ride on to the big pine tree beyond Doi Pui campsite, but the road is closed for construction.

Day 14. 28.01.22. Around Chiang Mai.

Day 15. 29.01.22. Around Chiang Mai

Another morning walk around Chiang Mai old city.

[chrissables]

Day 15. 29.01.22. Around Chiang Mai

[chrissables]

Day 16. 30.01.22 Chiang Mai local sites.

Today I took a ride to the old temples around Wiang Kum Kam, followed by another ride up Doi Suthep.

https://goo.gl/maps/YynGLdyq5qcbWcbA7

[chrissables]

Day 17.31.01.22. Chiang Mai to Fang 196km

Today’s ride was an easy trip to fang with a short diversion up some tracks looking for photo opportunities.

Following that I rode up Doi Ang Khang from the south and then down to Fang.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vRO7VDLpEKv

It was freezing first thing this morning until the sun burnt the fog away.

[chrissables]

Day 18. 01.02.22. Fang, Doi Mae Salong, Mae Sai to Chiang Rai. 203 km.

Fang to Doi Mae Salong this morning, then north stopping at Chang Moob Military Outpost for a photo over the border into Burma. Mai Sai and the most northern point of Thailand, then onto Chiang Rai.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vmqXX8j74Lq

[chrissables]

Day 19. 02.02.22. Pha Chang Park. 70 km

Today I went to look around Pha Chang Park, basically a small mountain in the middle of paddy fields.

https://goo.gl/maps/Q89EX8P2m4FfxZ1R7

https://www.relive.cc/view/vQvx14YGdBO

[chrissables]

Day 20. 03.02.22 Chiang Rai to Phu Chi Faa via Phaya Phiphak Forest Park. 173 km

This is a great ride up and down the big dipper two times with a walk to the top of Phu Chi Faa for fantastic views.

https://goo.gl/maps/gz2kFmKibD94AzY39

https://www.relive.cc/view/vdORwrLe8r6

[chrissables]

Day 21. 04.02.22 Doi Bo viewpoint 67 km

Just a local ride in Chiang Rai today up Doi Bo, off road but if dry no issues, if wet very slippery I would think.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vQvydXD7Q4q

[chrissables]

Day 22. 05.02.22 A visit to Rai Mae Fah Luang.

There was some interesting stuff there, but 200 baht was too much in my view.

https://goo.gl/maps/rvgghgED7BfRtaMX8

[VocalNeal]

Well if you've already been then no chance for a beer?

[chrissables]

Day 23. 06.02.22

Just a walk around town today. I intended to see the local park but the health Nazis were asking questions that would never be answered by me.

Apparently you need to show paperwork to walk around an empty park, but after walking away I went and sat in a bar with no mask for lunch. The lunatics are in charge of the asylum it appears.

 

Day 24. 07.02.22. Chiang Rai to Lampang. 282km

Yesterday I rode 118 south to Khun Chae National Park, then east through the mountains and jungle on road 1252. What a wonderful road to ride, I took it slow due to a storm the night before and piles of wet leaves everywhere. But I would have ridden it slowly to take in the views.

Next was a walk up to the top of Wat Chalermprakiat. Then onto Lampang for the night.

https://goo.gl/maps/Czjd4ZwsrZo2EEK39

https://www.relive.cc/view/vmqXXYP7joq

 

[chrissables]

Day 25. 08.02.22. Lampang to Kun Tan Station 100km

Today, besides google sending me all over the place as I wanted to ride small roads, I had nice easy ride up to Kun Tan Station.

https://www.relive.cc/view/v7O9DN4pMQv

[chrissables]

Day 26. 09.02.22. Lampang to Tak. 280km

Today I took a roundabout ride to Tak. Northeast from Lampang on R11, right on to R1023 with Wiang Kosai National Park on my right. Continuing on R1124 and cutting south on R1048. Then R1347 until hitting R12 west to Tak.

Great riding and views along most of the ride.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vmqXXYnGNLq

[chrissables]

Day 27.  10.02.22. Tak to Kanchanaburi. 403 km

Today I rode another indirect route, this time from Tak to Kanchanaburi.

I found some nice small mountains with paddy fields around.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vwq1kWw9VLO

[chrissables]

Day 28. 11.02.22. Around Kanchanaburi. 140km

Just local today with my first stop at stop at an old Khmer ruin, then onto Prasat Mueang Sing National Park, which was just up the road. On leaving I rode through the main entrance where you should pay! So if you are interested find a back way in.

https://goo.gl/maps/iU8XpbPFnLzUjZpz8

My next stop was to the Giant Rain Tree.

https://goo.gl/maps/4Ci4oGdtQEXQgb1C6

https://www.relive.cc/view/vPv4ygZjBRO