An entertaining tour by CT125

[chrissables]

Day 1. 30.10.22. Pattaya to Kanchanaburi 285km

A hot boring day, but glad to be on the road.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqo3kNLmyq

 

Day 2.  31.10.22. Kanchanaburi 67km

I just stayed local today due to an excess of gin and tonic last night.

Nice riding alongside the river and a farm track, where I found a monitor lizard, (Photo in the video) besides that, normal roads to my way the Giant Rain Tree.

https://goo.gl/maps/9aLKFP8oDJe3vA63A

https://www.relive.cc/view/vZqN7xmKNGv

 

[chrissables]

Day 3.  01.11.22. Kanchanaburi to Mon Wooden Bridge. 434km

A long 434km ride to take some photos of the Mon Bridge today.

https://goo.gl/maps/2WWhh6i7skTGapVW6

 It was quite cool in the morning and pleasant riding.

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vJOKxx2L4w6

[chrissables]

Day 4.  02.11.22. Around Kanchanaburi

I just went looking for farm tracks today for a few hours, sugar cane mostly. I got bogged down in one area and had to walk the bike out but no issues. I need to research more before I start riding like this, but it was fun for a few hours.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vYvr33zDWLO

[chrissables]

Day 5.  03.11.22. Kanchanaburi jungle ride 432 km

A ride up R323 northwest of Kanchanaburi until turning right on R3091 and riding towards Wat Khli Ti Lang. After passing Noen Sawan viewpoint,

 

https://goo.gl/maps/pTTmVUiGeLgtFimJ6

 

the road deteriorated slowly into potholes, gravel and sand tracks with small patches of un-spoilt road now and again. That was perfect for me to improve my riding skills.  I must thank my friend Gary Sharpe for the heads up on the tracks there.

10km before Wat Khili Ti Lang,

 

https://goo.gl/maps/GJ23xgUsBLfMzGWt6

 

 at a fork I went left which was the wrong way and eventually was told by the truckers who were moving lots of topsoil to turn back. It was 2pm and I was 6 hours into my ride so it suited me as I avoid riding at night if possible. Unfortunately a flat slowed me down and I finally got back to my hotel after 12 hours of fun beside the flat and night riding.

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vWqB33VNPYv

[chrissables]

Day 6. 04.11.22 Kanchanaburi repairing motorbike.

The tyre was flat this morning and two Honda shops were as unhelpful as I have ever known. Eventually with the help of a guy I met at my hotel I found a Thai guy who sorted it quickly for 200 baht.

[blackshadow]

excellent photos !!!

[chrissables]

Day 7. 05.11.22 Kanchanaburi to tak. 442 km

My trip from Kanchanaburi to Tak was another long day 10 ½ hours. I stopped at the Giant Tree, and yes it is!

https://goo.gl/maps/r8CX8ykL5dMLNyQ2A

[chrissables]

2 minutes ago, blackshadow said:

excellent photos !!!

Thanks ????

[chrissables]

After the Giant Tree i went near Thai Switzerland some more photos and on to Tak, which was packed and no rooms available. Eventually I found a room that was way too expensive but i needed a bed.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vMv8BBPeeN6

[blackshadow]

1 minute ago, chrissables said:

Thanks ????

many good places to visit and photo whilst riding around thailand.....not just beaches and sea !!!!

[chrissables]

Day 8. 06.11.22. Tak to Mae Sariang. 312 km

Due to the festival continuing in Tak I moved this morning to Mae Sariang.

 

Day 9. 07.11.22

Mae Sariang to Two Land Sea Viewpoint. 136km

I had planned going to Ban Mae Sam Laep on the Salawin river to explore, but on Google maps I noticed this viewpoint so I decided to go take a look.

https://goo.gl/maps/XcrhMndihBCsUaNU8

From there I continued westwards until I saw a sign for Two Land Sea Viewpoint, 28 km along a track, so I decided to take a look. What a great ride, tricky (for me) in places but wonderful views, I carried on past the viewpoint and im sure the track continues all the way to the Salawin River and will explore another time.

https://goo.gl/maps/Qa7KvKL4Jinau78WA

https://www.relive.cc/view/vNOP4Q44g2O

[chrissables]

3 minutes ago, blackshadow said:

many good places to visit and photo whilst riding around thailand.....not just beaches and sea !!!!

For sure!

[chrissables]

Day 10. 08.11.22. Mae Sariang to a Refugee camp. 134 km

Today’s ride was to a new viewpoint I saw on Google maps, the road to it was good, the turn up the mountain was grass and very steep, most of it in first gear on the CT. If wet walk up I suggest! You park at the top and it is a 15 minutes to walk up to see the views.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/u4WEnwiHAQ3gRzuY7

 

As it was Loy Krathong, there people celebrating by setting of fireworks and banging drums etc. The monk and some of the locals asked for a photo session which was fun.

After getting back to the main road I headed left for the refugee center,

 

https://goo.gl/maps/VdBrMBT1PjaGnUCdA

 

paved road most of the way, the last 8 or 9km were terrible in places and I nearly turned back. Once there the army asked what I was doing and told me I could not continue, good news!

The ride up was hard but ok until one wet patch that the rear wheel skidded out and off I was a tad disappointed as another meter and I would have been back to the dryer area. But no damage done, a loose mirror which was fixed just up the road as I forgot my spanners.

[chrissables]

Day 11. 09.11.22 Mae Sariang to Ban Sop Moei

Today’s ride was to Ban Sop Moei, a straight forward route via two viewpoints I have visited earlier on this trip.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/SQvWQMMAGP2jtVoq5

 

And Two Land Sea Mist viewpoint, here

 

https://goo.gl/maps/FrTXxpZsWGCReES48

 

The final part of the track down to Ban Sob Moei was steep and tricky. After that it was mostly well paved until the confluence of the Yuam and Salawin rivers.

At the end of the track there is a restaurant to refresh yourself, then you can walk alongside the river to the Wat.

The ride out was in first gear and still struggling on the dusty loose gravel, after that good riding and wonderful views.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/PuMnGktkfNeZSd4D6

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqo3PDdDyq

[chrissables]

Day 12. 10.11.22 110km 

Mae Sariang River Riding.

Today’s ride did not go as planned. Previously I have ridden to Salawin National Park and headed west to Ban Tha Ta Fang, then alongside the Salawin river to Mae Sam Laep and looped back to Mae Sariang. Which was a pleasant ride a little tricky in places and included a river crossing.

 

Today I decided to ride the loop in reverse, first stop was Mae Sam Laep on the Salawin river.

https://goo.gl/maps/yp91WYgZJK69AMZ78

 

All went well until just after Ban Tha Ta Fang.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/6shVnSNxDnsMvBtLA

 

I ended up on a very narrow track which confused me as it was not like this before, I got to point where there was a thin wooden plank to ride over with a drop to the dried up river on the right. I was feeling extremely uneasy and wanted to walk ahead to see what more was to come, but the only way was forward. A local pulled up behind me and came to chat, and offered to ride the bike through, totally embarrassed I let him, As it happened the plank was firm in the ground and I would have been ok.

Our chat continued with him telling me the previous tracks were all washed away now, but keep going and no problem. Unfortunately he forgot to mention the ride now included a large amount of stream, dried river bed and riding along and crossing the river Kong Khe trying to find the way (I guess 30 plus crossings) Some were easy, some crossing were no issue, some I had to stop and walk to check where the track started again.
I got stuck on one ride out and had to walk it up the ramp. Another ramp I was jammed in rocks and could not move at all. I eventually dug out the offending rocks and managed to carry on. This continued for hours with the occasional farmer telling me to keep going.

I made it without coming off, just! Banged up my shin and right knee, though not sure how or when.

If anyone wants an adventure this ride is for you!

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vdvm3XwMBN6

 

[chrissables]

Day 13. 11.11.22

Mae Sariang, rest day.

 

Day 14. 12.11.22 Mae Sariang to Mae Hong Son 215km

Today’s ride was to Mae Hong Son, I was going to stay at Khun Yuam, but after three hotel were either shut, booked or too expensive I moved on.

I stopped at a view point o R1266 for photos, then back on route to Mae Hong Son

https://goo.gl/maps/yj8Gyxyb16GnxWV68

https://www.relive.cc/view/v4OG9gZWrmq

[chrissables]

Day 15. 13.11.22  MHS to Phu Chi Phe 175km

Today’s ride my first aim was to ride up to viewpoint Phu Chi Phe.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/9bZq6RP65p1qe7h19

 

It was very damp from the fog and soon I was sliding all over the place. Even my boots were sliding around with no grip when I tested them.

I called it day and turned back, a minute later a Thai couple on an off road bike came down past me as if it was a normal track! At the entrance to the track while map checking a Vespa came down too! It appears they went up yesterday to camp and were on their way back. It must have been drier than this morning when the Vespa went up for sure!

After this I went to Thung Bua Tong Fields to see the sunflowers and then back to Mae Hong Son.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/W9RRGUfLkvA3nTTN8

 

https://www.relive.cc/view/v26Mrj2yGEq

[chrissables]

Day 16. 14.11.22 113km.

Today I rode first to Pang Oung Lake for the first time.

https://goo.gl/maps/jvM6syCvUqnTupdeA

It was cool and refreshing there. I then continued to Ban Rak Thai.

https://goo.gl/maps/VQ7U3WLqWHtMb5vz7

I had a quick look around before riding to Ban Kung Mai Sak Rice Bridge for a walk about.

https://goo.gl/maps/zyQBq37RiCHf2xw7A

https://www.relive.cc/view/vPv4AV1WB3O

 

 

[chrissables]

Day 17. 15.11.22. Mae Hong Son Green laning.

My first stop today was a suspension bridge at Pai-Surin Bridge at the end of R3018 near the Burmese border.

I walked on it to take some photos and very soon it started oscillating which was unnerving and at the time the thought of riding over it out of the question. I then watched a local ride across with no issue, so I followed his method, center of the bridge and steady, no problem at all.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/K7ZuLBCGb2WqhEDL9

 

From here I rode to Huay Pu Keng Kayan-Village. And to a long tail boat across the river. The ladies here are the long neck people, I was in two minds on going but I enjoyed chatting with the people there and if there are no tourists life would be a lot harder for them.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/mfNjPHd8tjVpji7B9

 

I had spotted a turning south on my way there so decided to go exploring, it follows the river Khi and the further I went it turned into broken road, sand and gravel track. Quite a few small river crossing and very remote. If wet some of the hill climbs would be very slippery. The road turns back to concrete about one km before Ban PA Lan School, from there, on to R108 and loop back to Mae Hong Son.

Zooming in on Google maps it seems there are many tracks to explore in the area.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/7kJp2qUTeWVaB8Vo7

 

 

 

[chrissables]

Day 18. 16.11.22. Mae Hong Son to Pai

An easy ride to Pai today with beautiful sky’s promising rain.

[chrissables]

Day 19. 17.11.22 Pai to Bamboo bridge.

After my easy ride to Pai yesterday today I wanted to ride to Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/r41P571NX2G5nxN2A

 

I have visited before and continued past there to the end of the track at Pa Tong Buddhist Monastery.

 

Day dreaming I missed the Bamboo bridge and continued. At the turning for a view point my day went a tad wrong. I started riding up but thought I was in second gear, changing to first gear as I was struggling I hit neutral which resulted in me and the bike reversing down at speed until crashing quite hard.

After sorting myself out I rode to the Monastery.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/iaTqFfFx6xBvRPVN7

 

 This was nice green laning riding, then returned to the Bamboo bridge for a short visit and to my hotel to drink painkillers for bruised ribs and my left shin that got another hard hit in the crash.

[chrissables]

Day 20. 18.11.22 Pai

I woke in agony with rib pain, it appears I may have broke it or very badly bruised it.

The hotel was fully booked, so I booked a hotel in Chiang Mai, and the staff at the Pai hotel packed my bags for me and arranged a taxi for me and the bike. They were most kind and helpful. As was the Chiang Mai hotel where I am waiting to recover and continue my trip.

[CH1961]

I love this report and the beautiful pictures.  

Great to read that there are still real adventures beside organized tourist tours. 

 

Without escort vehicle and special equipment.  With a standard 125cc moped.  

My honest respect ⚠️

 

Thank you for letting me be a part of this amazing journey.  

 

Would I be able to do that with my scoopy ????

[chrissables]

1 hour ago, CH1961 said:

I love this report and the beautiful pictures.  

Great to read that there are still real adventures beside organized tourist tours. 

 

Without escort vehicle and special equipment.  With a standard 125cc moped.  

My honest respect ⚠️

 

Thank you for letting me be a part of this amazing journey.  

 

Would I be able to do that with my scoopy ????

Thanks ????

 

Everywhere i have ridden is also ridden by locals on their clicks etc. Of course it is their local area and they know the easiest route through the jungle to ride. In the dry season small bikes can ride where i went.

[jvs]

Very nice report and great pictures.

How do you like the CT125?I hear from some friends that it handles well

but is lacking in power.

I belong to a group that does tours like this a few times per year and some

members are out every weekend.

You missed to go to Pilok-Etong,very nice place and great riding.

We usually do not take hotels but camp some where,usually with a nice view.

 

[chrissables]

3 minutes ago, jvs said:

Very nice report and great pictures.

How do you like the CT125?I hear from some friends that it handles well

but is lacking in power.

I belong to a group that does tours like this a few times per year and some

members are out every weekend.

You missed to go to Pilok-Etong,very nice place and great riding.

We usually do not take hotels but camp some where,usually with a nice view.

 

I really enjoy riding it. I have a larger than standard rear sprocket which has geared it down and better for in the jungle, but slow. I'm in no hurry though ????

 

I have been up to Pilock a few times already and at the time wanted to head north.

[biervoormij]

Thanks for sharing your tour and hope you get feeling better soon. Looking forward to see where you go next.

[chrissables]

2 minutes ago, biervoormij said:

Thanks for sharing your tour and hope you get feeling better soon. Looking forward to see where you go next.

Thanks ????

 

Ribs take a while to heal, but as soon as fit enough for trail riding i will be on my way.

[jack7106]

Absolutely brilliant report and photos. Thank you kindly for sharing and if you need a hanger-on as your back up on one of your adventures – please give me a heads up. Take care and all the best.

[chrissables]

4 minutes ago, jack7106 said:

Absolutely brilliant report and photos. Thank you kindly for sharing and if you need a hanger-on as your back up on one of your adventures – please give me a heads up. Take care and all the best.

Thank ????

Well i will stay in Chiang Mai area even when fit as i planned rides here already.

Where are you in Thailand?