papa go near Laos.

[papa al]

papa got the urge.

Think I’ll head out to Trat this evening.

Tomor north along the border to Somtamburi.

Check out the Green Triangle where Thailand, Laos, & Cambodia meet.

Then Mekong-ish to the Golden Triangle.

[Shurup]

If I didn't need to go back to work the day after tomorrow, I'd join you. You're one lucky retired dude ..

[papa al]

Work, the curse of the drinking class.

[DualSportBiker]

Ride hard, ride safe!

[ll2]

happy and safe rides papa.

great places where you are going.

and get proper boots!

[Gweiloman]

Enjoy your ride papa. Just one question - why do you refer to yourself as the third person?

[biker Bob]

Work, the curse of the drinking class.

Indeed

[papa al]

Enjoy your ride papa. Just one question - why do you refer to yourself as the third person?

1. My 7th grade English teacher recommended minimal use of the first person pronoun in expository writing.

b. 'papa' easy to understand & remember.

3. Thais like it.

d. I think it makes me awesome. I like papa like it!

[papa al]

Nice ride Trat ==> Buriram... a little hazy.

(the air)

I'll visit the village people some then mosey nearer Laos.

[greg71]

Nice ride Trat ==> Buriram... a little hazy.

(the air)

I'll visit the village people some then mosey nearer Laos.

[AllanB]

I know what you mean, just got back from riding Vietnam and ready to go somewhere else asap, it is indeed a bug. Will do a bit of a write-up and post it, the pictures aren't that great, but there are a lot of them.

I know it's late in the day Papa, but what are the mountains of Laos like, the north east seems high? I love altitude, it's cool!

[papa al]

High, but a lot less high and less cool than Colorado, for example.

[papa al]

Arrived in Mukdahan after visiting Emerald Triangle area.

The roads are pretty nice and not much traffic.

[papa al]

vil.png

Nice ride Trat ==> Buriram... a little hazy.

(the air)

I'll visit the village people some then mosey nearer Laos.

Village People ≠ village people, 5 5.

[Gweiloman]

Arrived in Mukdahan after visiting Emerald Triangle area.

The roads are pretty nice and not much traffic.

Mukdahan down to Sirindhorn Dam following the 2034 / 2242 / 2112 is the twistiest road I've ever found in Eastern Isaan.

Detour into Pha Taem National Park is also worth it for the cave paintings and view over the Mekong.

[papa al]

I'm nominating Mukdahan as the deadest city in Thailand.

Not a bar or restaurant open on the riverwalk after 8.

Now @ NE corner, Bueng Kan, Thailand's 77th province?

Split from Nong Khai a while back.

The ride up the eastern edge was enjoyed...good pavement and not a lot of traffic.

The route parallels the Mekong but river is visible from the highway only in a couple of spots.

Westward-ho tomorrow.

[ll2]

I'm nominating Mukdahan as the deadest city in Thailand.

Not a bar or restaurant open on the riverwalk after 8.

Now @ NE corner, Bueng Kan, Thailand's 77th province?

Split from Nong Khai a while back.

The ride up the eastern edge was enjoyed...good pavement and not a lot of traffic.

The route parallels the Mekong but river is visible from the highway only in a couple of spots.

Westward-ho tomorrow.

Deadliest?

Did you go around Mukdahan Tower? Some of the best Laos girls and nice bars there!

[AllanB]

High, but a lot less high and less cool than Colorado, for example.

But a lot closer and more accessible for me right now.

Did you climb any (on the bike I mean), if so where?

[papa al]

High, but a lot less high and less cool than Colorado, for example.

But a lot closer and more accessible for me right now.

Did you climb any (on the bike I mean), if so where?

Northern Laos = mountains.

Cool mountains.

[AllanB]

High, but a lot less high and less cool than Colorado, for example.

But a lot closer and more accessible for me right now.

Did you climb any (on the bike I mean), if so where?

Northern Laos = mountains.

Cool mountains.

I'll get the bike started...............

[papa al]

papa be heading home.

After Bung Kan, I rode west through Nong Khai and slept inn Loei.

The ride west of NK was near the Mekong and scenic…very nice.

Next day through some nice mountainous terrain to sleep at Uttaradit.

Thence a speedy run up to Chiang Mai.

After securing lodging I took the twisty run up Doi Suthep, past the wat, to the Hmong village, and back.

Snaking back down into town I was getting passed by lycra clad bicyclists, 5 5.

I rode to Doi Inthanon, southwest of town, to summit the highest point in Thailand,

2565 meters (8467ft.) above mean sea level.

Noticed a lot of power loss [bike] at the altitude.

Running rich from altitude and haven’t checked air filter in 10,000km.

Next day 1096 and 1269, nice short twisty loop west of CM.

Following day papa took a ride up to Pai (where he ate strawberry pie) and back.

Then decided to head up to Fang.

[papa have an unexplained affinity for monosyllabic place-names…Pai, Fang, Trat, Tak, Nan, Loei.]

After finding a room there, I did a little mountainous loop on Rt 1314, a bit north & west of town.

Next day a really nice long challenging loop: 1249, 1340, 1178, & 1322.

No gas stations so I had to buy petrol by the bottle.

Despite the indication on my map of pavement, the western 10-20 km of 1178 is not paved.

Some really steep curvy sections that day, first gear, & little traffic. ++.

Then down to 107 and back to CM.

Overall I liked the good people, scenery, varied roads and lack of traffic encountered on this trip.

Smoke in the north...a bit of a bummer.

I hear today (Feb.18) is the beginning of Chinese new year celebration.

To celebrate took bike in for new air filter & spark plug [22Kkm. on original] but they both looked fine really.

Writing this, papa is Big Mango bound on an overnight sleeper train with my bike in baggage car.

No 900km ride-day this time.

2mor, ~0630, I’ll ride BKK ==> Patts, Allah willing.

Probably next trip will be Cambodia and/or southern Laos to escape Pattaya Songkran.

[Thanks again DSB]

Edited February 19, 2015 by papa al

[DualSportBiker]

Good to meet up - hope your train ride was not too arduous.

My bike should be ready by Tuesday, I'll fly up and complete the ride hopefully with VDO restored and sound improved...

Cheers.