Small ride report, BKK-Petchabun

[Marcel1]

Just completed a 4 day trip to Petchabun from Bkk last week which I wanted to share with you guys.

This is my first report and while I am not the best writer, there should be some useful info.

Since the missus and I are both quite busy working so it's difficult to make real plans for trips. As we were having dinner last Sunday she mentioned about being not too busy and wanted to go for a trip since she just heard about the great views from Phu Tab berk, a mountain in Petchabun. Monday when I arrived at my office and checked my agenda I figured it was a good time to leave so we left on Tuesday. Just finding out that my gopro was broken so no great movies here but I will add some pics underneath on this post.

DAY 1: My plan to leave early was a dream of course since we ended up leaving around 10am, first to the shop since she just broke her helmet.... We bought one at the 320sp shop since it's on a good edge of Bangkok. Here is the route we followed on day 1: https://goo.gl/maps/mKieH

While this route is quite boring, we had 520 km to go in one day and leaving at 10.30 wasn't the best time. Still, traffic was quite good and road conditions were nice as well. I use the Ratchapruek road quite a bit since traffic is mostly manageable and there are no constructions going on which makes it a good escape from Bkk. after pathum Thani the roads are big and boring, a good way to make many km's. We had lunch at a small cafe before heading to road 11, while there must be worse roads, this definitely qualifies as one of the most boring roads I've seen. A two lane road with loads of construction, bad road condition and the flatbed monkeys were out in full force. Over taking trucks and not minding about traffic coming up front. It was all manageable and I wouldn't call it life-threatening but fun is faaaar different.

After we turned right onto road 12 we stopped at a small coffee house around 5pm. for a break since the missus was already complaining about a sore bum, legs, heat etc. (never I will install these Bluetooth duo sets, love the silence on the bike .

Coming from road 11, road 12 was heaven, a beautiful brand new wide road into the mountains, great views and loads of fun, fast curves! Still I was eager to turn left at 2013 road since I wanted to cross the Phu hin rong kla national park. The 2013 was a nice road of great quality as well with some curves and nice views. When we entered the national park, there were no officials anymore so we didn't need to pay entrance, also it was getting dark. The road trough the park... wow, what a blast. Steep climbs, deep drops, sharp turns and literally no traffic. Driving this in the dark was actually great since you would be seeing upcoming traffic more easy due to the lights.

Finally we arrived at 8.30 (few stops and a missus + two panniers didn't make it a fast trip). We got ourselves a tent which was good fun but, NO FOOD. everything closed down already and we just arrived, tired, hungry, thirsty. After driving around a bit asking the locals we finally found someone who would make us mama noodles (horrible yes) and sell us 8 beers which made everything fine again but, damn so cold there at 12 degrees....

DAY 2: we were woken up at 5.30 due to all local people rushing up to the mountains to watch the sunrise... gawddd I know understand how you farmers feel living next door chicken farms.. We got up, got some breakfast (the food there is really amazing, since the mountain is at 1600m height its one of Thailand's major crops farm areas so everything was super fresh). We opted to go for a ride around the area. I wanted to drive to the national park again to see the same road by daylight. The views weren't that stunning but the road is one of my best roads ever ridden (low experience). We hopped on and of the bike a view times to look around for the view and after followed road 12 again. This time the other way around to make a circle back to where we stayed. Now this part of road 12 is somewhat still under construction so you will find some bad parts but overall the traffic was light so it didn't bother us. I do think when it is finished in a year or so, it will be one of Thailand's best roads (never been up north by bike).

After turning left at the 2372 it was more nature again, nice small road for driving. Than up the hill to road 2331, now there we have my most enjoyable road in Thailand that I have driven... This was ultimate fun and I think a real bikers dream.. This is the route we rode on day 2: https://goo.gl/maps/JxaoD

DAY 3: Beer, Food, Relaxing.

DAY 4: Back to Bangkok again, https://goo.gl/maps/6VyL1 the first part of course was good and fun, road 21 is boring but fast and then of course back into Bangkok hell, Friday afternoon traffic Left at 10am and back home around 5pm. Just in time for dinner and a finishing beer for a good trip, well survived.

Not that many road shots since my gopro broke down so pics had to be taken by phone, just to give you an impression..

I'll see if the missus have made some vid's I'll upload them.

[Marcel1]

Sorry, I was too lazy to turn the pics. Total we drove about 1100 km in three riding days. No, I am not geared up on the photo and the road you see on the pics is the 2331.

Cheers

[seedy]

Good post. Thanks

[eeeya]

excellent post, This is what makes forums interesting! we need more posts like this.

[Gweiloman]

Marcel, thanks for the ride report.

However, I can't believe that you have not ridden up to North Thailand yet. If you think that the roads you did was the ultimate and a biker's dream, then you will have no more words left for the roads to Phu Chi Fah, around Nan, along the Mekong at the Golden Triangle, the MHS loop, the blast from MHS to Mae Sariang and Mae Sot and tons more. If you took a month off work to ride those roads, I guarantee that you will seriously consider quitting your job and just go riding everyday (oh, and move to live up North as well, haha).

Next time, for a shorter ride (3 days 2 nights should suffice), I would highly recommend doing the Kanchanaburi - Sisawat - Sangkhla Buri - Kanchanburi run. You will have both tight twisties as well as race course circuit on the 323.

[Marcel1]

Haha thanks Gweiloman,

The nhs loop is definately on my list! Just finding the free time is difficult.

Went to kanchanaburi, sinakharin dam, ko laem, I-tong and the 323 a few weeks ago. Awesome trip as well more overall riding fun but, I think petchabun area was really good as well. Looking forward to plan a trip to MHS!

[Gweiloman]

There are quite a few threads already with good suggestions of routes to take but feel free to post up a new thread asking for suggestions. Those of us who have ridden these routes are more than happy to recap them - it's the next best thing to riding them again ourselves

[recom273]

Your Google map link didn't work ..

I'm using motionX on the iPhone at the moment, and I'm really impressed. it doesn't do voice navigation but tracks your path, you can import / export routes and also you can pre-plans a route, import to your phone and then follow by sight.

Here's my morning route

http://gps.motionx.com/maps/76320ba0670bde23e5acb17068f1ae32

Edited March 3, 2015 by recom273

[dotpoom]

Sorry, I was too lazy to turn the pics. Total we drove about 1100 km in three riding days. No, I am not geared up on the photo and the road you see on the pics is the 2331.

Cheers

Lovely pics and glad you wanted to share them with us but disappointed that you were too lazy to make them as enjoyable as they could be......it's like wearing a beautiful expensive suit and not bothering to polish ones shoes.

[Varangkul]

Great piccies - viewed them lying down, so weren't too bad! There are some great rides here in Thailand, pity about the reckless traffic, and I haven't done them all - yet! Nice write-up. Thanks!

[NoshowJones]

excellent post, This is what makes forums interesting! we need more posts like this.

Yes, excellent post, but the OP seemed to be drinking a lot of beer, at one point 8 pints was mentioned, though maybe the wife drank some of it. Surely not a good idea when doing so much riding.

[Marcel1]

excellent post, This is what makes forums interesting! we need more posts like this.

Yes, excellent post, but the OP seemed to be drinking a lot of beer, at one point 8 pints was mentioned, though maybe the wife drank some of it. Surely not a good idea when doing so much riding.

Haha don't you worry. The wife drinks her fair share. I wouldn't drink and drive ever. Also not with a hangover.

I do like to enjoy a beer when I have my small holidays but there is enough time in between the drinking and driving to be not affected.

[Gweiloman]

excellent post, This is what makes forums interesting! we need more posts like this.

Yes, excellent post, but the OP seemed to be drinking a lot of beer, at one point 8 pints was mentioned, though maybe the wife drank some of it. Surely not a good idea when doing so much riding.

Is it true or false that alcohol affects different people in different ways? I have seen people fall over after a couple of beers. I've also seen people polish off a bottle of whisky and you would not be able to tell that they have drunk anything alcoholic because they appear totally in control of their actions and words. Their reaction time may have been affected but I'm seen sober people with a reaction time of a sloth.

How about the morning after? Do some people "digest" the alcohol better and quicker than some others?

[Marcel1]

before heading too much off-topic.

Alcohol affect people in a million ways, generally bigger sized people would be handling alcohol better than small bodied people due to the mass-alcohol ratio but, If a small person drinks every day and the bigger sized one not at all than its completely different. also on a person itself there are many relevant factors. Due to fatigues, dehydration, food, stress etc. etc. your body can respond different to alcohol. This works the same for the morning after I guess.

[chondan]

Hi all

Beautiful area. But if you would have seen how the people there were treated years ago, it was not nice. Now it is the tourist area of Petchabun. Wow!!. just ask them how they were treated years ago. If they are still around. The local people's land have gone to others. Such a shame. And they call this progress or development. Sorry to have a bad note. But I saw it back then. Chondan.