The rainy season has come a little early this year, so a planned trip to see the Phi Ta Khon ghost festival was tentatively made with my mate Des.
We planned a looping ride taking in the Sirikit Dam crossing as well as some of the National Park area's, we expected to cover around 1400 km on this ride, fingers crossed.
Here is the proposed route.
We had planned to stop in Nan but we had stopped there several times before so decided to head for the small town of Nam Pat.
After a pretty boring ride down HWY 1 we cut off onto the 1154, this road has been partly resurfaced of late and still remains a quiet stretch.
The rivers of the Ngao and the Yom meet at this point.
A quick look into the Mae Yom NP.
Like most parks at this time of year they are busy doing repairs in preparation for the dry season
A great overnight camping spot.
At the junction of the 101 and 103 you have many options to climb over to Na Noi, with some spectacular views.
The cooler climate makes this a very fertile growing area for mostly Hmong people.
A visit to Khun Sathan NP, this place is right on the top of a hill with great morning views, they used to have a strict no alcohol policy here due to some issues with drunk teenagers camping.
Panoramic views
The ride down the 1216 heading down to Na Noi is a real treat, quickly followed by the 1339 down to the Sirikit. Crossing can be hit and miss depending on the water levels, so can be the location of the ferries, this time luck was on our side.
Our ferry @ 150 baht each not bad at all.
No waiting around as soon as we boarded off we went.
Spirit house to make sure all goes well.
Lots of fishing rafts using a vast dipping net to claim i have been told some very large fish.
Opening times.
Once across the road south is pretty well paved, so we pushed on to arrive in Nam Pat late afternoon and checked into the Takayai 2.
Never an issue getting rooms here, they must have at least 40, great value too @ 500 baht including a nice breakfast.
Just down the road is the Nam Pat City, the only place that does any western style food.
Day 2
After a good nights sleep it was on to Loei, again there are so many options for routes to choose from, but decided on the 1239 - 1268 route.
The road is still a little broken in places, but signs of road widening should make this a fun ride next year.
Quick coffee stop at Phu Soi Dao NP Waterfall
Pineapples are the crop of choice this year, as we found out as we had nearly been taken out by a convoy of pickup drivers.
Next stop the Khing Waterfalls another good camping choice.
Des looking for the perfect shot.
What was once a restaurant overlooking the falls but now left to rot.
Wat Si Pho Chai is one of my favourite stopping points, being one of the oldest Wats in Thailand N17.49204° E100.99744°
Display of older times farming tools.
Travelling hardware merchant had it all.
The Thai - Laos border crossing (locals only) at Na Haeo is pretty bizarre with little or no border control people simply water across the river or bamboo rafts in the high water.
A very pleasant ride had us in Leoi in no time and checked into another favorite the Muanmanee Hotel, 540 baht a night and in the middle of town.
We had heard of a craft brewery in town so it would be rude not to check it out.
We gave the American Burger restaurant a try, ok but not worth a return visit, the Saloon bar in town is the place of choice for good food.
Day 3
One of the more unusual themed resorts on the way to Da Sai.
Traffic into Dan Sai town was pretty easy going and soon in and amongst the Ghost Festival
Early parade of elders heading to the temple.
Siamese fighting fish for sale.
Hi tech monks all have the latest phones to keep up with their busy lifestyles
Money donations for merit.
Mud man getting to chat with festival goers.
This year looks like he's opted for using charcoal as rain is forecast.
Carabao look alike.
Pretty scarey.
Rain clouds all around, so we quit early and headed north.
Wat Pho Chai on the 2113 is easily missed, over 300 years old it has some beautiful murals inside and outside the Wat well worth a visit N17.40882° E101.04868°
Soon back in Nam Pat despite some fool slipping diesel on the road making it treacherous. First call Nam Pat City for lunch.
Later that night we found a nice Thai place serving some very spicy Pad Ka-pow, yummy
Ants making home in my helmet.
Day 4
Next morning was a more direct route home avoiding as many rain storms as we could, so that was it for another year.
