Having just received my new V Strom XT it was time to stretch it's legs and go for a wee ride with my pal who rides a Ducati Multistrada.
Our route would take us from Chiang Rai to Nan and then South bypassing the Sirikit Dam and along the Mekong to Nong Khai and through Loei and cross country to Mae sot and head back north to Chiang Rai, totalling just over two thousand Km in six days.
First day was a very easy half day riding my chosen route along the 1091 to Nan to catch up with some of the locals at Tony's place and a good nights sleep guaranteed and the nearby B & W Hostel.
Refreshed and suitably fed at Hot Bread we decided to take the southerly route heading to Na Noi through the National Parks and check out the Thai-Laos friendship bridge and then head to Nong Khai.
Just inside the Park area, the Nan river in the background.
The 1083 which quickly turns into the 1268 is a great riding route, very little traffic, but it wasn't long before progress was halted by these guy's.
Lot's of new tarmac
A popular stopping point at Phu Soi Dao waterfall
Border patrol stopped us and insisted we had coffee and pose for some shots
We eventually reached the stunning Wat Si Pho Chai
This time i went inside and found these detailed pencil drawing's carried out by the Khon Kaen University
Continuing down the 1268 onto the 2195 then the junction of the 2195-2114 to Dan Sai, the 2195 from here to the friendship bridge is basically a gravel road and very dusty until you reach the main bridge area.
The remain part of the 2195 after the bridge is slightly better but doesn't improve until you reach Chiang Khan and the 211.
After a good day's riding and 565 km covered we arrived as darkness fell in a very busy Nong Khai, the Siri GH had only one room room so i bagged a room in the not so luxurious Pantawee Hotel the ever smiling doorman respectfully asked if i wanted massage boom boom.
The next day was planned to ride part of route from yesterday we had missed in the darkness and stop in Loei and the delightful Muanmanee Hotel for the night.
In Loei we found a nice Japanese place on the bar street , the food was very good but sadly the service was somewhat lacking.
A bunch of Malaysian riders decided to wake the whole hotel as they checked out at 4.30am which got the day off to a good start, we found a nice pan fried breakfast spot 50 metres from the hotel before hitting the road for Mae Sot
After a nice ride through Dan Sai on the 2013 we headed for the dreaded route 12 which always seams to be under construction. Fortunately the biking god's smiled on us and at the exact point where the 2013 and 12 meet the roadworks had been completed and the ride the along the 12 was one of the smoothest sections of road i have ever ridden in Thailand.
The rest of the ride across country is pretty boring and when we hit the Tak it was time for some fun on route 12 into Mae Sot and despite my mate's best efforts to shake me off with all his bell's and whistles traction control etc. The V Strom was more than up for the task and we arrived in Mae Sot with suitably big grin's and checked into the Irawadee Resort and dined at the Canadian.
Turning the corner and heading north we rode up the 105 to Mae Sariang and then onto Chiang Mai
The 105 is under construction but nevertheless the ride was enjoyable with the odd delay along the way
These guy's couldn't figure out which way to go
Some of the improvements underway
After a night in Chiang Mai it was time to head home after an enjoyable few a days on the road with no drama's, the bike performed brilliantly (apart from a front wheel wobble which has since been sorted) plus we got to enjoy some of the best riding roads in the country.
