2017 (9th) Annual Gtr Mae Hong Son Loop Memorial Ride

[DavidFL]

The 9th annual GTR Mae Hong Son Loop memorial ride is scheduled to be on the 2nd weekend of November.
Saturday 11- Sunday 12 November 2017.

Some GTR Chedi History
The GT Rider Mae Hong Son Loop Memorial ride in honour of departed riders is in its 9th year this year.
Originally we started with a couple of plaques & 100 year rose bushes for TJ & Simon, planted at Wat Chong Klang by the lake in Mae Hong Son.
The TJ John Hamilton - Simon Siinthai Grant Memorial Ride

In 2012 we added Dan White's ashes & another plaque.
Dan White RIP

In 2016 we added Tom Forde's ashes.
Rip Tom Forde

A plaque was also added for Crazy John Olsen in 2016

An official GTR Chedi was inaugurated at the 8th Annual ride in 2016

The full report on the 2016 ride is here
The 2016 8th Annual Tj John Hamilton-simon Siinthai Grant Mhs Memorial Ride

In 2017 a plaque will be added for Tom Wignall, one of the original big rental guys & expat mechanics in Chiang Mai.
RIP - Tom Wignall - Ex Goodwill Motorcycle Hire / Joes Bike Team

 

[DavidFL]

If you want to come, please book your own accommodation

GTR ACCOMMODATION SUGGESTIONS IN MAE HONG SON
Mae Hong Son Accommodation

1. Piya Guesthouse: 053 611260
https://www.facebook.com/piyaguesthouse

2. Palm House: 053 614022

3. Rom Thai: Tel: 053 612437

5. Ngam Tha:
โรงแรมงามตา แม่ฮ่องสอน Ngamta Hotel Mae Hong Son | Facebook

6. Jongkham Place
Jongkham Place - Amphoe Muang Mae Hong Son, Mae Hong Son, Thailand - Hotel Resort | Facebook

6. Sang Tong Huts
Sang Tong Huts - Accomodation in Mae Hong Son

Booking.com : Help! Which hotel is best?

Food & Drink in MHS
Mae Hong Son Restaurants

 

[DavidFL]

For anyone wondering, we envisage the format for the 2017 ride will be similar to 2016.

A rough outline of the proposed program
Depart from the same PTT as last year 2016.
Riders set off in small groups & go at their own pace.
The route is the same traditional route.
Chiang Mai - Doi Inthanon / Mae Chaem. Lunch. Mae Chaem - Khun Yuam - Mae Hong Son.
A buffet lunch will be set up in Mae Chaem.
A buffet dinner & breakfast will be set up in Mae Hong Son at the Sunflower.
On the Sunday morning a Buddhist ceremony "seub star" will be conducted in the same sala at Wat Doi Kong Mou. This should start around 9.30-10am & go for about 45 minutes. After the monks will be fed & we can take some group photos at the chedi, then all be on our way at our own pace.

 

[DavidFL]

For anyone wondering, we envisage the format for the 2017 ride will be similar to 2016.

A rough outline of the proposed program
Depart from the same PTT as last year 2016.
Riders set off in small groups & go at their own pace.
The route is the same traditional route.
Chiang Mai - Doi Inthanon / Mae Chaem. Lunch. Mae Chaem - Khun Yuam - Mae Hong Son.
A buffet lunch will be set up in Mae Chaem.
A buffet dinner & breakfast will be set up in Mae Hong Son at the Sunflower.
On the Sunday morning a Buddhist ceremony "seub star" will be conducted in the same sala at Wat Doi Kong Mou. This should start around 9.30-10am & go for about 45 minutes. After the monks will be fed & we can take some group photos at the chedi, then all be on our way at our own pace.

The morning monk's ceremony will look something like this

however we will be seated on chairs & not have to sit on the floor

The monks ceremony will be on the Sunday morning, but for the Saturday night we are exploring the possibility of having our own blues music night at the Sunflower, with some musicians from Pai.

 

[blackb15]

The morning monk's ceremony will look something like this
View attachment 103956

however we will be seated on chairs & not have to sit on the floor
View attachment 103958

View attachment 103960

View attachment 103961

The monks ceremony will be on the Sunday morning, but for the Saturday night we are exploring the possibility of having our own blues music night at the Sunflower, with some musicians from Pai.

David
Sounds great just booked my hotel for the Saturday night NgaTha to cheer me up as rubbish weather in England again.
Safe riding
Paul

 

[DavidFL]

Reminder just over a month away.

 

[daewoo]

It is so good of you to keep this going David. I still get a bit emotional when stuff from TJ, Siinthai and Tom pop up in my email searches as such.

Sorry I can't make it again this year, but look forward to catching up with old friends in January, and visiting the Chedi to honour departed mates.

 

[Dodraugen]

Hi there folks

Im not a big contributing member and Im not living in Thailand permanently and I dont know any of you personally. But it would be great to join this trip and maybe socialise a little and get to know some of you.
Is it possible? Is there any registration and fee to be paid?

Regards Dodraugen aka Kurt

 

[Ian Bungy]

Welcome Dodraugen. It is a Memorial for Our Friends and any Fallen Rider so anyone is welcome. There is a small Fee to Cover Food etc? I don't know the amount but I am sure someone will let you know? Donations are optional at the Chedi / Temple. It is well worth the effort, Great 2 Day Ride and a Great Night away. See You there.

 

[DavidFL]

The proposed 2017 ride

A rough outline of the proposed program
Depart from the same PTT as last year 2016.
Riders set off in small groups & go at their own pace.
The route is the same traditional route.
Chiang Mai - Doi Inthanon / Mae Chaem. Lunch. Mae Chaem - Khun Yuam - Mae Hong Son.
A buffet lunch will be set up in Mae Chaem.
A buffet dinner & breakfast will be set up in Mae Hong Son at the Sunflower.
On the Sunday morning a Buddhist ceremony "seub star" will be conducted in the same sala at Wat Doi Kong Mou. This should start around 9.30-10am & go for about 45 minutes. After the monks will be fed & we can take some group photos at the chedi, then all be on our way at our own pace.

All riders are welcome.
We will request a small donation to cover the cost of the temple ceremonies in Mae Hong Son.

 

[DavidFL]

Can we please have some indication of riders going?

Our current guess is a minimum of 20 & not more than 30.

All riders are welcome to join in.

We do not ride in a convoy to Mae Hong Son, but start of in small groups 10 minutes apart.
Riders are free to ride at their own pace.
A restaurant in the Mae Chaem food centre will have a simple 4 dish buffet prepared for riders.
In Mae Hong Son we eat together at George's Sunflower restaurant by the lake. A buffet meal will be the set up.
All being well we may also Have John Johnadda Nash playing music for us in MHS at the Sunflower,so it will be a good night celebrating the lives of our departed riding buddies.
A buffet breakfast will be prepared at the Sunflower, before we go up the hill to Wat Phrathat Doi Kong Mou for the morning Buddhist ceremony.
Two blessings will be done in the ceremony. One for the group of riders as a whole and two for our departed mates. The total time will be no more than 45 minutes. To facilitate all riders join in as a group, chairs will be provided for all the riders to join in the ceremony together to be blessed. NO one has to sit on the floor.

Having a firm idea on the numbers going helps prepare for catering & costing in Mae Hong Son.

Thanks in advance

 

[scotty007]

Yes, I am in.

 

[GTR-Admin]

See you there...

 

[Jurgen]

On my way LOL ... will be there

 

[Dodraugen]

I will be there...

 

[DavidFL]

The PTT Nam Phrae Meeting place 9.15AM
Google Maps

Heading south along the canal road it is
12 kms south of the middle ring road R3029
8.2 kms south of the Ton Kwain R1269 intersection
2.0 kms south of the Ob Khan Nat Park turn off
Meeting Time 9.15AM
The first slow riders set off at 9.45AM

There are only two designated stops (1) Lunch in Mae Chaem & (2) the PTT in Mae Hong Son.

Lunch stop in Mae Chaem at the Mae Chaem Food Centre

Location in the soi alongside the Thai Farmers bank

100 metres after the PTT petrol station, heading into town.
The same side at PTT / the Thai Farmers bank

They will have food ready from 11.45AM & will prepare 3 or 4 dishes
1. Fried Rice with Pork
2. Fried Noodle (Phat Siew) with chicken.
3. Fried Mixed vegetables.
Please yourself what you eat.
The cost is 100? baht each. Price to be confirmed. Pay direct to the shop owner.

Part 2 Mae Chaem - Mae Hong Son
Mae Chaem to MHS is 161 kms / 2.5 hours fast riding.
Get away from Mae Chaem late by 1PM & your MHS Eta is 3.30PM at the earliest.
There is one suggested stop between Mae Chaem & Khun Yuam
This is in Pang Kia
Google Maps

69 kms from Mae Chaem is Pang Kia, a small Hmong village.
This is about 1 hour fast riding from Mae Chaem & is a good place for a quick drink / rest 'n chat.

From Pang Kia to MHS is 93 kms. About 1.5 hrs fast riding.
Pang Kia to R108 / Khun Yuam = 28.5 kms / 30 minutes fast riding.
From R108 / Khun Yuam to MHS is 65 kms = 1 hr fast riding.

In MHS wait & regroup at the PTT petrol station at the south end of town. It is on the left hand side going into town.
Google Maps
There are toilets & a 7-11 here. Fuel up here as well for the ride home on Sunday.
The first guys could be in MHS by 3.30PM, but we'd like you to take your time. It's not a race. Enjoy the scenery & take some photos as you go.

In MHS we have a buffet meal at the Sunflower. The cost is 250 baht. Please pay direct at the Sunflower.

All being well we will have Johnadda / John Nash entertaining us for the night 6.00PM - 8.30PM.
Once you are fed & sufficiently merry you can stroll on up to the Crossroads Pub for a good night celebrating the ride & departed friends.
Breakfast the next morning is buffet style at the Sunflower.
After brekky around 9.30am we should be at Wat Doi Kong Mou for the 45 minute Buddhist ceremony with 20 monks in the sala where we had the ceremony last year.
Chairs will be provided so you dont have to squat on the ground

We want everyone to participate in the Buddhist ceremony for a seub star" style ceremony, depicted as below

After this ceremony in the sala walk up the hill to the GTR Chedi to pay our respects & take some group photos.
Then we should be all clear to move on by 11.30 am.

 

[Russ McDermid]

I'll be there.
Russ

 

[DavidFL]

The guys & 2017 banner

 

[DavidFL]

Due to the mix up & wrong shirt sizes being delivered there will be a few GTR MX Jerseys L (labelled as XL) for purchase at the start, should any L size riders be interested in supporting GTR.

GT Rider Shirts

 

[DavidFL]

John Nash confirms he will play at the Sunflower for the Memorial Ride.
Do we have anyone going in a car to carry Johns guitar for him - any volunteers to go as back up?

 

[blackb15]

David
Yes I'm in (coiled spring )
Safe riding
Paul

 

[mouche.sc]

Happy to meet you !
I Will join the GTR at the start point
Mouche

 

[P Duffy]

Hi to everyone ......I will be at the GRT Memorial ride , also am planning a ride down to Phuket ( booked 16-19 ) following this ride , so if anyone out there who wishes to join me for the ride or part of , please feel free to contact me , I intend to be back in Chiang Mai by the 22-23 rd of the month .. I ride at a reasonable speed with breaks every 2 odd hrs...am still working on the route .. not heaps of main Hwy's ...contact me 0640819609 text please ... .Pete

 

[George HuaHin]

Brian and me will join

 

[P Duffy]

Brian and me will join

Hi ..see you up the re ... i'm the big guy !!! have one leg if i don't wear jeans !!! on the V-Strom without that red seat !!