A trip west to Kanchanaburi to honour the fallen

[Wayne66]

A trip west to Kanchanaburi to honour the fallen 091124

The main aim of this trip was to go to Kanchanaburi for Remembrance Day (Armistice Day). Last year my wife came with me, this year she was busy so I decided to make a 6 day trip of it on the bike, any excuse for a ride out!
It's an area I have wanted to ride.
The plan was to ride west and see what happens, apart from loose route that was it.

Day 1

I set off at 0725 once I had got my coffee in my flaskcup. It was a cool 20 degrees when I left, which is a nice English summers day, I, however were a bit chilly. I must be getting used to the heat and humidity. My Knox armoured shirt was definitely letting the breeze in once moving
First stop was the PTT garage in Kaset Sombun to fill up the bike, then it was off into the unknown.
The plan today was to get to Nakhon Sawan for an overnight stop. Once there I wanted to get my chain adjusted and visit a temple on a hill before finding a room.

The roads were pretty good all day, although my gps did take me on a small detour down a wide track rather than stopping on the main road. When I was making the route on basecamp I use 'shortest', so clearly it had decided that was shorter than stick to the main drag. It was only 16 km and a nice ride anyway.

‎⁨Nong Bua Daeng⁩, ⁨Chaiyaphum⁩⁩

Wichian Buri⁩, ⁨Phetchabun⁩⁩

When I was on the 1 heading to Nakhon Sawan there was still a lot of water in the fields from this year's wet season. K's and K's of it on both sides. It not very good for the people who have the land as no crops can be sown.

Flooding, ‎⁨Chum Saeng⁩, ⁨Nakhon Sawan⁩⁩

Into Nakhon Sawan and straight to Honda Big Bike to get my chain adjusted. I don't have a torque wrench to do it myself so I popped into Honda. Very helpful, I had a free coffee and bottle of water whilst they did the deed. The mechanic would did not charge me for the work so I gave him some money to get himself a beer.
Honda Bigwing Nakhon Sawan N15.70499 E100.11402

Honda Bigwing, ‎⁨Mueang Nakhonsawan⁩, ⁨Nakhon Sawan⁩

From there I went to the temple on the hill, Wat Khiriwong right at the top is the Phra Chula Mani Chedi (The Golden Hilltop Pagoda). Very nice to go see and the view from the top was great even though it was a bit hazy. Worth the visit
N15.71849 E100.12506

Phra Chula Mani Chedi, ‎⁨Mueang Nakhonsawan⁩, ⁨Nakhon Sawan⁩⁩

Time to find a room, I look at other place as I like to see the bike parking. Anyway I settled on the Bonito Chinos Hotel. N15.69446 E100.12371.

Nakhon Sawan Accommodation

Bonito Chinos Hotel, ‎⁨Mueang Nakhonsawan⁩, ⁨Nakhon Sawan⁩ N15.69446 E100.12371 A nice hotel in the town of Nakhon Sawan. It was really busy the night I stayed. Very close to a shopping complex with a Big C. Also lots of food places nearby and a 7-eleven across the road The hotel was clean...

www.gt-rider.com

Wayne

 

[Wayne66]

A trip west to Kanchanaburi to honour the fallen 091124

Day 2

Nakhon Sawan to Kanchanaburi

The route today was pretty straight forward with not a lot to look at to be honest
I left the hotel early and went to the PTT station to fill up, once there I had to hang around awhile whilst the staff sorted the pumps out and took reading, possibly shift change! Whilst there I got talking to a Spanish guy travelling around, he had just been to China and through Laos, his end place today was Bangkok. He was riding a DCT Africa Twin
Anyway 35 mins later I was back on the road and had a good blast down the 1 until I got to the 333

Chaophraya River⁩, ⁨Mueang Nakhonsawan⁩, ⁨Nakhon Sawan⁩⁩

On the 333, ‎⁨Huai Khot⁩, ⁨Uthai Thani⁩⁩

The 333 started as a dual carriage way then went to single lane although there was not a lot to see. I did branch off for a bit a rode some of the smaller roads but is was all flat farmland with mountain ranges in the distance

‎⁨On the 324, Phanom Thuan⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩

When I got to Kanchanaburi it was straight to The Bridge over the River Kwai. N14.04177 E99.50386 I have been a few times before but it's a first on the bike. It's a nice area to visit but very touristy as you would expect

‎⁨Mueang Kanchanaburi⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩⁩

Time to look for a room. I knew which area I preferred to be in so I parked the bike up and had a look around. As I have said before, bike parking is a deciding factor for me unless there is no other choice
I found the Blue Star Guest House N14.03561 E099.51771
Once I had paid for 2 night I saw had cats and I believe they had been in the room. I have a cat allergy so not good, a trip to the pharmacy for some anti histamine. They worked really well. I spoke to the owners and they did offer me another room but I had all my stuff out and the bike sorted so I stayed put.

Kanchanaburi Accommodation

Blue Star Guest House. N14.03561 E099.51771 Rooms are not bad 450 per night although they do other higher priced rooms. A/C and shower worked well but the room had a smell to it. Which I didn't notice until I had paid The grounds were nice and it was near the river Also it is on the...

www.gt-rider.com

Once I have got sorted out and stopped itching, thanks to the anti histamine, it was time to have a walk out.
Tapas Thai Tapas Thai N14.03329 E99.52047
Run by an Aussie, nice place, food great and the beer was cold
It was a bit quiet when I first went in but livened up later

Tapas Thai Bar, ‎⁨Mueang Kanchanaburi⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩

Wayne

 

[Wayne66]

A trip west to Kanchanaburi to honour the fallen 091124

Day 3

Remembrance Day Service at the Don Rak Allied War Cemetery in Kanchanaburi N14.03197 E99.52579

I went to Tapas Thai for a cooked breakfast. It was nice and worth the visit.
Then it was back to the room to relax a bit and get changed ready for the service.
The walk to the War Cemetery didn't take long as it was only about 700/800 meters away
It is something I have done every year I have been able to no matter what country I have been in and it is also the main reason for this trip.

Once the service had finished it was back to Tapas Thai for food and drink with some of the guys from the Royal British Legion. Although I did not drink to excess as I am back on the bike tomorrow

CWGC Kanchanaburi Link

The grounds are immaculately kept

At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them

Wayne

 

[DavidFL]

I bet that's quite a moving service.
Well done.

 

[Wayne66]

I bet that's quite a moving service.
Well done.

Yes it was mate
Thanks

 

[Wayne66]

A trip west to Kanchanaburi to honour the fallen 091124

Day 4

The intention today was to ride through the mountains and end up around Erawan

I was up early, as per the norm, so I decided to go fill up and pop to The Bridge over the River Kwai. It was about 0630 so no one was about and I had an unhindered photo chance

‎⁨The Bridge over the River Kwai, Mueang Kanchanaburi⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩⁩

I left Kanchanaburi after another full breakfast at Tapas Thai and headed in the direction of the Three Pagodas right at the end of the 323.

Tapas Thai, ‎⁨Mueang Kanchanaburi⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩⁩

I had messaged a guy from Malaysia who had road the 323 two months ago to see if it was worth going all the way to the 3 Pagodas and after a discussion I decided it wasn't
So I had planned to hook a right on to the 3091 which is about 20km before Thong Pha Phum. From there, it was on to the 6093 then the 6043 heading south.
For about the first 50/60 km the 323 is a bit boring but as you enter the valley then it's great and easy going

On the 323, ‎⁨Mueang Kanchanaburi⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩⁩

Still on the 323, ‎⁨Sai Yok⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩⁩

Then is was the right turn on to the 3091, heading towards a ferry which can take you across the dam (although I am not sure if it's working or not). The road started off a good normal road with some great views. I am not sure if it was before or after Ban Saphan Lao there was a barrier at one of the rangers hut. They let me through and I stopped to see what the road was like going forward. They said a lot of things but I did catch Mai Dee (no good). But cars were going it that direction so it must be manageable on the X. So off I went, the road lasted about another few km when went on to a wide track. This lasted the rest of the way on the 3091 and on to the 6093. Which was roughly about 35/36km and it was good fun, albeit hard work on the X. I would not try it in the rainy season or just after a down pour. Most of it was a mix of mud and rocks then rocks and mud! But because it was dry and hard it was very doable. It would be super on a lighter bike, but I would do it again.
Then the track went back to a road near a food place N14.63721 E98.99543 So I stopped for food, water and coffee before moving on to Erawan.

On the 3091, ‎⁨Thong Pha Phum⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩⁩

On the 3091, ‎⁨Lam Khlong Ngu National Park⁩, ⁨Thong Pha Phum⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩⁩

On the 3091, ‎⁨Khuean Srinagarindra National Park⁩, ⁨Thong Pha Phum⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩⁩

On the 6093, ‎⁨Khuean Srinagarindra National Park⁩, ⁨Thong Pha Phum⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩⁩

The road was good riding all the way to Erawan. Once there I popped into the centre of the village, gulped down some more water and my camelbak was done and looked for a place to sleep.
Looking on booking.com they were quite expensive for what I normally pay when on the bike. Anyway I managed to find a place for a decent price further on up the road about 20 km and there was a 7-eleven just before the place.
Once I got to the 7 there was another little resort place so I went in.
Baan Suwan, Tha Kradan, Si Sawat Resort N14.44136 E99.13116 on the 3199. Nice and tidy place

On the 6043, ‎⁨Khuean Srinagarindra National Park⁩, ⁨Thong Pha Phum⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩⁩

‎⁨On the 6043, Si Sawat⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩⁩

Tha Kradan, Erawan, ‎⁨Si Sawat⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩

‎⁨Khwae Yai River⁩, ⁨Si Sawat⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩⁩

Baan Suan Resort, Tha Kradan, Si Sawat

Tha Kradan, Si Sawat Accommodation

Baan Suan Resort, Tha Kradan, Si Sawat N14.44136 E99.13116 A really nice place to stay The room was clean and tidy. The grounds were looked after. Parking for the bike can be outside the little house but I had a room next to some undercover parking. There is a 7-eleven and some places to sit...

www.gt-rider.com

Wayne

 

[Wayne66]

A trip west to Kanchanaburi to honour the fallen 091124

Day 5

More mountains to have an enjoyable ride through and then a decision to make on my final destination as I didn't know whether I wanted to end up in Chai Nat or Singburi, not a lot to choose between for todays distance and tomorrow's distance heading home.

I left quite early as normal and continued following the 3199 heading back into the mountains. The route took me to near another shorter journey ferry across the Srinagaring Dam Reservoir. It was only 800m from a junction I had to take if I was going to follow 2 reservoir inlets through the mountains. So I thought I would pop for a look...the ferry was there and loading up, it would be rude not to get on! I did have more mountain roads later on.
The ferry N14.55125 E99.15618 was pretty straight forward and as I saw, there were more than one operating at the same time and at around 0740 it was quite busy.
20 THB for my X

Hope we don't sink! lol

Once off the ferry I picked up the 3199 again before it turned into the 4041. This was another nice road to ride through the mountains and in a valley. The bit through the mountains was very twisty in parts and has a view point along it, N14.82290 E99.11098. At some point during the mountains I rode through some low cloud and it got a bit chilly for a bit. Once in the valley the road opens up for a bit before more mountain sections.

On the 4041, ‎⁨Si Sawat⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩⁩

Higher up at the viewpoint on the 4041, ‎⁨Si Sawat⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩

Looking at the clouds, ‎⁨Si Sawat⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩

Still on the 4041, ‎⁨Nong Prue⁩, ⁨Kanchanaburi⁩⁩

I then got to the junction of the 4041 and the 3480 and it was decision time...Chai Nat or Singburi. Singburi won the toss. Plotted it into the Montana, shortest route. It took me on some nice roads, including some the Romans would have been proud of.
I stopped of for a coffee at the Little Frog Cafe in Sam Chuk ( it's also a resort with rooms to rent) N14.78012 N100.08624

On the 3086, ‎⁨Dan Chang⁩, ⁨Suphan Buri⁩

Coffee. stop on the 3050. Little Frog Cafe, ‎⁨Sam Chuk⁩, ⁨Suphan Buri⁩

Once in Singburi I had a bit of a ride through and then booked it to the Chaisaeng Palace N14.89708 E100.40060.

Singburi Accommodation

Chaisaeng Palace N14.89708 E100.40060 Very nice room, big, clean and tidy, a/c and shower worked well. They have a good restaurant and room service menu There is also an outside dining area and a bit of a cocktail lounge under a large canopy The river is directly opposite 7-eleven is about...

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With a nice view from my room window

Dinner was very tasty

Wayne