Part 1. The ride there. The 5th British Bikes & Friends Rally was in Suan Phueng, Ratchaburi, west of Bangkok. From Chiang Rai, the distance is about 1,000 klms.
Wednesday 11th October.
Pratu Pha, Lampang, is such a special place. If passing, I always have to stop and admire the scenery of the "Door" in the mountain ridge.
The '59 Thunderbird was cruising happily at 60-65mph, down highway 1. I had recently fitted a better cylinder head with less worn out cooling fins. The bike felt like the engine was running cooler. I stopped for the night at Thoen Happy Home, right on highway 1.
Thursday 12th October.
The Tak Petrified Log is easy to find, just off highway 1.
The hoops of plastic are protecting the log from possible leaking roof sections.
There are several other less well preserved petrified logs in the same area.
Lunch; Somtam Gy Yang, Nakhon Sawan.
Another "must stop" break, at the amazing Balancing Rock in Uthai Thani.
The second night stop was in Dan Chang, Suphanburi.
Friday 13th October
In Kanchanaburi, I found the ancient ruins that are west of the city and north of the Kwae Yai river.
These ruins date from around the 16th century and are spread over a city size area.
The only visitors apart from me, were the cows..
My next destination was Muang Sing, a large historic city park, built in the 13th century at the time of the Khmer King Jayavaraman VII.
The first place to check was a burial site just outside the city wall, from approximately 2,000 years ago.
Dated to the bronze age, there are bronze bangles on the wrists.
Khmer architecture, similar style to the Bayon in Angkor.
Site #2 was noticeably angular in design.
Nice laterite entrance gate.
Riding on, through some deserted areas in southwest Kanchanburi.
Some great scenery in the western mountains.
Then on in to Ratchaburi and the touristy area of Suan Phueng. I came across an astonishing coffee shop.
Spectacular!
I stayed the night just out of the main tourist area near to the rally site....
I popped in to the 3208 Garage, for the Friday night party, but only a few bikes were there so far...
Lots more to follow....
Wednesday 11th October.
Pratu Pha, Lampang, is such a special place. If passing, I always have to stop and admire the scenery of the "Door" in the mountain ridge.
The '59 Thunderbird was cruising happily at 60-65mph, down highway 1. I had recently fitted a better cylinder head with less worn out cooling fins. The bike felt like the engine was running cooler. I stopped for the night at Thoen Happy Home, right on highway 1.
Thursday 12th October.
The Tak Petrified Log is easy to find, just off highway 1.
The hoops of plastic are protecting the log from possible leaking roof sections.
There are several other less well preserved petrified logs in the same area.
Lunch; Somtam Gy Yang, Nakhon Sawan.
Another "must stop" break, at the amazing Balancing Rock in Uthai Thani.
The second night stop was in Dan Chang, Suphanburi.
Friday 13th October
In Kanchanaburi, I found the ancient ruins that are west of the city and north of the Kwae Yai river.
These ruins date from around the 16th century and are spread over a city size area.
The only visitors apart from me, were the cows..
My next destination was Muang Sing, a large historic city park, built in the 13th century at the time of the Khmer King Jayavaraman VII.
The first place to check was a burial site just outside the city wall, from approximately 2,000 years ago.
Dated to the bronze age, there are bronze bangles on the wrists.
Khmer architecture, similar style to the Bayon in Angkor.
Site #2 was noticeably angular in design.
Nice laterite entrance gate.
Riding on, through some deserted areas in southwest Kanchanburi.
Some great scenery in the western mountains.
Then on in to Ratchaburi and the touristy area of Suan Phueng. I came across an astonishing coffee shop.
Spectacular!
I stayed the night just out of the main tourist area near to the rally site....
I popped in to the 3208 Garage, for the Friday night party, but only a few bikes were there so far...
Lots more to follow....
