Chiang Khong – Kalasin / Kuchinarai = 1,029 Kms.
I took my time with overnight stops in Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok, Chumphae & Kuchinarai.
1. Chiang Rai: to fix the horns on my bike before departure. I don’t like riding down the highway at 120-140 with no horns on the bike. And as luck would have it Andy F ambushed me coming out of Kong’s Mc service after fixing the horns. So we ended up have a big night in Chiang Rai that ended up with Any sleeping upstairs at Okanes & parking his bike for the night in their beer garden. I was impressed & under my supervision, Andy excelled himself that night drinking Guinness, beer & double shots of various Irish whiskies. Had not he been fooled the attractive lady-boy at the start of the night it may have been a tame evening.
The 42 kg San Miguel PG at Okanes claims she can do a box of 12 before she's fully inebriated.
There's a challenge there for some punters.
2. Chiang Rai - Phitsanulok: 428kms
Routes 1 - 1154- 103 - 101 - 11
Departure time: 9.30am
Arrival Time: 4.50pm
The PTT Amazon gas station on R1, just North of the police checkpoint & Ngao turn off, must be one of the best organised in the North.
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
maps.app.goo.gl
The riding highlight of the day was R1154 through the Mae Yom national Ngao – Song. I opted out of riding the quicker R103 due to fear of slimy mud on road works through the mountains, where 103 is being made into a 4-lane highway. It will be an amazing ride once completed, but not in the wet while under construction please. Even riding 1154 in the wet was a joy such was the beautiful nature of the winding road and the forest.
A quick pit stop followed in Phrae to check up on friends at the Gingerbread.
They have renovated their coffeeshop & are doing well selling Phrae hooch.
Back on R11, getting nicked for 124kph 30 kms north of Phitluk was another highlight of the day. 500 baht. I should know better, but thought the “danger zone” was about 15 kms north of Phitluk, not 30 kms.
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Speed Cameras For Bikes)
2nd night on the road - Phitsanuluk.
I'd not had a night in Phitluk for 10+ years; had thought about aiming for Lomsak, but at 5pm in the afternoon I didn’t fancy riding R12 with heavy rain around.
The excellent Room Residence, was my place of stay in Phitluk; and carrying on from the previous night gender frivolities I noted that hotel reception was indeed a gender bender.
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Phitsanulok Accommodation)
The Phitluk city highlight was the discovery of the Morning Bliss Cafe for brekky. Their coffee was absolutely superb for a kick start to the day.
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Phitsanulok Restaurants)
To be continued.
