Proposed route- 107- 1001-1150-118-120-1091-1092-1148
On a drizzly Tuesday morning after throwing a change of clothes and toothbrush in the tankbag I headed out to the X center to join with the Muppets, Happy Feet ride over to Nan and back. Being the last one to arrive I had a quick brekky while the others discussed which route we should take with the idea being to avoid the rain as much as possible but still ride the enjoyable roads. First step was to Phrao via the Mae Ngat dam then straight up the 1001 to rendezvous at Captain Slash’s oasis in the main street.
Apparently not everyone was aware that Phrao had a main street with a Captain Slash oasis and only 6 out of the 7 bikes turned. The ambassador had gone AWOL (despite having a GPS) so after sending an sms to him advising the next stop would be in Mae Kachan at Black Canyon in the Shell gas station near the junction of 118 and 120 we proceeded across the 1150. The sport bike riders rode in one group while the motad riders and AT followed in another so that everyone could ride at their own pace and have fun. The roads had dried out so Honda Honky was off at warp speeds on the Kwaka while the followers chose a slightly more sedate pace.
After gassing up and snacks in Black Canyon the ambassador still hadn’t turned up nor was there any response to the sms’s sent but just as we were leaving he called…from the junction of 118 and 1, almost in Chiang Rai. (Stupid GPS!)
No real drama since he would just head down the 1 highway and meet us south of Phayao where we turn to head east. In the meantime Somchai had decided that he would head back to Chiang Mai as his Hayabusa was not handling well so he was struggling with it in the corners so we were down to 5 riders for the sprint across the 120 to Phayao.
Amazing ride! Racetrack surface almost all the way so Honda Honky and I were able to ride the bikes like they should be ridden, with the odd drama here and there. It was rather interesting viewing as we headed into a sweeping right hand corner at the end of a long straight, then seeing Honda Honky’s head pop up from behind the screen to start braking only to find the road was wet!! I took over at the lead for a while as he regained his composure.
At the pre-arranged point for lunch we found the Ambassador waiting already but he had missed one of the best parts of the trip. Never mind plenty more to come. During lunch we discussed the route to be taken to get to Nan. Decided on the 1091, then left onto the 1092 to come out on the 1148 at the beginning of the twisties. Despite the fact that everyone barring Honda Honky had a GPS and Happy Feet reckoning his GPS batteries went flat, the navigation went somewhat astray.
Only 3 of us met at the gas station in Chun. Topped up and waited a few minutes. No sign of anyone so we continued along the rather unexciting 1091 and turned off on the 1092.
Beautiful day for riding and nice clear views of the rain clouds in the distance! On arrival at the assigned meeting point of 1092 and 1148 (decide at lunchtime) we stopped for a picture and to wait for the other to get there.
30 minutes later and no sign of anyone. Then an sms from Robert. “Where are you, Big & Tall and I are in Chiang Kham at the start of the 1148”. I replied saying they should just continue down the 1148 as we were only about 40km’s down from where they were. Next a call from Happy Feet. “Where are you guys? I’m in Pong and haven’t seen the others at all.” (Somehow straight past the 1092 turn off. Stupid GPS batteries). By now everyone is p*****d off and blaming each other.
Just to add a little more confusion he calls Big & Tall and tell’s them to head straight down to Pong so they meet halfway with the idea being to cut across to the 1148 where we were waiting. He said there was no need to wait and although I agreed we did wait for another hour. 1730 hrs. Hmmm, time to go so we get to Nan before dark. Not 5 km’s down the road going through a village a dog wandering down the side of the road decides to do a u turn right in front of me. Had visions of splattered dog and broken bits of bike all over the road but luckily just clipped the back of the poor animal and sent it spinning across the road like a top. Not even a yelp. Stopped for a moment to inspect the damage (none) and calm done a little before getting underway again straight into a humungous thunderstorm. Needles to say this was in all the twisties, which we had come to enjoy riding and show the Ambassador how wonderful the roads were. Battled through it all and stopped for a drink where Honda Honky was waiting and an sms from Justin arrives. “Where are you guys? I’m in the hotel in Nan already” Honda Honky spat out various un-printable words before getting back on the bike and taking off like a ballistic missile. He didn’t seem to be impressed that we were still on the road, wet and it was getting dark while B&T was in the hotel room already.
The Ambassador and I proceeded at a more leisurely pace arriving at the hotel to find everyone there already. After a few angry-ish comments then everyone starts to lighten up as the stories come out. Mis-communications and understandings were the problem not to mention those stupid GPS thingy’s.
Day 2 next report coming soon
On a drizzly Tuesday morning after throwing a change of clothes and toothbrush in the tankbag I headed out to the X center to join with the Muppets, Happy Feet ride over to Nan and back. Being the last one to arrive I had a quick brekky while the others discussed which route we should take with the idea being to avoid the rain as much as possible but still ride the enjoyable roads. First step was to Phrao via the Mae Ngat dam then straight up the 1001 to rendezvous at Captain Slash’s oasis in the main street.
Apparently not everyone was aware that Phrao had a main street with a Captain Slash oasis and only 6 out of the 7 bikes turned. The ambassador had gone AWOL (despite having a GPS) so after sending an sms to him advising the next stop would be in Mae Kachan at Black Canyon in the Shell gas station near the junction of 118 and 120 we proceeded across the 1150. The sport bike riders rode in one group while the motad riders and AT followed in another so that everyone could ride at their own pace and have fun. The roads had dried out so Honda Honky was off at warp speeds on the Kwaka while the followers chose a slightly more sedate pace.
After gassing up and snacks in Black Canyon the ambassador still hadn’t turned up nor was there any response to the sms’s sent but just as we were leaving he called…from the junction of 118 and 1, almost in Chiang Rai. (Stupid GPS!)
No real drama since he would just head down the 1 highway and meet us south of Phayao where we turn to head east. In the meantime Somchai had decided that he would head back to Chiang Mai as his Hayabusa was not handling well so he was struggling with it in the corners so we were down to 5 riders for the sprint across the 120 to Phayao.
Amazing ride! Racetrack surface almost all the way so Honda Honky and I were able to ride the bikes like they should be ridden, with the odd drama here and there. It was rather interesting viewing as we headed into a sweeping right hand corner at the end of a long straight, then seeing Honda Honky’s head pop up from behind the screen to start braking only to find the road was wet!! I took over at the lead for a while as he regained his composure.
At the pre-arranged point for lunch we found the Ambassador waiting already but he had missed one of the best parts of the trip. Never mind plenty more to come. During lunch we discussed the route to be taken to get to Nan. Decided on the 1091, then left onto the 1092 to come out on the 1148 at the beginning of the twisties. Despite the fact that everyone barring Honda Honky had a GPS and Happy Feet reckoning his GPS batteries went flat, the navigation went somewhat astray.
Only 3 of us met at the gas station in Chun. Topped up and waited a few minutes. No sign of anyone so we continued along the rather unexciting 1091 and turned off on the 1092.
Beautiful day for riding and nice clear views of the rain clouds in the distance! On arrival at the assigned meeting point of 1092 and 1148 (decide at lunchtime) we stopped for a picture and to wait for the other to get there.
30 minutes later and no sign of anyone. Then an sms from Robert. “Where are you, Big & Tall and I are in Chiang Kham at the start of the 1148”. I replied saying they should just continue down the 1148 as we were only about 40km’s down from where they were. Next a call from Happy Feet. “Where are you guys? I’m in Pong and haven’t seen the others at all.” (Somehow straight past the 1092 turn off. Stupid GPS batteries). By now everyone is p*****d off and blaming each other.
Just to add a little more confusion he calls Big & Tall and tell’s them to head straight down to Pong so they meet halfway with the idea being to cut across to the 1148 where we were waiting. He said there was no need to wait and although I agreed we did wait for another hour. 1730 hrs. Hmmm, time to go so we get to Nan before dark. Not 5 km’s down the road going through a village a dog wandering down the side of the road decides to do a u turn right in front of me. Had visions of splattered dog and broken bits of bike all over the road but luckily just clipped the back of the poor animal and sent it spinning across the road like a top. Not even a yelp. Stopped for a moment to inspect the damage (none) and calm done a little before getting underway again straight into a humungous thunderstorm. Needles to say this was in all the twisties, which we had come to enjoy riding and show the Ambassador how wonderful the roads were. Battled through it all and stopped for a drink where Honda Honky was waiting and an sms from Justin arrives. “Where are you guys? I’m in the hotel in Nan already” Honda Honky spat out various un-printable words before getting back on the bike and taking off like a ballistic missile. He didn’t seem to be impressed that we were still on the road, wet and it was getting dark while B&T was in the hotel room already.
The Ambassador and I proceeded at a more leisurely pace arriving at the hotel to find everyone there already. After a few angry-ish comments then everyone starts to lighten up as the stories come out. Mis-communications and understandings were the problem not to mention those stupid GPS thingy’s.
Day 2 next report coming soon
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