Phayao and another silly oops.

[DavidFL]

Dave DKT is back from 3 months down under, and I promised to pop down & see him in Phayao.
It's a damp, wet season to have nice sleep-ins – I woke up at 12:30pm.
Take a rain check, and the forecast looks like a goer.
After a quick brekky at Tammila's and a leisurely pack-up for the 200 km / 2-hour ride, I set off down the slimy back driveway from the house.
The property I live on is covered with trees providing lots of cool shade & in the wet season some nice greasy concrete, sometimes covered with moss.
In bright sunshine it dries out quickly, and as long as you don't use the throttle suddenly, it is quite ok to roll over with a steady hand.
I do it multiple times a day on the scooter and am well aware of the peril.
But today was the day, the first time out on the V-Strom for about 10 days.
40 metres from the house is the first small change of direction to line up for the straight and feed in a bit more throttle.
And obviously it was too much.
Straight over I went and down.

Confirmed by GPS 40 metres from the house and a speed of 0.8 kph!!

I've given the right shoulder a decent crack – the curse of falling off an adventure bike.
A bit sore, I was still able to ride the 200 kms down to Phayao.
Hit a pharmacy for some painkillers; have a few beers and a pizza with Dave DKT.

Back home in Chiang Khong the painkillers are working well, but I note I'm unable to put my riding jacket on and need assistance.
Let's see how we go tomorrow.

A brief Phayao update to come...

 

[Tremm]

I also slipped and fell on this moss a few years back. It is a very unpleasant substance.

Get well, a shoulder is not the best part to fall on. Hope it's just a bruise or a mild sprain.

 

[DavidFL]

With help from a young next-door neighbour, we picked up the bike, and I dusted myself down.
Stunned a little, I looked over the bike, and my right shoulder felt a bit sore, but I was able to sit on the bike and move out of the gate onto the road.
The red mist was down; a quick top-up with fuel and I was blasting down the highway behind schedule.
R1020 - R1421 - R1 is my favourite route for a thrash to Phayao.
I got a magnificent rundown, skirting a massive storm inbound from the west into Chiang Rai city, but managed to get on the R1 just as it started to rain.
However, 2 km down the road, I was in the clear with a dry run & green lights all the way to Phayao – my lucky day after all.
I arrived in Phayao on time at 5pm, as predicted before the table, so I made excellent time. 200 kms / 2 hours exactly.
Ratchwaong Place in Phayao is my fave place to stay.
After a quick shower and a pharmacy visit for the appropriate medication – Brufen + Tramadol – I was perched on the rooftop bar in Phayao, admiring the view & savouring a nice cold Leo, waiting for Dave DKT to rock up, which he did 5 minutes after me.

After knocking off a pro of Leo, Dave DKT and I headed off for a superb pizza at The Brick Oven Pizza.

(Phayao Restaurants)

Superb they are and give the Mekong Pizza a run for its money.
Which one do you prefer? Check 'em both out to compare as the best in the North.

Pizza down & another beer & some pills, the old GTR fellah headed off to bed, feeling slightly groggy.
It's good to be alive, still functioning and riding.