As a 13 year resident of Thaton I am often guilty of saying that nothing happens, there's nowhere to go unless you venture out to Fang and that it gets lonely with few friends.
Its a quiet place but many would be thankful for that especially after the last month.
The Kok river is normally not a topic of conversation, its generally slow and low and only gets into local discussion when Songkran comes around and people picnic on the bank, drop there rubbish and leave there alcohol bottles to slip into the river.
BUT... no-one was ready for what just took place.
Thats three pictures showing the normal scene of a gentle river supplying irrigation for the local farmers and the orange and mango plantations. These are pretty popular work choices here, its makes the scenery pretty even if we lack night life.
But after several days of local rain the water levels rose and we were suddenly contemplating the usual rise in water levels that are part of seasonal changes.
We didn't expect this....
That's the same three scenes a few weeks later.
Yes, we had local rain but by far the biggest contributor here was the water coming down from Shan state in Burma which some reports have suggested has been robbed of almost all its forests in an effort to make money from growing corn for animal feed, sadly with a Thai company being the big buyer.
In terms of biking around its been a case of wet roads, land slips, the occasional road diversion or closure and masses of filth from the water thrown up by trucks on dirty roads.
The 1089 from Mae Ai to Mae Chan was closed to big traffic for a few days but bikers have been allowed everywhere as far as I know.
There are many place where half the road is either covered with a landslip thats collapsed from above or half the road has dropped far into the valley below.
Thathon suffered minor damage compared to some places but one of the hotels on the north bank had chalets float off into the surging waters and the restaurant where GT rider dinners have been held is wrecked.
The Saranya hotel did well and stayed away from harm while just a few meters in front the river bank was badly ruined by fast moving water.
A few pictures here to show the extent of the water flow, which was unbelievable even to long term residents, and the harm caused.
The bridge in Thaton looks to have been properly built and stood the test well but a big arch over the bridge was deemed in danger of falling and got removed
.
East from Thaton along the 1089, near the Thanathorn Orange farm, there is a second bridge which was used for diverted heavy traffic when the arch was taken down.
Here the normal two small lanes of water dividing by a massive sand bar looked more like the Mekong
.
For anyone who has done the ride there is a third bridge over the Kok at Mae Salak that takes a lovely route up to Doi Kad Pee, Wawi, Doi Chang or Mae Suai.
This bridge suffered most, was temporarily closed with water reaching the top of the hand rail and the road approach totally washed out along with lots of concrete structure and many electric pylons.
Its now open with epic sights of just how powerful the torrents were and dirt on tree foliage maybe 10 feet above the road. Serious damage.
As previously mentioned all road are now open and bikers can pass without trouble. I'm sure the Saranya would love some custom, the shops and restaurants would like buyers with money and nearby places to visit are all available with the exception of a few dirt roads.
Both north and south bank routes to Chiang Rai that I posted of here in GTR are wiped out, derelict and dangerous.
Mae Salong is seriously quiet and needs business and if you just happen to be up the short cut route from the 1089, via Wat Santitham to Mae Salong do stop off at the coffee shop just after the Rat Pattana school and spend some money with Ton and Natcha, the Akha owners.
Its a quiet place but many would be thankful for that especially after the last month.
The Kok river is normally not a topic of conversation, its generally slow and low and only gets into local discussion when Songkran comes around and people picnic on the bank, drop there rubbish and leave there alcohol bottles to slip into the river.
BUT... no-one was ready for what just took place.
Thats three pictures showing the normal scene of a gentle river supplying irrigation for the local farmers and the orange and mango plantations. These are pretty popular work choices here, its makes the scenery pretty even if we lack night life.
But after several days of local rain the water levels rose and we were suddenly contemplating the usual rise in water levels that are part of seasonal changes.
We didn't expect this....
That's the same three scenes a few weeks later.
Yes, we had local rain but by far the biggest contributor here was the water coming down from Shan state in Burma which some reports have suggested has been robbed of almost all its forests in an effort to make money from growing corn for animal feed, sadly with a Thai company being the big buyer.
In terms of biking around its been a case of wet roads, land slips, the occasional road diversion or closure and masses of filth from the water thrown up by trucks on dirty roads.
The 1089 from Mae Ai to Mae Chan was closed to big traffic for a few days but bikers have been allowed everywhere as far as I know.
There are many place where half the road is either covered with a landslip thats collapsed from above or half the road has dropped far into the valley below.
Thathon suffered minor damage compared to some places but one of the hotels on the north bank had chalets float off into the surging waters and the restaurant where GT rider dinners have been held is wrecked.
The Saranya hotel did well and stayed away from harm while just a few meters in front the river bank was badly ruined by fast moving water.
A few pictures here to show the extent of the water flow, which was unbelievable even to long term residents, and the harm caused.
The bridge in Thaton looks to have been properly built and stood the test well but a big arch over the bridge was deemed in danger of falling and got removed
.
East from Thaton along the 1089, near the Thanathorn Orange farm, there is a second bridge which was used for diverted heavy traffic when the arch was taken down.
Here the normal two small lanes of water dividing by a massive sand bar looked more like the Mekong
.
For anyone who has done the ride there is a third bridge over the Kok at Mae Salak that takes a lovely route up to Doi Kad Pee, Wawi, Doi Chang or Mae Suai.
This bridge suffered most, was temporarily closed with water reaching the top of the hand rail and the road approach totally washed out along with lots of concrete structure and many electric pylons.
Its now open with epic sights of just how powerful the torrents were and dirt on tree foliage maybe 10 feet above the road. Serious damage.
As previously mentioned all road are now open and bikers can pass without trouble. I'm sure the Saranya would love some custom, the shops and restaurants would like buyers with money and nearby places to visit are all available with the exception of a few dirt roads.
Both north and south bank routes to Chiang Rai that I posted of here in GTR are wiped out, derelict and dangerous.
Mae Salong is seriously quiet and needs business and if you just happen to be up the short cut route from the 1089, via Wat Santitham to Mae Salong do stop off at the coffee shop just after the Rat Pattana school and spend some money with Ton and Natcha, the Akha owners.
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