The route 1020, 1155, 1021, 1148, 1080

Total distance 291 km

Last night it started raining in Chiang Khong and the old Lady who owns this guesthouse was soon out covering my bike up

Early this morning Lakota turned up to see me as he was interested in seeing my rack and pannier frames, I was interested in his home made rack, no rusting from this one

A quick phone call to Nan found that the Amazing guesthouse had a room for me, in fact the house was completely empty which was surprising as this is now the Thai tourist season plus its a long holiday weekend

On the lovely bendy 1155

Its another cold cloudy windy day and even though I put the pullover and tracksuit trousers on I am not very warm so the waterproof jacket liner goes in too.
Once the airflow is blocked off I am a lot warmer and more comfortable

The sun doesnt make an appearance at all today

The photo that sums up the 1155

The start of the 1148

While I am stopped at this photo stop some Thais on bikes also stop for photos and offer to take mine

Its looking gloomier and a bit further on the road is damp for a while but theres no rain luckily

The reservoir that I will be visiting in the coming few weeks that I will stay here, plus theres a few off shoots along the 1184 that I hope to join up with some dirt tracks

A last shot of the 1148 then its on to Nan

My home in Nan

I get my favourite large room which is 130 Baht but as I stay two or three weeks when I pay at the end its usually around 100 Baht as the owner gives a discount for a long stay

Tonys Place for tonights meal, the full English breakfast is now 160 Baht and a very filling meal of
2 bacon, 2 eggs, 2 fried bread, 1 sausage, white pudding, baked beans, chips, mushrooms and fried onions

Get the gdb file here …

Total distance 114 km

Setting off on a cloudy day and some burning is now taking place

Just past Chiang Saen and following the river lots of pigs are wallowing in their pen

Further on a broken bridge

With this picture at the roadside

Those wooden supports holding up the bridge dont look too sturdy

I stop by to see how the Chiang Saen port is looking one year later

The Mekong emerges into sight on a cloudy and windy but thankfully dry day

Just before the Huaisai Man viewpoint

The view from the viewpoint

One final shot of the Mekong and on into town

My usual stay in Chiang Khong at N20.16.248 E100.24.301

A double bed with fan for 100 Baht

Private toilet and shower with hot water

Back at the bike I seem to have a friend wanting to ride pillion

Its early afternoon so I ride out to see how the new bridge is looking

The dirt road from the 1020 now goes right to the bridge site

Now time for an inspection

I have never been this far across the Mekong before

The Laos side

A lot of welding was being done to this, I guess the teeth wear out or break sometimes

Next visit should see a lot more work done

Food time and my usual restaurant of choice in Chiang Khong at N20.16.248 E100.24.323

The owners wife preparing my pizza

A nice vegetarian pizza for 190 Baht

Get the gdb file here …

Total distance 324 km

I mentioned about my bike being covered up by the guest house owner, today I could hardly see it

I reckon the next step is for the owner to offer to put it inside their lounge

A few km out of town and I take a left on a new wide dirt road and here I assume is the start of the new bridge over the Mekong

According to my gps if I ride on towards the Mekong I can find my way to the 1155

So I navigate my way on this very foggy morning to an asphalt road

The Mekong and I now have the pleasure of riding high up in that fog

I ride on but the road stops at a river with no way across so its back towards Chiang Khong for me

A very quiet market with no customers

Finally back on the 1020 and I spot this crab in the middle of a fairly busy dual carriageway, I put him across then ride on

The brilliant 1155 and the fog has gone

That red building is not something that I have seen before this trip around here

A very new crematorium by the look of it

I take a left onto the 1222 then a left onto the 1021 then at Chiang Kham ride on ahead and I am now on the start of the brilliant 1148

A few km out from Chiang Kham and the fun begins, its a good surface from start to finish

Theres actually a vehicle in this picture, not much traffic at all along here today

Lots of chillies growing along the roadside

That lovely twisty road

I score my first kill of the season, the silly dog couldnt make up its mind which way to go.
It was a tricky situation for me as I was going down a fairly steep hill and tried braking but just released the brakes and hoped for the best.
I felt the dog crunch under both the wheels and thankfully it appeared to die instantly, the mighty Phantom wins again

I ride on enjoying todays trip enormously and no more incidents, at the end of the 1148 its a right onto the 1080 to Nan.
I check in at my usual the Amazing Guest House at N18.47.501 E100.47.053

Then its time to eat, I had this large breakfast at Tonys Place, bacon, eggs, fried bread, sausage, white pudding, fries, mushrooms, fried onions and beans for 150 Baht and boy was I stuffed.

Tonys Place is at N18.47.924 E100.47.443 so if you want a real breakfast rather than the plastic ham and lukewarm scrambled eggs of the Dhevaraj then try here.

Get the gdb file here …

Total distance 359 km

I ride out of town at 8am along the 1020 on another cold morning then take a left onto the 1155 and as I climb it gets really foggy

As I ride further it clears a bit

The 1155 is the best road out here in my opinion as it has curves like this for a very long way

I take a left onto the 1093 to ride to Phu Chi Fa

I park the bike and start to walk to the summit, the kids are here with their wares

I reach the top and its not as foggy as I feared

Its a bit hazy and not as clear as I expected

Usually I can see the Mekong from here but not today

Wonderful views whichever way I look

Time to walk back down, I never saw a single foreign tourist here today, not that there were many Thais either

I ride southwards along the 1093 today as its a road that I havent ridden for a few years and along here I spot these tents

At N19.47.076 E100.24.091 this road is to my right, it is not on my Thinknet map but shows on the gps as still the 1093, looking at this I have to ride it

Its a winding twisty fun road that gets a bit pot holed as it nears the 1155, it joins the 1155 at N19.47.417 E100.20.476

As I reach the 1155 I turn around to enjoy it again in the opposite direction

Last time I rode along the 1093 the surface wasnt the best, since then it has vastly improved with a better newer surface like this in places

I stop for a short break at Phu Sang waterfall

From here I carry on along the 1093 taking a left that goes for about three km to the Lao border but nothing here no market or anything.
I take a left onto the 1210 then a bit further on a left onto the 1345

The landslip that Ben reported is still there, no clean up yet

My first time along here and its looking good

I reach the unmade section at N19.31.174 E100.24.527, its quite a rough section too with more work required before its ready for asphalt

1.2 km of unmade then its back to asphalt at N19.30.868 E100.25.063

I ride to a village at the end of the road and stop for a look around

The paved road finishes at N19.29.941 E100.27.456 and I guess this is the track that joins the 1160

From here its back to the 1093 where I turn left and take a right onto the 1021 then the 1222 to enjoy the 1155 back home

I eat at a 99 Baht buffet next door to the Madame Country Pub

Standard food

Plus ice cream.

Get the gdb file here …

Total distance 358 km

I am well looked after at this guest house, not only is it cheap but a blanket is even put over my bike for protection from the elements

Quite what the owner was brewing up here though I dont know

The cat certainly isnt going to go thirsty, if it drinks that lot it will be pissing more often than I do

I set off at 7.45am for a nice early start to ride to Phu Chi Fa, the 1020 out of town is now a really shyte road, full of pot holes and no paved surface part of the way.
I turn left onto the 1155 and stop where the Mekong flows next to the road at a new temple being built here

Next years ride here should see this looking a lot more impressive

Some intricate work on the inside too

This boat was making slow progress going upstream against the fast current

Theres a lot of low cloud and fog this early in the morning and its quite cold too but will no doubt warm up later on

The weather is now looking even grimmer and its spitting with rain for a short while

A few km later and its now a sunny sky

I take a left onto the 4029 and the scenery now is just great

Lots of onions being sorted out here

Lots of colourful plants right here

Along the 1093 I take this shot then the camera dies on me, the battery level was showing okay this morning and now it has totally expired so unfortunately its back home to recharge it, no Phu Chi Fa today

After a recharge its still only 1.30pm so I decide to explore some new roads and ride some old ones, a few km south of town I take a right onto the 1174 and along here I see this place, its looks good from the road and there appears to be work going on here

Further along the 1174

A large Buddha that from the road looks like its made from plastic, but it isnt

The painter at work

I take a left onto the 4018

The lovely view looking east at the mountains

I turn left onto the 1020 then soon take a right onto the 4018 to ride this new road that links the 1020 with the 1155 that everyone is going on about, it sure is one steep climb for a few km

I reach a village at the top and stop for a drink and some photos

A stunning view from here thats for sure

A zoomed in view of that nice new piece of tarmac

Theres a few hairpins and S bends along here

I ride to the 1155 then turn round to ride back

Sod that for a laugh

The boss sitting there with her calculator

This new road is definitely well worth riding, I reach the 1020 turning right then try a couple more roads that link the 1020 with the 1155 but they are rather tame after the 4018

A spaghetti with pork at the 999 Bar tonight for 100 Baht.
Get the gdb file here …

Total distance 145 km

After breakfast it was time to move on towards Chiang Khong, I said goodbye to Fon then David and I rode out

Once off the awful dusty roadworks of the 1016 it was a pleasant ride through cleaner surroundings

A short stop at Wat Muen Buddha Mettakhunaram

We turn onto the 4049 which is a new road for me and its a twisty one through good scenery

We reach the 1129 and here its time to say goodbye, David turns left towards Chiang Saen and I turn right for Chiang Khong

Its a ride along the river today as I elect to take the 4007 following the river rather than my usual route of the 1129 as I have been told its a bad surface at the moment

Along the 4007 and I notice a few people seem to have onions growing outside their homes amongst the flowers

I didnt notice the butterfly taking any interest in these though

I am back alongside the river again now

Theres a lot of swirling current along here

I reach the 1129 and a shot back at the hills

A shot from the Huaisai Man viewpoint

Its a verey nice ride along here and at Chiang Khong I check into the Borishut guest house as always at N20.16.248 E100.24.301. Still 100 Baht for a double bed with hot water, the best value in town

Its a vegetarian pizza for 150 Baht at 999 bar tonight at N20.16.248 E100.24.323, just a few metres from my guest house.
Its the first time in all the times that I have eaten here that the Finnish owner has not been here, apparently hes gone home working for six months but his wife cooked a very nice pizza.

Get the gdb file here …

Total distance 293 km

This was yesterdays trip but as a certain photo hosting website was playing up it couldnt be posted last night. I headed out of Chiang Khong on the 1020 and what a bumpy dusty unpleasant road it was too, I guess as its now the AH3 and being widened the resurfacing thats badly needed will all take place when the widened section is ready

I take a left onto the 1155 to follow the Mekong for a while, this road is very busy but as its a sunday I guess lots of Thais are off to Phu Chi Fa

I stop at a viewpoint for some photos plus to put my pullover and track suit bottoms on as its freezing this morning, probably not freezing by UK standards but still colder than I really want to be

The road goes inland a bit now and I wont be seeing the Mekong again for at least a fortnight until I get to Chiang Khan

I am now rewarded with a lovely twisty road

Plus stunning scenery like this for most of todays ride

This in my opinion is the best of the roads to ride heading souith west from Chiang Khong

A good bit of road or what

The temperature is rising and its sweltering climbing with the extra clothing on so its now time to shed the pullover and track suit bottoms

Now I think that riding this road should be compulsory whenever you are in the vicinity otherwise you deserve to be made to ride a Honda Phantom, oh wait a minute I have just ridden that on a Honda Phantom

I hope they dont hit a bump at speed otherwise the baby might get catapulted out

I am nearing the end of the 1155 and what a fantastic fun road it is to ride too

I take a left onto the 1222 then a left onto the 1021 and this becomes the 1148 which is just an ordinary unexciting road to start with

The start of the brilliant section

This road has it all, brilliant scenery

Plus a brilliant series of bends and a great surface too

At the 1148s end I take a right onto the 1080 and ride to Nan,checking into the Amazing Guest House as usual

Lasagna and garlic bread at Da Darios tonight, the lasagna is 120 Baht and the garlic bread is 50 Baht

Total distance 254 km

I head out of Fang on the 1089 and a bit of a cool start

Starting the ascent towards Doi Mae Salong

On top of the world and such stunning scenery for ages

In Doi Mae Salong and theres something going on here

Lots of strange looking vegetables for sale

Typical, free tea but not coffee, I may be an Englishman but I detest the stuff. I notice that the 7-11 here lives up to its name and that those are the opening times. The Shin Sane Guest House has cheap rooms but when I considered staying here two years ago I was told that there was no internet cafes in town and that Mae Chan was where I would have to go to find it so I never bothered staying. Is that still the case or is Do Mae Salong finally internet connected?

Some nice twistys going out of town

The temperature really drops when the sun is obscured by clouds

I come to a T junction, left is to Thoed Thai but as I need to do a visa run today I decide to give it a miss. I take the right and now the road is the 1234

I take a left onto the 1338

Theres an awful lot of traffic and loads of people at touristy places today, I suddenly realise that its a saturday, hopefully the border crossing wont be too busy

Another left onto the 1149

I stop at the viewpoint at the Thai Army camp

Its blowing a gale here

Some good views into Burma

I ride down to the Burmese Army camp and these very sharp bamboos are everywhere

These are freshly made, perhaps they are expecting an invasion or something

A stack of the older blunt ones, it must be a full time job for someone making them

Another Burmese camp a little further inside Burma

Everything about this Burmese camp is protected by sharp bamboos

Three Burmese come out and start making some more

The descent towards Mae Sai, I go to the border and its quite busy with lots of Thais crossing. I go over to the Burmese side and the rooms packed with Westerners wanting to go into Tachilek, once I say I only want the stamp my passport is quickly stamped in and out and I am on my way back. I took $10 with me which was taken with no complaint, better than 500 Baht I thought. A nice new 90 day visa stamp in my passport and I am on my way

I took the 1041 out of Mae Sai which joins the 1290 and this is a dusty busy road that is being widened and is only pleasant for the last two km before the Golden Triangle. I ride on the Chiang Saen and stop here for a break and some pictures

Plenty of sand being excavated from the Mekong

I ride out of Chiang Saen on the 1129 and a couple of km later I notice a lot of work going on

I stop for a look and I am told its a new port under construction opening in three years time

The 1129 is a pleasant road and I like this bit coming back into view of the Mekong

I stop at the Huaisai Man viewpoint for some photos

Then its a pleasant ride along the Mekong to Chiang Khong

I check in at the Borisut Guest House as usual, my usual room now says AIR/TV 250 Baht on the door but she says 100 Baht, the usual. Theres a TV in the room, not that I would ever watch it but no A/C

Hot water here too

As Tony on the pier has gone back to Italy I will eat here like I usually do when Tony was closed

This sign catches my eye, he never had pizzas here before when I was here

Not a bad pizza, a vegetarian one for 150 Baht, the owner is a very pleasant Finnish guy whose burgers are okay too