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The route 108, 121, 1269, 5032, 4029, 1095, 3009, 107

Total distance 188 km

Some shots from the 4029 between Samoeng and Yang Moen

I have reached Yang Moen and now I am on a concrete road heading north east to ride to Pa Pae on the 1095

The unpaved/dirt starts at N18.59.787 E098.34.786

An easy enough track with great scenery and my first time along here too

A few villages are passed through on the dirt section today

Here and there is the odd short stretch of concrete, but only mainly in the villages

Sod getting the front wheel stuck down that gap

There are places where the track is quite rutted but no problems there

Loads of strawberries growing out here

Another good fun days riding on the dirt and I found more off shoots to try out next time I ride out this way

The surface turns to paved at N19.06.944 E098.42.554

Riding along the 3009

A very good fish and chips for 150 Baht at Pinkys Wings for tea tonight, not John Dory but another tasty sea fish

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The route 118, 3005, 1230, 4074, 4076

Total distance 155 km

I take the 118 out past Doi Saket then later on take a right onto the 3005, along here I see this sign that I hadnt noticed before and if I am finished exploring early enough I will try to find it

I stop here for breakfast

The restaurant is full of students today

This one comes over to my table, sits down and starts chatting away to me in very good English, they are doing some charity event at a school in the hills today

A spicy gai phad kapow soon gets the stomach warm, 25 Baht

I take a left off the 1230 and ride to the end of the concrete road to do some more exploring off road

The off road starts at N18.48.640 E099.21.416

This is the track that I rode for the first time a couple of days ago but today I want to explore a right turn part way along it

Theres a single concrete strip running in places

I was surprised to see these walking along here thinking it was well away from anywhere

A bit further and at the end of the road there are a few homes here

This gentleman takes me on a guided tour around the place

There are a couple of single tracks heading out into the hills but when I point and say Chae Hom I get a definite no

Quite a few solar panels here

The essential equipment

The irrigation system

Well this track goes no further but it was worth trying and a pleasant experience coming here today, I ride back turning right and riding to where the paved surface starts at N18.49.251 E099.22.927 just before joining the 4074

Lots of cutlery, crockery plus the truck are getting washed in the water crossing

Next stop is the Maekampong waterfall that I have never stopped at before despite riding past it countless times

A very friendly dog was residing here

Riding back along the 3005 and its a bit smoky from the burning taking place here

I take a right onto the 4076 to look for this Doi Hum coffee farm but no one seems to know where it is

I dont envy him the job

A bit ominous having that waiting below.
Here which is not far from the 1252 I am told the coffee farm is back the way I have just rode up from so its a turn around to ride back.
I ask at a few more places only to be told either I dont know or its this way or that way, I dont think any of them actually knew where it was

I turn left into a new place thinking this might be it only to be quickly surrounded by these dogs

A lovely place here, the owner comes out and asks her staff but none of them knew, then her husband, a fellow Englishman turns up and puts me in the picture.
Apparently a Thai has built a new place a couple of km up the road and its going to be there but its not open yet and the signs have only been put up a couple of days ago

I am invited to stop for a drink and a chat which was nice of him, these five dogs are very well looked after

The big burger for 220 Baht at Pinkys Wings tonight, sadly this might be the last one as Graham has the place up for sale and if he cant find a buyer he will close it down, probably in late february, hopefully when I return it will still be open with a new owner

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The route 108, 1269, 4037, 3035, 1013, 121, 3029

Total distance 151 km

I take the 1269 then take a left onto an unnumbered road that is paved to start with

It turns to dirt at N18.45.218 E098.52.013

Its certainly a bit twisty and sometime in the future when its paved it will be a nice motard route

I see an unexpected piece of new asphalt coming up

The asphalt starts at N18.44.837 E098.51.917

I ride through a village and the surface returns to dirt at N18.44.431 E098.51.738

I reach the 4037 and an asphalt surface at N18.42.544 E098.51.282 only to spot that I was not following the track on my gps but a new unmarked one so I backtrack a bit to ride the other one

This track is dirt to where it meets the 4037 at N18.41.918 E098.51.850

I turn right onto the 4037 and ride towards the Ob Kahn NP

This water was completely blanketed in that green sludge, I threw a large rock in which temporarily made a clearing but it was swiftly covered again

The surface turned to dirt at N18.44.254 E098.49.639 and from then on it was a mixture of dirt, dust and concrete

A couple of lazy dogs

Now on an unnumbered road to do some more exploring

The Nam Mae Khan

When I last rode here in november I could hear the sound of cascading water and today I want to find its source

But I dont fancy riding across that

I walk over and go for a look around but no luck here, I can hear it but not reach it

I need to get further downstream but on the other side so its backtrack a bit to before I crossed the river

Finally I locate it

This two stroke was struggling to get up the hill with these two aboard

On the way back I spot this, I dont fancy climbing those steps so I look for an access road

I manage to ride right up to it at N18.38.697 E098.48.615

Some new roads and sights today, now to go and eat

Another stromboli for 169 Baht at Pizza N Pasta, simply delicious and the nicest food Steven does in my opinion

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The route 1317, 1006, 1229, 1230, 4074, 2044, 4005, 3005,

Total distance 181 km

A shot from the 1006

Now from the 1230 where sand is being taken from the Nam Mae tha

Now to enjoy the asphalt section of the 1230

The unpaved section starts at N18.46.131 E099.17.353 and finishes at N18.47.290 E099.17.998

The view point at the top

This short off road bit is not too difficult

Now on the narrow road to Ban kunta

The repairs have been finished and it looks a lot better now

A twisty narrow road with no photo opportunities to get scenery shots from

The village name is still there

Some friendly animals live here

I take a dirt track that starts at N18.47.772 E099.20.982 and today I ride uphill on a dry but quite steep track unlike novembers trip when I rode down and it was wet and slippery in places

Its a fun ride and at the top instead of turning left onto a concrete road I turn right to stay on dirt and try out a track that I have not been on before

A very small water crossing

After about 1 km I ride through a small village but see no one about

Out the other side of the village and its a steep uphill climb

I can see some scenery now

This chap confirms the road goes through to Chae Hom

There are a couple of turnings to my right but I keep to the left, I am riding blind as none of these tracks are showing on my GPs maps

Now on a steep downhill bit

Theres a concrete strip running down this bit which is useful as I dont have to worry about locking the wheels up

This bridge rattled a bit as I rode over

A pleasant little jaunt through here

The road turns to paved at N18.49.251 E099.22.927

I take a right upon reaching the 4074 to ride towards Chae Hom

After a while I turn round to ride back along the 4074

All the water crossings are still flowing over the road

A baked ziti at Pizza N Pasta for 119 Baht, very filling and tasty

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The route 107, 3009, 1095, 4020, 3162, 4235, 121, 3029, 108

Total distance 201 km

On the canal road heading north from the 1096 on the left side of the canal

The canal veers off to the right

This is a well surfaced twisty road

I take the 3009 and take a left to try out a new road for me that leads to the 1095

The road turns to unpaved at N19.02.167 E098.51.630

Quite a lot of water along this off road track

This is a most enjoyable track, not too rough and most importantly its a dry surface

I reach Ban Lak

Occasionally the road is concreted for short spells but its mainly dirt

I run into the concreting gang

Help was needed to get through here, they put some large stones down for me to ride over the shuttering then the concrete pipe was rolled out the way and then finally the bike was manhandled through

Anyone coming through here in a four wheeled vehicle would have been turned back

A few wooden bridges were crossed today but all safe ones

A bit of a generation gap between these two photos

The permanently paved surface starts at N19.06.770 E098.46.640 and just past here is the Mokfa waterfall, I dont bother walking to it

A short way along the 4020 and a new resort by the look of it

The 4020 has some nice curves

Plus good scenery

The Mae Taeng river at Muang Khut

I ride along the 3162 and before reaching the 107 take a right onto an unnumbered road that also goes to the 107, this was along that road

I take a right to head south and reach the canal road

As I am only about 1 km south of the Mae Taeng river I ride north to the source of the irrigation canal

I am now standing in the middle of the Mae Taeng but as I am standing on the weir I remain dry as all the water is being diverted into the irrigation canal

Here is where the water is all flowing to

Nice well tended grounds here

I ride back along the canal then take a right over it and the road turns to dirt at N19.07.866 E098.55.457 until N19.07.356 E098.55.208 where its an asphalt surface and is the 4235.
South of the 1095 I encounter another short spell of dirt between N19.04.364 E098.52.119 and N19.04.235 E098.52.094

A lasagna at Pizza n Pasta tonight

Get the gdb file here …

Get the gdb file here …

Total distance 247 km

A couple of shots from along the 4029

I ride past Yang Moen to Mae Muang Noi and here is where I have always turned round before at the start of the offroad track

Its quite an easy ride at this end

Now through the woods and care is needed in places where its still damp

This is turning into a very enjoyable ride and its one that Ally and myself were going to ride last friday but the rain made us decide to give it a miss

I am over 1km in altitude now and its great scenery when I can see through the hills

A fork in the road, I take the left

Theres a small village here where I stop for a look around

After this village the road is more rutted and harder going but still good fun

A very sturdy wooden bridge

Another fork, the right goes to a NP and I take the left

Another village through the trees

This is just great

Another one of those sturdy wooden bridges

Now for a look around this village

Quite a selection of animal photos here, hopefully everyones happy

Now to ride on and find out where I will join the 5032

After 28.7 km according to my speedo I reach the 5032 but on the unpaved section

This is new for me too as I have never ventured beyond the asphalt surface before, its very rough in places but enjoyable all the same

Thats certainly seen better days

Some road improvements are taking place here

After 13.7 km of the unpaved 5032 I reach the new asphalt that wasnt here on my last ride, its now an asphalt surface for about 1 km further NW than before.

Further along and some campers out in the trees

Now a good twisty asphalt surface to ride back on but it does get badly pot holed towards Samoeng

Todays ride was brilliant and one I would definitely recommend

Steven at Pizza N Pasta will now make personal strombolis if you order one the day before, this was simply delicious, really filling and only 169 Baht
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The route 107, 1096, 6033, 5032, 1269, 121, 107

Total distance 125 km

Heading north on the 107 I take a left to ride that pleasant road that joins the 1096 without having to ride to Mae Rim

Its a lot more scenic than the 107

After about 20-30 km of the 1096 I take a right onto an unnumbered concrete road that I have not rode on before

After a few km the surface turns to unpaved then alternates between concrete and unpaved for a while

Its a pleasant find and one more new track under the belt

I am finding the temperature noticeably warmer today

Now on the 6033 heading towards Samoeng

Back in Samoeng and it was a week ago today that I took some photos of this building, one week on and its looking a lot better

On the way back along the 1269 I take a short road to my left to see whats down there, this derelict old house is in the field

Theres another one out there too

The resort at the end of the track

As I was passing Pizza N Pasta I stop there for food, a chicken parmesan for 159 Baht

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The route 107, 3009, 1095, 4024, 3162,

Total distance 167 km

Some shots from along the 3009

This should make me homesick for the Uk seeing this building work going on, but for some reason it doesnt

The bricklayers here are certainly a lot prettier than the ones I work with in the UK

This and a kettle are the two most important things on a building site

Its a very pleasant ride to the 1095

I do a left onto the 1095 then pretty quickly take a right onto the 4024

My first ride along this road and a good find

I take a left onto a concrete track and this gets steep very quickly

Its a mixture of a concrete road and these strips for most of the way

A dirt section is encountered along the way

This look out is made from natural ingredients and is quite cool inside

The Hmong village in the hills

They should get good reception with an aerial that size

Now back on the 4024 and its a good asphalt surface again

I take a left to ride to Mong Ngoa

At Mong Ngoa

On the way back to the 4024

Further along the 4024

The road now keeps on alternating between concrete and dirt with a wet section here but its only shortlived then its back to the dry stuff

I reach the Mae Taeng river

On my first four trips to Chiang Mai I always went on a four day three nights trek and rafted along this river a couple of times, I have no desire to do it again but it was fun at the time

The thought of going through that holds no appeal whatsoever

Thats cheating, we had to do our rafting down here on bamboo rafts.
A fun day was had exploring some new roads plus there are lots more turnings out here for future trips

Brownies for the 88 Baht buffet tonight

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