Total distance 177 km

After eighteen fun days and nights in Si Saket it was time to move on and I took the 226 then the 2076 to Tha Tum and from here explored a new road for me starting off as unnumbered then becoming the 2003

One of the villages that I ride through along the way and its sports time here

A bit further along and these guys pull a few fish out while I am watching

Another one gets caught and some reasonable sized fish too

While I am stopped here this elderly gentleman stops for a chat

At N15.15.910 E103.35.247 the surface turns to dirt for 2.6 km until N15.14.558 E103.35.083

Then its this nice asphalt surface

I waved to this local but didnt get one back

Quite a bit of new rice growing along here

A bit of water too, this road brings me into Satuek where I turn left and ride to Bururam along the 219 checking into the Chai Charoen Hotel next to the train station at N15.00.183 E103.06.442 for 120 Baht

I eat at Muang Pizza tonight and its a complimentary bread and garlic cheese to start with which was delicious

Followed by a very delicious pepperoni pizza for 225 Baht, filling too, Muang Pizza is at N14.59.576 E103.05.688 but in may this shop will be closing and they are moving about 100 metres further along this road.

Get the gdb file here …

Total distance 144 km

This tre was rather pleasing to the eye

But it looks like a lot has already fallen off

No way of getting away from the onions around here

With the correct blade these small petrol cutters cut most things down

All these trees have just been cut down with it

Along the 2125 and at N14.51.630 E104.35.331 the road turns to dirt

8.3 km later at N14.54.956 E104.37.520 its back to asphalt and the road becomes the 2034, I reach the 2085 and cross straight over still on the 2034

At N14.58.053 E104.39.200 the road turns to dirt

I reach the Huai Khuan Reservoir and just after at N15.01.199 E104.40.751 the road returns to paved after a 9.6 offroad section.
Further on there is another 350 metre section of dirt from N15.01.773 E104.40.760 to N15.01.924 E104.40.875

The Huai Phai Reservoir

I reach the 226 turn left and ride home

Pancakes filled with ground pork, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers and herbs tonight at Franks for 135 Baht.
Get the gdb file here …

Total distance 197 km

I took the 226 heading west for a few km then a right onto the narrow winding
2010

This road goes through a few villages and was nice and peaceful

I reach the 2083 and turn left onto it for a couple of km then its a left
onto the 4041 to Bueng Bun

That scaffolding looks relatively safe by Thai standards but not that I
personally would wish to be up there on it

Another pleasant quiet road and fully paved to start with

I see lots of water being pumped out of reservoirs along todays ride

The road surface now is sometimes paved and sometimes not, I take a right at
N15.24.704 E103.49.759 to ride through a village and reach the banks of the
Mun river at N15.24.884 E103.49.446

Near the river is this temple

I looked for this track on last years trip as it shows on my Thinknet map and
I rode some of it but kept ending up on the 2076, today with the help of the
gps which showed up the minor dirt tracks I was able to follow it correctly

The unpaved sections along todays ride were
N15.23.440 E103.57.640-N15.23.623 E103.56.856
N15.23.827 E103.54.866-N15.23.926 E103.54.673
N15.24.992 E103.52.273-N15.24.677 E103.50.888
N15.24.679 E103.50.273-N15.22.296 E103.49.340
N15.21.516 E103.49.137-N15.21.398 E103.46.069
N15.20.806 E103.44.303-N15.20.597 E103.43.619

I think its time to look for a detour

These friendly kids soon point me in the right direction

Todays ride was a fun relaxing one, a bit dusty at times but really enjoyable
all the same, I reach Tha Tum and take the 2076 home

Sausage,chips beans and fried onions at Franks for 125 Baht.
Get the gdb file here …

Total distance 232 km

Out along the 2168 and the onion planters are busy, this will be one of my first jobs on getting back to England

At N15.24.557 E104.04.102 I take a right onto a new stretch of asphalt that wasnt here in february but no road number as it only shows as a dirt track on my gps

Theres an awful lot of water in lots of places where I ride today

The unknown road turns to dirt after 1.9 km at N15.25.371 E104.04.460 and I turn round and ride back to the 2086

I ride along the 2086 for a few more km then take a right onto the 4034 to explore lots of the meandering narrow roads between here and the 2227

Just farming country today and I see lots of these

Riding through one of the many villages and this derelict house loks like its falling down

At N15.31.326 E103.57.049 I take a right onto an unnumbered road heading to Nong Hi and about 300 metres along here is Wat Buppharam Ban Hua Dong

The craftsman at work

We both share the same passion, music while we work

350 metres from the 2086 at N15.31.511 E103.57.061 and the road turns to unpaved until N15.32.550 E103.57.261 2 km later, I ride on taking the 3022 to the 2227 then turn right and ride home after a relaxing days ride

A pizza for 175 Baht at Franks tonight.
Get the gdb file here …

Total distance 130 km

First thing this morning was an oil change for only 110 Baht (one of the many benefits of having a domestically produced bike) then out along the 2373 for a very gentle ride around smelling the roses and waving to the locals.
First photo is of the Kut Toe Reservoir

Along the 2382

I ride to Khueang Nai but Marco is not feeling like a visit today, I say hello to his wife at her pharmacy, buy some medicine then ride back along the 2404

I seem to cross a lot of water today and this appears to be the Huai Ruea

Plenty of onions here, I didnt get to smell any roses today but certainly got a good whiff of these onions

I turn right at N15.17.885 E104.27.510 and ride 1.4 km to the Chi River at N15.18.623 E104.27.407, this is an asphalt road despite not showing on my gps

Today I find out why the Chi River seems to be so much fuller than the Mun River, it has a dam

More workers on the ride back

A cheeseburger and fries at Franks for 135 Baht.
Get the gdb file here …

Total distance 330 km

Out of town along the 220 for a short way then a right onto the 3026 and a pleasant peaceful ride along here

Along the 4008 heading towards Sangkha

This shot is from the recently completed 4013, it used to head south off of the 2328 for a few km then turn to a dirt track through the woods, now its a fun road that runs south of the 2328 becoming the 4030 and rejoining the 2328 quite near to the Chong Chom border crossing

The Khanat Mon Reservoir at N14.26.327 E103.47.343

Along the 214 and the Huai Choeng Reservoir at N14.27.424 E103.44.556

Last visit the sinkhole was a fair way above the water but its full to capacity now

Next stop was the Huai Dan Reservoir at N14.26.459 E103.42.701 and a fair way down on full

Gettting out to there doesnt look as easy as it once was

Riding through the Chong Chom market and the buildings look a bit dilapidated

From here I ride along the 214 to the Chong Chom border crossing and wish that I hadnt, as soon as I turned up three Cambodian kids are on my case and these seem like the thieving unpleasant kind, touching everything but In a way as in hoping to steal something.
No photos from them, when I got the camera out they hid their faces and asked for money, some adult touts turned up pestering me to buy cigarettes, I soon moved on vowing to not bother stopping here again.
This is as far west as I am going exploring the border roads from my Si Saket base, I will now do some inland trips and resume exploring the border when I move on to Buriram

I head east along the 2328 then take a right onto the 3031 stopping at an unknown reservoir at N14.27.837 E103.52.159

Plenty of fishing going on here, the reservoir doesnt show up on my gps but its been here for a few years as I have visited it quite a few times before

Heading north along the 4013 I stop here at N14.32.918 E103.52.591

Riding home along the 4038

Pork ghoulash and pasta at Franks for 150 Baht.

Get the gdb file here …

Total distance 300 km

Due to the long holiday the 7-11s are out of most fresh bakery items again today so my usual breakfast was not available, I had a spicy moo pad phrik at the same restaurant as yesterday in Khu Khan, nice but rice two days on the trot is enough for me, hopefully tomorrow everything will be back to normal

Today was one of those days when I was surrounded by friendly animals

Heading south on the 2341 I take a right onto an unnumbered road that later becomes the 2046

I take a left onto a dirt track looking fot the Huai Tuek Chu Reservoir dam, I dont find it but make a pleasant find anyway

Another place with dogs galore

Some skilled woodworking taking place here at N14.32.660 E104.09.271

The raw materials

The finished product

A pleasant little find there

The peaceful Huai Tuek Chu Reservoir

Further along on the 2046, at the end of the 2046 its a left onto the 4001 then a right onto the 2328

I take a left onto the 4004 and this is a pleasant road with some curves

At N14.25.848 E103.58.737 I turn left and ride 0.4 km to the Tham Nop Reservoir stopping at the overflow at N14.25.698 E103.58.856

Further along the 4004 at N14.25.933 E103.57.415 I take a left and ride along a paved road for 1.3 km to N14.25.248 E103.57.479 where it turns to dirt, I ride along for a further 0.8 km to N14.24.800 E103.57.442 then turn back

I ride back to the paved road and turn left riding on asphalt to the Ban Charat Phathana Reservoir stopping at the overflow at N14.25.119 E103.56.989

Plenty of colour along here

The Buddha statue in the hills that I will ride to later on today

This statue is here at the reservoir

I ride along the crest of the dam and the asphalt road finishes at N14.25.331 E103.56.748 where dirt tracks lead off of it

About 100 metres later on the dirt track I stop at N14.25.355 E103.56.768 beside these

Whatever camp was here it looks a bit deserted here now

Along the 4004 at N14.26.739 E103.56.443 I take a left to ride to Khao Sa La

Up here there is wildlife galore

One of the friendliest pigs that I have ever known, it came up to me to be stroked

I walk down the road for more photos and the pig follows me

It was a bit of a disappointment to discover that the elephant wasnt real but only a statue

I ride to the top and the paved surface finishes at N14.25.122 E103.55.979 after 4 km from the 4004
The view from the top of the Ban Charat Phathana Reservoir

On maximum zoom you can just make out the colourful trees along the dam crest

Now its the cats giving me attention

The statue that can be seen from the reservoir

I ride the 4004 to where it ends at a crossroads, left and right are the 2328 and ahead is the 2124.
As I have taken the 4004 it means that I have missed out about a 10 k section of the 2328 so I turn right heading east to complete the gps track of it otherwise Auke might relieve me of my mapping duties if I miss this important stretch out.
Along the 2328 and lots of people in the muddy water

A section of the 2328 has been resurfaced and its a brilliant surface but further on its still quite badly potholed

I reach a crossroads where right is the 4004 where I turned off the 2328 earlier so no need to go any further, rather than just turn around I turn left onto the 4003 which is a nice surface until N14.29.247 E104.02.353 where it turns to dirt and in places its my least favourite surface, sand

At N14.30.050 E104.01.207 I turn left to take a narrow track back to the 2328, this is a mixture of dirt and sand too and brings me back to the asphalt of the 2328 at N14.28.530 E103.59.985

I head west along the 2328 until N14.28.697 where I take a left onto an unnumbered road that runs for 5.6 km until N14.26.944 E103.59.704 where it turns to dirt tracks, its now time to start heading home and its the 2328 then the 2124 to Sangkha and from there its the 2371, 4008, 2167, 2200 and 3026 home

Smoked German pork chop, onions and homefries tonight at Franks for 150 Baht.
Get the gdb file here …

Total distance 244 km

A spicy chicken and basil for breakfast in Khu Khan plus the soup for 30 Baht warmed my stomach up for the days ride

Along the 2341 at N14.32.680 E104.12.520 I take a left turn signposted to Wat Pu Sing and 2.8 km later at N14.32.015 E104.13.380 I reach it, or the ongoing construction of it

Worth another visit next trip

At N14.31.830 E104.12.059 its a right to visit the Huai Sala Reservoir

1.7 km later I reach the overflow at N14.31.721 E104.11.380

Back on the 2341

Further along the 2341 passes through the Huai Sala Reservoir

The 2341 has some good twisty bits

Some workers tending their crops

I dont know the name of this temple at N14.27.948 E104.04.303

I stop at a shop for a snack and the owner shows me his bike powered by a Yamaha 750 with shaft drive

I do a left onto the 4001 then at N14.25.892 E104.03.671 I turn left onto a concrete road and 0.3 km later at N14.25.896 E104.03.875 it turns to dirt.
I ride another 0.3 km to N14.25.885 E104.04.036 which is the over flow of the Ban Sai Pai Reservoir

The water level is about 0.5 metres below capacity here

I ride along the 4001 to the Chong Sangam border crossing, the asphalt finishes at N14.20.918 E104.03.699 and 0.4 km later at N14.20.752 E104.03.793 its the first barrier

A couple of hundred metres along there is the actual border crossing but I cant be bothered to walk up there

Back from the border a little bit theres a square area with lots of Immigration buildings that are really starting to get overgrown and the roads that criss cross each other are breaking up.
They have been built ready for a big border crossing but it just hasnt happened and in the present political climate between the two countries who knows when it will be properly opened

This building looks fairly new and isnt overgrown yet

Riding back and overlooking the Huai Samran Reservoir

At N14.26.087 E104.03.670 I take a left onto a dirt track to find it

2.3 km later at N14.25.501 E104.03.015 its the overflow

Riding back along the 2201

A schnitzel burger onions and fries for 150 Baht at Franks tonight and this meal really takes some eating.
Get the gdb file here …

Total distance 209 km

I took the 221 then the 2111 to Khun Han to visit Wat Lan Khuat otherwise known as The Million Bottle Temple
To find it is easy, from the very big roundabout in Khun Han take the 2128 for 0.4 km then here at N14.36.993 E104.25.196 take a right onto the 2043 and then immediately take another right onto a narrow concrete road for 0.2 km to N14.37.103 E104.25.169 and here it is

Its been just over two years since I last visited and everything is exactly the way I remembered it

Its littluns turn to bash the gong now

I notice lots of people looking up at this tower and I realize its a rather large bees nest up there

Surprisingly these are not made of bottles

A nice house along the 2341

At N14.34.413 E104.18.730 I take a left onto an unnumbered road that is paved for 2.8 km until N14.32.906 E104.18.706

Then after 0.25 km of dirt I arrive at the Ta Koet Reservoir at N14.32.797 E104.18.691

A pleasant ride along the 2341 today

A lot of Thais out in this field today

Some small fish have been caught

Rather them than me in there though

At N14.34.370 E104.17.020 I take a left onto the 3146 to ride to the Red Sapphire 06 Village and this caught my eye just along here

Most of these kids just love posing for photos

Holiday time here alright

I go to look at the Tham Sra Phong Temple at N14.32.652 E104.15.817 but construction is not complete yet, in fact I have visited this lots of times over the last five years and nothing seems to get done, if I remember correctly there was a lot of scaffolding around it before

Now its off to ride through the Chulaphorn Wildlife Captive Breeding Centre

Its really beautiful and peaceful riding through here and surprisingly considering its holiday time its deserted

This tree trunk looks a bit hollow inside

Looking inside

Its an asphalt road in here to N14.30.600 E104.16.495 then its unpaved

I ride on a further 0.8 km to N14.30.241 E104.16.333

I ride back to the asphalt then take a left and ride out along one of the tracks until N14.30.537 E104.16.174, my gps shows some of these and I will explore them in the future now that I have an idea of where I am going and I notice some of them appear to lead back to the 2341

Riding back towards the 2341 and the Na Charia Reservoir

Its slightly overflowing

Along the 2341 and some new rice is growing

At N14.34.747 E104.14.629 I take a left onto a concrete road and 0.4 km later at N14.34.568 E104.14.583 it turns to dirt

Lots of kids here playing and swimming in the irrigation canal

After 5.4 km of dirt I reach this at N14.32.476 E104.14.087, hopefully next visit will see it finished

I ride back a bit then take a right to ride to the reservoirs overflow

N14.32.863 E104.14.425 and virtually at capacity

The other half of my lasagna at Willys tonight.
Get the gdb file here …

Total distance 266 km

I took the 221 to ride to Khao Phra Viharn, there were numerous Army checkpoints before reaching the entrance where I had to leave my personal information.
I assumed it was then okay to ride to Khao Phra Viharn and followed a local through on his bike then I took a left to ride to Prasat Don Tuan where I have been to before but today I noticed my gps was showing me as having crossed over into Cambodia before reaching it.
I rode past it to the Thai Army camp where the road finishes at N14.24.424 E104.44.763 which shows as even further inside Cambodia

200 metres back at N14.24.460 E104.44.670 is Prasat Don Tuan

It doesnt look any different since last visit about three years ago

I ride back to the 221 only to be told that motorbikes are not allowed up to Khao Phra Viharn and that I will have to park up and take a ride up in a car, not the ideal scenario but its better than not going at all, I will take the gps in my rucksack to complete the track of the 221

First the forms have to be filled in then its a 20 Baht ticket for transport

I think the 20 Baht for the ticket was a scam as a family in a truck were asked if I could ride up with them so these were my travelling companions on the way up

At the top and time to say goodbye, I walk to the gates where traffic has to stop and I assume this is the end of the road on the Thai side as I have never been allowed to ride any further at N14.24.123 E104.41.143

Khao Phra Viharn itself is closed but the cliffs are there to climb and sightsee

Razor wire everywhere around here now

Hundreds of Thai tourists up here today, I only saw a couple of Westerners up here though

Looking down into Cambodia

Perhaps they are making a road to reach it from their side

Khao Phra Viharn

A close up

Time to walk around with the other tourists

These three youngsters and their Mum were on holiday from Bangkok

I just had to get in the swing of it and be a tourist today

Time to go back, I show my blue transport ticket to an official and another family on the way down were asked to drop me off

Back under my own steam and along the 2335 a freshly planted tapioca field and some are already sprouting

At N14.29.429 E104.38.638 I take a left onto a concrete road that runs for 0.6 km to N14.29.125 E104.38.590 where it becomes a dirt track

I ride another 0.3 km to N14.29.014 E104.38.663 to the Ban Nong Udom Reservoir

Further along the 2335 at N14.30.526 E104.32.219 I take a left onto a road that runs for 0.6 km to N14.30.253 E104.32.090 then it turns to dirt, I turn round and ride back for 100 metres to N14.30.287 E104.32.101 and take a left.
This road goes for 1 km and turns to dirt at N14.30.213. E104.31.552, my gps shows this carrying on as a dirt track and meeting the 4054 which goes to the Wang Yai Waterfall, its no doubt one of the dirt tracks I saw along the 4054 the other day and I will explore it in the future

Along the 2341 at N14.30.425 E104.25.580 I take a left to explore an asphalt side road that goes through a rubber plantation

A nice new house along here

And some rubber waiting by the roadside, just a small village down this road and its offshoots

Along the 2341 at N14.31.787 E104.21.856 I take a left to ride to the Huay Chan Waterfall which is at N14.31.900 E104.21.506

I have noticed a large reservoir on my gps and find the turnoff at N14.33.814 E104.21.637

The Huai Ta Chu Reservoir 3.6 km from the 2341 to its overflow at N14.32.465 E104.21.272 and another one completely full, there must have been a good rainfall here this year as virtually all the reservoirs are full to the brim

Back in Si Saket and a buffet at N15.06.863 E104.19.461 for 119 Baht

With ice cream and sticky rice.
Get the gdb file here …