Total distance 281 km

After seven fun days riding my favourite roads, finding and exploring some new ones it was time to move out. Apart from some roads to the north of Chantaburi that will be explored next trip there is only one way to head out from Trat and that is northwards as the thought of riding west to Rayong, Pattaya or Bangkok is a rather horrifying thought

I take the 318 for about five km then its a left onto the 3157 and a few more photos of this fine road

North of Bo Rai and its a right onto the 3299

A little bit hazier now but still a great road and scenery

Still green here though

The 3299 is the jewel in the crown around here

A short break at the Khi Ri Tan reservoir then its on my way again

The 3299 doesnt stop curving right to the 317 where I take a right and ride sixteen km to Pong Nam Rom, here I take a right onto the 3193

The above photo is very much a rarity out this way and its the only evidence of a fire that I see all day

The hot temperature is back with a vengeance today and its like a blast furnace riding along here, but its a lot better being out here riding in it than sitting indoors complaining about it

I take a right onto the 3405

A much narrower road through the trees and I ride on until I reach a crossroads where I take a right onto the 3395

Not far along here I take a right onto the 4058

Its a quiet road with these hills on either side of me

A small reservoir along here is nearly dried up

I reach the 3259 and turn right onto it, along here are these colourful trees, from here its the 3479, 3383, 4029 and 3067 back to Aranyaprathet where I check in at the Aran Garden as usual for 150 Baht

A pork steak, fries, bread and a small amount of onions at Mobile Steak tonight for 130 Baht

Followed by this 49 Baht monster at the ice cream parlour around the corner

Total distance 208 km

I take hwy 3 out as far as Khlung then take a right onto the 3277 to explore a couple of new roads

Just past the km 12 marker I take a right onto an unnumbered road to see where it leads to

This chaps got plenty of trees to spray along here

This isnt a bad road and after about four km at an intersection I take a left

Not much further on and I take a right to try to maintain a north easterly direction as my map shows a red line heading that way

Its a pleasant ride through this rubber plantation and the shade from the rubber trees makes a good place to stop for a break

After about fourteen km the asphalt surface finishes and its now a gravel surface which soon turns to dirt. At two T junctions I take the left both times then emerge onto the 4017 which was another new road that I was going to try out today anyway

I join the 4017 at fourteen km from its junction with the 3277 and turn left onto it to ride back to the 3277, its twisty in places with a mixture of a bumpy surface plus in places a brand new surface

Its quite a scenic ride along here though

I reach the 3277 then turn round to ride the 4017s entire length including this great bit

The 4017 ends at an unnumbered asphalt road that I turn left onto and this runs for about four km then finishes at this dirt road

I turn left onto the dirt road as thats heading east the way I need to go

Just along here and the rubber mats are being produced

Then the barking dogs appear

They are not aggressive but wont stop barking

Quite a few chilli plants growing here

A freshly squeezed rubber mat

At least the cats are quiet, I ride on a few metres then realise that I am at the entrance to Wat Saen Tum where I was a couple of days ago. Now I know exactly where I am and its quite a bit off of the red line on my map so definitely not that road

I take a right and ride along an asphalt road back to the 3158 where I turn right onto it and ride back to hwy 3, I take a left here and ride back towards Trat

About six km before Trat I take a right onto the 1016 to visit the Khao Pa Kam reservoir and its another pleasant ride through rubber trees

Notice how green it is everywhere around here, not a fire in sight

This is a good fun road that I have never been on before, its not even showing on my map

I ride around one side of the reservoir

As this is such a good road I keep on riding past the reservoir for a few more km until I reach a T junction

Then its time to turn around and ride back to the reservoir

I ride to the dam for these photos

Its quite windy here and standing under the shade of a tree its very cool indeed, from here I ride back to hwy 3 turn right and back to Trat

Friday is always fish&chips in the UK so I have another very enjoyable meal of it at the Morgan Cafe again tonight. Another fantastic meal of barracuda here for 150 Baht

Total distance 257 km

I headed out along hwy 3 for about eighty km until just past Chantaburi and I think that viewing this tree was probably the highlight of the journey, main highways are so terminally boring

Past Chantaburi and I take a right onto the 3249, I couldnt understand the chronic amount of traffic using this road, lorries, trucks, mini buses and cars were everywhere along here. I imagine that this road is now linked to the 317 somewhere and its a shortcut but theres no road showing on my map linking it

After a while I take a left onto the 3409 and instantly its much quieter

I can actually relax and enjoy this road and I have it mainly to myself

Plenty of bends and nice and green along here

I reach the 3249 and turn left onto it, thankfully this section of it is much quieter

I come to the 3322 and turn left onto it then a few km further on its another piece of the 3249 and this is a nice twisty green section. At a T junction I take a right still on the 3249

A couple of km later its a left onto an unnumbered road

Its a bit narrow through the forest to start with

I reach the 3408 and turn left onto it

A couple of km further on this is near to the road

I climb to the top for some more pictures

This is the pleasant view looking out the back

Time to ride on and the 3408 is very pleasant, I reach the 4010 turn right onto it and ride to the 317

I turn right onto the 317 then about one km further I take a left still on the 317 to ride into Makham

In Makham I take a left onto the 3277 and ride back to hwy 3 where I turn left and ride to Trat. The roads to the north of Chantaburi were all new to me, theres more to discover but that can wait until next time and then I will base myself in Chantaburi for a few days to avoid unnecessay travel on hwy 3

I tried out the pizza at Cool Corner Cafe tonight, 230 Baht for this large bacon, ham, onion, sweet peppers and mushroom pizza, very nice too

Total distance 231 km

The weather has certainly changed here now, it was raining slightly last night and early on this morning it was heavy rain. As I left town on hwy 3 this morning it was very windy, a lot cooler and looked like possibly more rain.
I ride out of town for about twenty km along hwy 3 then take a right onto the 3158

No clear blue sky here this morning

Its pleasant enough riding but I am used to the heat and it feels strange today to start with. I ride to about five km before the junction with the 3157 where the plan is to take a left here and ride an unnumbered red road to Makham, unfortunately its an unsurfaced hard dirt road that I have no desire to ride on after heavy rain, especially on a cruiser with road tyres on so I back track a few km to try another road out

After about six km I take a right onto an unnumbered road

This is a narrow in places but pleasant road

Nothing but rubber along here, after a few km this also turns to dirt so its back to the 3158, a right onto it then after a few more km I take a right onto the 3447

I ride on for a couple of km then take a right onto an unnumbered road that meanders all over the place and I really have no idea in which direction I am going as my solar compass in the sky hasnt emerged from behind the clouds yet

These school children are busy watering their crops

I have been spotted

Now everyone wants to be in the photo. Eventually I come to a T junction and its the 3277 in front of me, I turn right and ride to Makham

About one km before Makham I take a right onto the 4006 and this road looks live it might have some potential

Some good twisty bits to start with and the scenery is getting better too

My first time along this road today and it definitely wont be my last time either

Time to stop for a break and a drink

There are a few roads going off the 4006 that need exploring at a later date

Finally with about five km left to go the asphalt surface finishes and hopefully next trip it should be completed as its being worked on

They look like upside down capsicums growing on that tree

Cashew nuts, the first time that I have ever seen them on a tree. I ride on through the road works and emerge onto the 3158 at the spot that I first wanted to ride on this morning but didnt because the dirt surface was wet, its completely dry now and I found what is a great road

I turn left onto the 3158 and ride to a crossroads with the 3157, here I go straight across and now I am on the 4007

I come to a small reservoir, to my right side there is water in it

To my left it is dry, I reach the 3388 and turn right onto it and ride on to the T junction with the 3159, here I take a right

Then almost immediately I take a left onto the 4013

A larger expanse of water along here, I reach the 3494, turn right onto it then at hwy 3 its a left and back to Trat. What started out as a it looks like it might rain day turned into a good fun days ride with the added pleasure of finding and riding some good new roads

Cheeseburger and chips at the Morgan cafe tonight for 95 Baht, it was filling and very delicious too, this Thai Lady here certainly knows how to cook Western food to perfection

Total distance 192 km

It was out along the 318 for about five km then a left onto the 3157

I take a right onto the 3388 and ride through Bo Rai, this road finishes at a waterfall area but I certainly aint walking in this heat through the park to view a non existent waterfall so I just enjoy the ride then turn around at the roads end

Before getting back to Bo Rai I take a right to ride another road

Good scenery again

Plus a good surface

Its a much fresher cooler day today, the weather is on the change

Masses of rubber plantations everywhere today

This road ends as asphalt and turns to unpaved, I must explore it further next time

Time to head back to Bo Rai

At Bo Rai I take a right back onto the 3157

After about eight km I take a left onto an unnumbered side road that looks a bit twisty on my map that I have not rode on before. Its got some bends in it and after about nine km it takes me back to the 3388

I take a right onto the 3388

This is a good fun road too with some curves along the way

Just before the 3388 finishes I take a right onto another unnumbered side road that I have not rode on before

Still some water here

My map shows it as twisty and its not wrong either

This is a seriously fun road for a few km

After about six km I take a right onto what starts off as a good wide asphalt road and the map shows this as even bendier but after about one km it turns into a narrow dust track so I turn back and stay on the other road for another couple of km until I reach the 3157

At the 3157 I turn right then pretty soon take a left onto yet another unnumbered road that I am riding for the first time today

This is a pleasant enough road

Theres quite a few of these trees along here

Some good bends as well, at a T junction I take a left which takes me back to the 3157

This gentleman is sitting along here just watching the world go by. At the 3157 I turn right onto it and ride on reaching the 3158 where I take the left, this soon brings me to hwy 3 where I turn left and ride back to Trat

This friendly old dog came lumbering up to me outside the guest house

I eat at a new place tonight after some frantic searching for food, Joys Pizza is closed for five days as they have gone to Bangkok on business. My second choice here Cosy Corner had a sign on the door saying not open until the evening, I tried another restaurant with Western food on the menu but each time I ordered something it was finished, getting exasperated I asked them what they did have and was told only Thai Food. That did it and it was off towards trusty old KFC, I walked past this place and decided to have one more try

They have some Western food here including burgers

Its on Lhak Muang Road right opposite Orchid Restaurant

There were a couple of Western expats in here who told me the fish&chips was excellent and that I would struggle to eat it, those last words sold it to me. This was the most delicious fish&chips that I have eaten in a very long time and it also does take some eating, 150 Baht and money definitely well spent, so if you are in town and fancy fish&chips heres the place to try it

Total distance 214 km

I decided to ride to the Cambodian border at Hat Lek today, I rode there on the Honda Wave back in 2004 and decided to go again

Its not a particularly pleasant ride to start with, its dusty with lots of road widening taking place then after a while it turns into a much better more scenic ride

Its a good surface with some bends and rollercoasters to keep you awake

The border crossing at Hat Lek looking into Cambodia

I have no reason to cross over and have a look around the local market

I have never seen a cigarette lighter this big before

The beach at Hat Lek

Chess isnt a game that I usually ever see being played in Thailand

No entry here

Just a picture through the wire fence

They actually sell proper beer here from Cambodia, 8% stout, not that piss called lager. I have bought the Black Panther stout here before and also when I was inside Cambodia but the ABC is a new one to me. Its 25 Baht for the Black Panther, the same as I paid for it in Cambodia while the ABC is 50 Baht per can, I buy two of each

Time to ride back and at the Hat Lek end the road widening seems to be put on hold

This sign amused me, I didnt enquire whether you are only allowed to stay here if sporting a hard on

Part way back I take a lkeft onto the 3269 to ride to Ban Chuen beach

A nice sandy beach but theres no one here

Its back to the 318

Back on the 318 and I am enjoying this road in the opposite direction now

Not a lot of traffic this far out of Trat

I take a left onto the 3292 and ride to Lan Sai beach

Nothing special here and again no one about

From here I rideback to the 318 and then back to Trat

Its a buffet tonight its on the left just over the bridge on the 3148 about half a km from town

Standard food for these places

As usual I always eat only bacon as I find this the tastiest meat for this style of cooking

Ice cream is included as well and it cost 120 Baht for everything

Time to enjoy one of these

Notice the colour of proper beer, it shouldnt look like piss

Now with half a litre of sprite added it still retains its colour and strength, one of these and I certainly know that I have drunk it

Total distance 168 km

I take the 318 out of town for about six km then take a left onto the 3002

Its very green where theres a water supply

After about eight km I take a right onto the 4001 to try out a new road for me

Although its only a red line on my map its a well surfaced wide road with lots of bends to enjoy

Rubber trees everywhere around here

I am always saying that theres lots of good roads to ride around Trat and now I can add this one to that list

Good scenery along here as the mountain range in the background is always visible

I reach the 3271 and turn left onto it

A narrower road but also a good one as well

I take a right and its a couple of km along here to this reservoir

This ones almost full

See how clear it is around here, good clean air and no haze. I ride back to the 3271 turn right and ride on until I reach the 3157, I take a right onto the 3157

A few km along the 3157 and I take a right onto the 4017 which has some decent bends

These people are at the fish farm at the reservoir

After a snack and a look around here I ride back to the 3157 turn right and ride on

A few more km and its a right to see how the new big reservoir is filling up

It doesnt seem to be filling up that quickly to me and having just looked at the photos from my last trip here in december 2008 the water level looks about the same, at this rate it will need at least another three years I reckon to reach full capacity

I am enjoying the best scenery for a while now

Back on the 3157

I take a right onto an unnumbered road that is asphalt for about three km then turns to unmade for a few km before looping back onto the 3157

I take a left onto the 3271 and enjoy this road back to the 318 where I turn right and ride into Trat

Pork steak onions and fries tonight at Joys Pizza, 120 baht for the main meal and 50 Baht for the extra fries

Total distance 286 km

I take the 3067 out of town to ride to Trat on the back roads

The 3067 finishes and I am now on the 3383 and along here I see this unusual structure

I reach the 3384 and turn left onto it and this picturesque tree is along this road

I reach a T junction and turn left onto the 3395

Plenty of workers out in the fields today

I take a partly different route to my usual one between these two towns today but its a very interesting and pleasant ride all the same

Todays ride is virtually all on a very good road surface too which is always a bonus

About twenty five km after riding through Khlong Hat I reach another crossroads and go straight over and now I am on the 4026, a bit of colour either side of the road to start with

This is a narrower road but good all the same

Some really good scenery out here, I reach the 317 and turn left onto it for 1.5 km then take a left onto the 3193 for about fifteen km then its a right onto the 3210 for a few hundred metres then a left onto the 3247

Another narrower road that again is great fun to ride

It heads south and brings me back to the 3193 that loops round, here I turn right onto the 3193

I now have twelve km of a very good section of the 3193 to enjoy

Its lovely along here, quite breezy so not too hot, a brilliant road and great scenery, paradise. I reach the 317 and turn left onto it and after sixteen km its a left onto the 3299

After a few km I stop at the Khi Ri Tan Reservoir for a break

Plenty of water here plus a clear sky, not hazy

Now its time for the brilliant parts of the 3299 to be enjoyed

Is it this clear up in the north now?

I reach the 3157 and turn left onto it, this is also a good road and it brings me to the 318 where I turn right and ride into Trat. I go straight to Pops House and get my usual rooom for 120 Baht per night. Hot water here for the first time since Chiang Khan, but unlike there here its probably not needed now. Yesterday in Aranyaprathet I had to let the cold shower run for a few minutes before it was cold enough to tolerate as the sun had nearly boiled the water

Secure parking for the bike here

Theres some three day festival going on here in Trat

Lots of different stalls selling everything

I ride out of town to Joys Pizza only to find for the second year running that its moved again, this time back into town so its now within walking distance again. Its now on Tharaerjang Road, heres a link
http://tratmap.com/archives/joys-pizza-and-steak-house/

I have eaten a lot of meat recently so its a vegetarian pizza tonight to redress the balance, 230 Baht for this delicious filling meal