Laos CNY Ride Day 3

Lost time is never found again

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Day 3 22Jan 2012 Chiang Mai--Mae Salong --Chiang Khong --342km
Today was a wonderful day. The weather was beautiful, almost perfect. The highlight of today was riding through Mae Salong highland.

Route 107 Mae Taeng to Chiang Dao

This is why iPod and motorbike, don't mixed plus distracted rider and poor dog.. Mishap before reaching Chai Prakan.. 

Never leave emergency medical kit at home.... Doing road side wound care.

Temporary foot rest from the vise grip locking pliers and cable tie

The quickest way to remove the GTR 1400 side mirror

Route 1089 before Mae Salong

Chinese Yunnan Mae Salong
N 20 09.783 E 99 37.333

Delicious beef curry and stew 

Mae Salong Flower Hill Resort
N 20 09.739 E 99 38.738

Tea Factory 101
N 20 09.624 E 99 39.674

The Origin of Milk Tea

Mae Salong hill view

Namkhong Riverside

N 20 16.025  E 100 24.384

We arrived at Chiang Khong around 9pm local time... After negotiating route 1129 in the dark, cold and twisty road.. From the hotel Parking lot we could see there some cars with Chinese registration plate. They're here during festive season... Chinese New Year.

Nothing much here as the town dead around 10pm.. Relaxing and chatting in the hotel room, balcony while enjoying the Mekong river view at night.

Laos CNY Ride Day1-2

Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they CAN hold everything you need

This was second trip to Laos in 2months for me and this time with SPCT bikers on CNY holiday .

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Day1 20 jan 2012 Sadao--Thung Son--Phetchaburi--Nakhon Pathom --990km
Dawn at Sadao (Mal-Thai border town) where most people here still sleeping. After performing Solat Subuh... All bikers did the routine check up and the journey started around 7am.The traffic on  Phet Kasem route 4/41 was easy in the cold morning, our first stop is at Thung Son for breakfast and refilling.

Breakfast at Thung Son  N 8 09.487 E 99 39.997

Yeah, still  looks good... Before reaching Thung Son ST1100 oil filler cap broken and ingeniously repaired using duct tape

Lunch at Muslim restaurant.. 2km before the junction from route 4 to Prachuap town

Our favorite stopover... A lovely restaurant now

N 11 48.625 E 99 46.689

After having lunch about 5km ride.. Encounter another minor problem.. The v-Strom tire puncture.... Doing the roadside puncture repair  
The first day ends in Nakhon Pathom Hotel.

Dinner Nakhon Pathom.. The luxurious Fried chicken and sticky rice

After near 1000km in 11hour on bike

The mood is mixed, some are doing an unofficial city tour, chatting, foot massage and etc.... But it is all subdued.

Day2 21 Jan 2012 Nakhon Pathom--Nakhon Sawan--Tak--Chiang Mai --710km
The next morning the sky was overcast but it was dry and relatively warm. We rode out at 8am and made our way gently over to the Nakhon Sawan towards Chiang Mai city.

Doing a routine check up on the bike before start riding

Another spacious Thailand petrol station

5pm Local time we reached Thailand largest City in the north and stopped over for evening Kao Soi

 Khao Soi Islam N 18 47.195 E 99 00.117

Kao Soi... northern noodle with Ka-Ti (Coconut Water) and Chilli serve with Chicken wing or beef with other delicious ingredient.

The Night Bazaar Place: N 18 47.165  E 99 00.048

Hotel lobby... Endless shopping  just around the corridor

Night bazaar

Chiang mai street

Akha tribe selling their ethnic souvenir  around Night Bazaar

All the bikes are going well... No issue for today.. Hitting the throttle up to 140-160km/h on express way- route 1.After a full day of unrivaled riding on beautiful road and all ends on comfy hotel bed.. Good night people.