13-12-18 Nan, Huai Kon For A Visa Then The Bo Kluea Loop

Captain_Slash

Community Manager
Joined
Jun 28, 2011
Bikes
BMW 310GS Honda Wave 125 Honda MSX 125
Distance 293 km
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I was out on the road by 7.40 and its a cool cloudy morning
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Just before Tha Wang Pha and the roads were soaked for a few km and with light rain too
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North of Chiang Klang and road widening is taking place, its not a pleasant ride from here onwards for quite a few km.
I promise myself if I am out of Laos in good time I will ride the lop through Bo Kluea back to Nan to avoid these roadworks twice in one day
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I stop at the Pon reservoir
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This one is overflowing
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My first experience of getting cold hands today and I was pleased to get to the border as it gave me a chance to warm up
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Just over the Laos border
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It looks a bit sunnier in Laos but I am not interested in going in.
I quickly get stamped out and return to the Thai Immigration where the Immigration officer points out my previous walk in stamps and tells me to look at the notice outside which says only two per calendar year.
Amusingly they are on the same page as my current METV which he fails to see, once I point this out to him I am quickly given a 60 day stamp
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Much better scenery as I carry on riding towards Bo Kluea
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I get off the main road about 100 metres to enjoy my lunch but this dirt track seems to have more traffic on it than the highway did
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Not much futher along and its roadworks along here too with some wet slippery red shit as the surface on a long downhill section which was not fun, these roadworks also dragged on for a long way too.
Once past the road works and its a shitty pot holed surface for a while before returning to a better surface.
I used to enjoy this loop but today I certainly didnt and have no plans to do it again in the near future.
Out of all my bikes the KLX 250 was my best bike for this with its 21" front wheel and much better suspension
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Evidence of lots of landslips along here today
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Finally at about 2.30 it brightens up for a while
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Today was my longest ride on the Wave with no ill effects and its definitely the most comfortable bike I have owned in Thailand
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Its the Mukata tonight with lots of mushrooms and spring onions
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And of course lots of bacon, all washed down with ice cream 139 Baht
 
Quote "I used to enjoy this loop but today I certainly didnt and have no plans to do it again in the near future.
Out of all my bikes the KLX 250 was my best bike for this with its 21" front wheel and much better suspension"

Hi Colin,

I'm sure it was a ball buster with only 2" of travel. I'm still am curious why you did not go with a KLX150 BF. 21" front wheel and decent suspension. Seems like a perfect match for you imho. Anyway, I always say the best bike for an adventure is the one you have :)

Happy trails
Jim
 
Thanks Colin. I have a German couple here at the moment who are planning to cross into Laos there. We did all the paperwork last night (another tree died for Thai/Laos bureaucracy) Good to hear it was an easy experience.
 
Thanks Colin. I have a German couple here at the moment who are planning to cross into Laos there. We did all the paperwork last night (another tree died for Thai/Laos bureaucracy) Good to hear it was an easy experience.
Ian I hope they are not planning on riding across as its not permitted there, I wasnt even allowed to ride my bike from the Thai side through no mans land to the Laos border
 
Quote "I used to enjoy this loop but today I certainly didnt and have no plans to do it again in the near future.
Out of all my bikes the KLX 250 was my best bike for this with its 21" front wheel and much better suspension"

Hi Colin,

I'm sure it was a ball buster with only 2" of travel. I'm still am curious why you did not go with a KLX150 BF. 21" front wheel and decent suspension. Seems like a perfect match for you imho. Anyway, I always say the best bike for an adventure is the one you have :)

Happy trails
Jim
Jim I personally found the suspension on the KLX 150 as crap, whilst Ohlins make a rear shock for it there is nothing to improve the front from anyone.
I have no interest in buying another carburettor bike, Kawasaki need to drag it into the 21st century before I would buy another one
 
Ian I hope they are not planning on riding across as its not permitted there, I wasnt even allowed to ride my bike from the Thai side through no mans land to the Laos border

They are keen to try there. We've equipped them with paperwork for there and Chiang Khong, and will reiterate our reasons to them....
 
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