COMPLETED -The Umpung Tung Yai Naresuan jungle track

[KTMphil]

COMPLETED -The Umpung Tung Yai Naresuan jungle track


First of all, a big thank you to Robert Hiekel, as without his research and determination, none of us would be able to experience this amazing jungle track that crosses into Myanmar (Burma). This might be the best trail i've ever ridden (here fixing jack's frozen throttle cable).

 

[KTMphil]

COMPLETED -The Umpang Tung Yai Naresuan jungle track

COMPLETED -The Umpung Tung Yai Naresuan jungle track


First of all, a big thank you to Robert Hiekel, as without his research and determination, none of us would be able to experience this amazing jungle track that crosses into Myanmar (Burma). This might be the best trail i've ever ridden (here fixing jack's frozen throttle cable).

 

[KTMphil]

Our very own Burmese Garmin Zumo, getting us out of Myanmar, across the river, back into Thailand. We put him on the back of Jonny's WR 450 & scared the shit out of him, he was standing crouched on the seat grabbing for dear life.

Riders:

Robert - 200cc Chinese enduro bike

Joe -- Honda XR 250

Jonny - Yamaha WR 450

Jack - Yamaha 200cc enduro bike

Phil - KTM 300 EXC-E 2-stroke



We had decided to do the route south to north (north bound), starting in Sangkhla Buri, NW of Kanchanaburi. Jonny & I were lazy looking at distances and knew it was somewhere near Nakhon Sawan, so no big deal. Further investigation revealed it was further than we anticipated & was a 920km drive.

Route down from Chiang Mai

We met up at the P. GH in Sangkhla Buri. Rooms 250 bht with shared bathroom, amazing value. They do have fancy rooms with air con for 900 bht too.

Restaurant at the P GH, great views over the lake

 

[KTMphil]

Next morning 0600am start, you know it's early (& dark) when you're up to see the monks giving their blessing

A quick breakfast around the market then time to head north on the jungle trails

This route is a fantastic route filled with endless water crossings and never ending changes in scenery.

Even in dry season the gradients are slippy

Another rainy season make shift crossing

 

[KTMphil]

Next morning 0600am start, you know it's early (& dark) when you're up to see the monks giving their blessing

A quick breakfast around the market then time to head north on the jungle trails

This route is a fantastic route filled with endless water crossings and never ending changes in scenery.

Even in dry season the gradients are slippy

Another rainy season make shift crossing

 

[KTMphil]

First stop. about 3 hours down the trail, was to a small village where Jack's father was. Here benzine was available, lunch & some shade for some quick repairs.

Jonny had the wires pull out of his electric start assembly and had it fixed in no time

Jack's throttle cable was stiff, I had a spare inner cable which Robert fitted for him

All the step-through scooters had nobblies on them, I wonder why?

 

[KTMphil]

First stop. about 3 hours down the trail, was to a small village where Jack's father was. Here benzine was available, lunch & some shade for some quick repairs.

Jonny had the wires pull out of his electric start assembly and had it fixed in no time

Jack's throttle cable was stiff, I had a spare inner cable which Robert fitted for him

All the step-through scooters had nobblies on them, I wonder why?

 

[KTMphil]

In some of the low areas, still pretty wet

Plenty of water crossings




Robert

Jack in some deep stuff

 

[KTMphil]

In some of the low areas, still pretty wet

Plenty of water crossings




Robert

Jack in some deep stuff

 

[KTMphil]

Talking to some Karen locals at the Myanmar border





Jonny deciding to go down through this one





Joe's route had more grip

 

[KTMphil]

Talking to some Karen locals at the Myanmar border





Jonny deciding to go down through this one





Joe's route had more grip

 

[KTMphil]

One more crossing

Jack had worn tires which didn't help

Cool bridge for rainy season





Looking for the shallow spot across





Paddle wheel for crushing rice husks






Another crossing, quite wide

 

[KTMphil]

One more crossing

Jack had worn tires which didn't help

Cool bridge for rainy season





Looking for the shallow spot across





Paddle wheel for crushing rice husks






Another crossing, quite wide

 

[KTMphil]

Robert's Garmin Zumo ended up in this river









Joe spots the Zumo in the clear water!





"Rob it's here"!

 

[KTMphil]

Robert's Garmin Zumo ended up in this river









Joe spots the Zumo in the clear water!





"Rob it's here"!

 

[KTMphil]

Jack retrieves the gps from the bottom of the river





More crossings








Then Joe had a slip on a bridge and ended up under it

 

[KTMphil]

Jack retrieves the gps from the bottom of the river





More crossings








Then Joe had a slip on a bridge and ended up under it

 

[KTMphil]

It was quite a drop, he was very lucky not to be hurt













We got joe back up further down the river bank with bent bars and rubbing steering head bearing, but he was able to carry on


one more bridge

 

[KTMphil]

It was quite a drop, he was very lucky not to be hurt













We got joe back up further down the river bank with bent bars and rubbing steering head bearing, but he was able to carry on


one more bridge

 

[KTMphil]

A dis-used mine area at the Myanmar border







Young monks






Fixing joes bike after the bridge crash





We were able to get some fuel in this tiny village

 

[KTMphil]

A dis-used mine area at the Myanmar border







Young monks






Fixing joes bike after the bridge crash





We were able to get some fuel in this tiny village

 

[KTMphil]

The bamboo jungle
\





Jack water-cooling his air cooled bike in the river






This one looks a piece of cake

Maybe not

Walking it through

 

[KTMphil]

The bamboo jungle
\





Jack water-cooling his air cooled bike in the river






This one looks a piece of cake

Maybe not

Walking it through

 

[KTMphil]

Joe being super careful after watching that episode\
\

Jonny having some fun






I then put a piece of bamboo through my radiator 80km from anywhere in the middle of the jungle







Quick dry epoxy saved the day and sealed the leak

 

[KTMphil]

Joe being super careful after watching that episode\
\

Jonny having some fun






I then put a piece of bamboo through my radiator 80km from anywhere in the middle of the jungle







Quick dry epoxy saved the day and sealed the leak

 

[KTMphil]

The beauty of the Thai/ Myanmar border where we were going to spend the night






Jacks family has several house right on the border, we were assigned this one for sleeping







The top of the first hill was the border on the gps, jonny was sleeping 300 meters the other side in Myanmar

 

[KTMphil]

The beauty of the Thai/ Myanmar border where we were going to spend the night






Jacks family has several house right on the border, we were assigned this one for sleeping







The top of the first hill was the border on the gps, jonny was sleeping 300 meters the other side in Myanmar

 

[KTMphil]

Joe's nose got caught on some thorns on teh way up to the house




Small walking bridge that led us across to the other house on the Myanmar side of the border





We ate at this house




Jonny camped there in his sweet set up

 

[KTMphil]

Joe's nose got caught on some thorns on teh way up to the house




Small walking bridge that led us across to the other house on the Myanmar side of the border





We ate at this house




Jonny camped there in his sweet set up

 

[KTMphil]

Dinner - Rice, fish & veg





Next morning, we lost Jonny as he was coming back from Myanmar, he was lost without a GPS we were worried





He turned up and we used the Burmese guide to get us to the river crossing out of Myanmar

So - To the river and hope for a raft. Luckily there was rafts, Jonny first on

The rafts were able to take 2 bikes

Then off across the river

 

[KTMphil]

Dinner - Rice, fish & veg





Next morning, we lost Jonny as he was coming back from Myanmar, he was lost without a GPS we were worried





He turned up and we used the Burmese guide to get us to the river crossing out of Myanmar

So - To the river and hope for a raft. Luckily there was rafts, Jonny first on

The rafts were able to take 2 bikes

Then off across the river

 

[KTMphil]

More to come ......

 

[KTMphil]

More to come ......

 

[KTMphil]

Joe & I underway on the bamboo raft

 

[KTMphil]

Joe & I underway on the bamboo raft

 

[KTMphil]

I must admit, when i saw jonny in his stockings, it did do it for me, i'd share his one man tent any time if he wears them

 

[KTMphil]

I must admit, when i saw jonny in his stockings, it did do it for me, i'd share his one man tent any time if he wears them

 

[KTMphil]

Onwards more north into the next Karen village





Beautiful children

 

[KTMphil]

Onwards more north into the next Karen village





Beautiful children

 

[KTMphil]

Karen villagers