As so delicately noted by Ally in a previous post, there is a Lifan in the jungle. This is a continuation of her post including photos/videos from my hikes up AND down to the bike today...
Yesterday's summary: At N18.77607 E099.290 there is a dirt side-track off the dirt portion of the 1230. It appears be an old double-track road that may have been a shortcut to the village below. I am guessing you could actually get a 4-wheeler in there about 800 meters or so to this location. Ally followed me along to these coordinates where I had turned around on a previous date (N18.77938 E99.29468). Today I was committed. It starts off fairly steep but it is navigable. It soon gets seriously overgrown with small trees, shrubs and bamboo. I nearly made it to the bottom but was deterred by a fallen tree. Although I could have dragged the bike under the tree, I walked further on to investigate and there is a drop-off into a dry riverbed that I am not ready for at my experience level. I turned around at the fallen tree (root?) and made it a little ways up the trail but I may have burned out the clutch. I am not sure, but I could not engage any gears, so the bike was staying put. I won't post the coordinates of my bike but I am sure a savvy computer-user can figure out where it is. I decided to walk downhill, the easier option as I was fairly exhausted after lugging the bike around trees and over/out of ruts. It was only a 10-minute walk or so to the road.
As Ally was waiting at the intersection of this road and the 1230 I made my way. It was hot. Within a few hundred meters from the intersection I saw Ally heading my way on the bike. It was just in the nick of time as I was getting over-heated. I hopped on her bike and we made it back to where I exited the forest. Luckily enough a nice Thai group in a pickup truck stopped by to give me some water! Thank you unknown people!
Ally went off to explore but could not find the bike.
Today: I took my Honda CBR250 and parked very near to the "gnarly" spot. It was tricky on a street bike, but certainly not impossible getting to this area. It is only a 300-meter hike to the bike, but that is not as easy as it may sound.
I switched to video camera at this point and walked/slid down to the Lifan. (video to be inserted at a later date/time)
The Lifan resting nicely.
You could actually see the start of the concrete section through the brush
Nice rut, maybe 30-50 cm deep.
Now to walk back up the trail to the CBR.
This is a nice rut I was eyeing before my bike broke on me (or, I broke the bike). We'll have to get the Lifan past this one on the way up.
The steep bit
I leisurely take the Honda back to the 1230 and head further down toward the road that leads to the lower village. I want to park near the trail exit and walk UP to the bike now. I am nearly certain the bike won't come out this way. I wanted to document this for you, dear reader. You may be helping me retrieve the orange rascal.
I ride past the trail to get a view from the concrete section (shown here). My bike is in that jungle in view in the distance.
I park near the bridge and begin my hike up to the bike.
Trail entrance. Yes, you would not even know it was there unless you stumbled out of it like I did. 555+
I really believe this was a "main" thoroughfare at some point in time.
The path deteriorates as you near the dry creek where I had to turn around whilst coming downhill.
A little friend. This was the only web I saw all day.
Having reached the bike I take more photos on the way back down to the Honda. I realize that this is about the same distance as the bit that I had hiked previously...only about 300 meters. But a hard 300 meters!
A large root
This could be cleaned up with some machetes!
And the root where I decided to turn the Lifan back uphill
And closer to the dry creek
This is looking into the dry creek bed
And the bank on the other side
This is the overgrowth at the "head" of the dry creek. I think this may have had a bridge in years gone by, but now you cannot get in there and have to duck and dive your way across to the other side of that creek.
Looking back at the creek
I know I am only 50-100 meters from the exit point now but there is still a small uphill ridge to climb. I remember how exhausted I was yesterday at this point. Uphill? Again?
Whew! Finally at the top of the ridge I make my way down
The exit is just below but this gives me a smile as I can see the concrete section in the distance
The Honda is in the distance
Someone's old mound. There was nothing living inside, just some leaves.
I am outta here!
OK, I won't make apologies for the lack of dirt biking in this post. Someone can turn this into a nice trail.
Good luck!
JB
PS - Two monkeys enjoying the post-hike at Tharn Thong Lodge!
PPS - Ally is in no way affiliated with these caged monkeys.
Yesterday's summary: At N18.77607 E099.290 there is a dirt side-track off the dirt portion of the 1230. It appears be an old double-track road that may have been a shortcut to the village below. I am guessing you could actually get a 4-wheeler in there about 800 meters or so to this location. Ally followed me along to these coordinates where I had turned around on a previous date (N18.77938 E99.29468). Today I was committed. It starts off fairly steep but it is navigable. It soon gets seriously overgrown with small trees, shrubs and bamboo. I nearly made it to the bottom but was deterred by a fallen tree. Although I could have dragged the bike under the tree, I walked further on to investigate and there is a drop-off into a dry riverbed that I am not ready for at my experience level. I turned around at the fallen tree (root?) and made it a little ways up the trail but I may have burned out the clutch. I am not sure, but I could not engage any gears, so the bike was staying put. I won't post the coordinates of my bike but I am sure a savvy computer-user can figure out where it is. I decided to walk downhill, the easier option as I was fairly exhausted after lugging the bike around trees and over/out of ruts. It was only a 10-minute walk or so to the road.
As Ally was waiting at the intersection of this road and the 1230 I made my way. It was hot. Within a few hundred meters from the intersection I saw Ally heading my way on the bike. It was just in the nick of time as I was getting over-heated. I hopped on her bike and we made it back to where I exited the forest. Luckily enough a nice Thai group in a pickup truck stopped by to give me some water! Thank you unknown people!
Ally went off to explore but could not find the bike.
Today: I took my Honda CBR250 and parked very near to the "gnarly" spot. It was tricky on a street bike, but certainly not impossible getting to this area. It is only a 300-meter hike to the bike, but that is not as easy as it may sound.
I switched to video camera at this point and walked/slid down to the Lifan. (video to be inserted at a later date/time)
The Lifan resting nicely.
You could actually see the start of the concrete section through the brush
Nice rut, maybe 30-50 cm deep.
Now to walk back up the trail to the CBR.
This is a nice rut I was eyeing before my bike broke on me (or, I broke the bike). We'll have to get the Lifan past this one on the way up.
The steep bit
I leisurely take the Honda back to the 1230 and head further down toward the road that leads to the lower village. I want to park near the trail exit and walk UP to the bike now. I am nearly certain the bike won't come out this way. I wanted to document this for you, dear reader. You may be helping me retrieve the orange rascal.
I ride past the trail to get a view from the concrete section (shown here). My bike is in that jungle in view in the distance.
I park near the bridge and begin my hike up to the bike.
Trail entrance. Yes, you would not even know it was there unless you stumbled out of it like I did. 555+
I really believe this was a "main" thoroughfare at some point in time.
The path deteriorates as you near the dry creek where I had to turn around whilst coming downhill.
A little friend. This was the only web I saw all day.
Having reached the bike I take more photos on the way back down to the Honda. I realize that this is about the same distance as the bit that I had hiked previously...only about 300 meters. But a hard 300 meters!
A large root
This could be cleaned up with some machetes!
And the root where I decided to turn the Lifan back uphill
And closer to the dry creek
This is looking into the dry creek bed
And the bank on the other side
This is the overgrowth at the "head" of the dry creek. I think this may have had a bridge in years gone by, but now you cannot get in there and have to duck and dive your way across to the other side of that creek.
Looking back at the creek
I know I am only 50-100 meters from the exit point now but there is still a small uphill ridge to climb. I remember how exhausted I was yesterday at this point. Uphill? Again?
Whew! Finally at the top of the ridge I make my way down
The exit is just below but this gives me a smile as I can see the concrete section in the distance
The Honda is in the distance
Someone's old mound. There was nothing living inside, just some leaves.
I am outta here!
OK, I won't make apologies for the lack of dirt biking in this post. Someone can turn this into a nice trail.
Good luck!
JB
PS - Two monkeys enjoying the post-hike at Tharn Thong Lodge!
PPS - Ally is in no way affiliated with these caged monkeys.
