Fang via the abandoned temple and Yayo restaurant

[The Bigfella]

The Ulysses Club Thailand did a two-day ride, overnighting in Fang last week. Here's a bit of detail and a few photos. Day 1 to Fang via the 118, 3037, 5047, back to the 3037 via some back roads, up to the Kok and back down the 1089/107 was a 4.5 hour trip in the saddle for 263 km, averaging 59 kph and with 3.9 kilometres gained in height and 3.8 km lost. A bit slow because we were tootling around near the Mae Suai Dam and the abandoned temple. My GPS says I topped out at 243 kph - but I don't believe it, as I was riding a 500X from the hire fleet.

We'd barely cleared the Superhighway when we spotted shadowing riders. G'day pink one. Must be a popular route

We'd re-gathered the troupe at Doi Saket, but had some difficulty with the fog

I honestly had to back off for that truck.... I couldn't see more than about 15 metres ahead when I got into the smoke... until he crested the hill and engine vacuum sucked some oil back

A coffee stop at the end of the good section of the 118 was a welcome break

We passed Ginger and Steve at the cactus place, they passed us again whilst we were topping up on fuel. Didn't see them again until we got to Yayo restaurant, but pretty sure we heard them buzzing around in the jungle below us at the abandoned temple. Couldn't have been too many pairs of multi-cylinder bikes buzzing around in this locale....

It turned out that it wasn't totally abandoned. There was one monk there and a lot of the fallen facade had been cleared up, some over-growth removed

Wouldn't want to be under this whilst it was falling down

Still a bit of over-growth

I believe the issue here is something similar to the Vietnamese temple, closer to home. Built about 35 years ago... where it shouldn't have been.

We took a look in the cave... one of the better ones I've visited

Deere did a bit of cleaning up on the way out....

We headed for lunch, up the ridgeline... which was lovely

Not without a bit of a play

Thoroughly recommend that - it's only about a 6 metre drop at the furthest point out... but you feel like you are on top of the world

Ran into Kevin in the carpark - on his way home from a Chiang Rai trip and Ginge again, but she was deep in thought and I left her to it

Deere enjoyed the view

and the swing

along with the decor

Here's the exact location, btw

Lots more Thai style decor

Lunch done, it was back to the bikes. More late

 

[The Bigfella]

We cut across from Doi Chang , back to the 3037 via the back roads

A bit of wet season fun. The locals weren't going to let this timber go to waste

I lived near the cemetery in Coffs Harbour as a kid. Nothing like this in Coffs....

Steep roads in this part of the world

With nice views. This guy gave me a nod as I snapped his pic

Then onto the flats

I was a bit slow with the camera when this snake went across the road as I came along. I could have sworn it was a red necked keelback, but the photo doesn't lie. Radiated rat snake.... Unfortunately, I missed getting its head in the photo...

It just wouldn't be right to go over the Kok and not stop for a photo. Some pulled up in the shade... but here she is

The road from there out to the 1089 is fantastic

Speaking of the 1089... this guy was doing a recovery as I turned onto it. Not sure what the engine was, but it sounded like a single lunger diesel....

It wouldn't be fair to say that we're all pisspots.... we had extra help here. We did drink the hotel dry though

Of course, we were up bright and early... and went out to check out the oil wells

 

[The Bigfella]

We got back onto the 109 and enjoyed a brisk ride for a while. There was, like on most roads at this time of the year, a bit of sand washed onto some corners... and the usual hazards. This one was a bit different

We pulled in for a coffee at this absolute gem of a place. The lady was, well, bubbly might describe it.

Steve, from the Hangover Bar in Chiang Rai pulled in with a couple of mates while we were there and after a chat, we were off again. Not before these elegantly load-covered transports went past

The 109 is a great road

Deere was on a hire fleet CRF 250 Rally.... and he'd proven the day before that they can be quicker through the twisties than the big bikes.

The hills are going to be rather green again soon

Meanwhile, the road surface was prime

Back onto the boring bit of the 118 for a while

Then turn right onto the 1150. The uphill section of that is, as it has been for years, somewhat patchy, with lots of ridges in the road and potholes. Not enough to deter us from recommending it, but a bit of a pity

This is typical, but there are worse sections. Watch out for the sandy patches

Up top and down the Phrao side, the road is great

Like the other reservoirs we've seen lately, the one at Phrao is rather lean

We passed the turnoff to a favourite dirt ride of ours, but hunger won out - and I would rather do it on knobbies than the street tyred 500X, so it was on to Phrao for lunch

... and off home

The second day was 266 km at 66 kph average. 3.1 kilometres of height gained, 3.2 km lost.

It was a great two-day ride, with great company on fantastic roads.

 

[JayinCM]

Very nice pics and looks like a really nice ride. Full disclousre about the 'shadowing riders' Ginger and I had been to Yayo a few times in the past and totally independently decided that day to ride there for a nice day ride on our own. So not 'shadowing' but it was a nice coincidence to run into you folks at Yayo and I am kind of sorry we did not go with you all to the temple - looks amazing (have never been there).

 

[Gnasher328]

Nice, I miss those open uncrowded roads. I've been getting out here but nice uncrowded roads are hard to find in the South. A lot of the surfaces off the main routes are appalling, it feels like a third world country now.
All the best, Tim.

 

[Captain_Slash]

Good to see other people go to that abandoned temple and give an explanation as to why its abandoned, when you leave the temple about 1 km on the right you can take a dirt track and make a nice loop.
Unfortunately I had nothing to see with so I didnt go inside