Loei to Nan the fun way

[KTMphil]

Loei to Nan - The quick way, with partially fun roads, would be to take R 203 westbound, follow signs for Uttaradit, take R 11 north and then R 101 north east to Nan. Not a bad ride at all, but if you have time the border back roads north are so much fun.





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From the elevation profile, you can see there's some fun mountain ranges

 

[KTMphil]

It was the end of the Loei Bike Week weekend & the Dan Sai Phi Ta Khon festival, thousands of motorcycles of all shapes and sizes were headed home to various parts of Thailand.


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[KTMphil]

Bob, Jake & myself wern't in any hurry, so decided to take the twisty border road north (from Loei) and see where we ended up for the night.




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If you do this route (leaving Loei), AVOID R 2195 west of Thai Li, which runs along the Mekong River at the Thai/ Laos border. R 2195 in this area is gravel with potholes, it is not fun at all and is continually made worse by lots of tractor-trailer traffic - avoid.

 

[KTMphil]

We'd been real lucky with the rain showers, missed all of them so far, not bad for being out riding with the SW monsoon in full force. Everywhere was bright green, here R 1268 near the Laos border:


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A quick stop at Wat Si Pho Chai near Na Haeo



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Monk sleeping quarters


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It's a 400 year old real stunner ...more here:


http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-forum/thailand/5876-wat-si-pho-chai.html




Then onwards, west and north on R 1268


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Jay is practicing his Thai and getting some local knowledge


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[KTMphil]

We thought we might make home (Chiang Mai/ Chiang Rai) but wasn't to be, all shattered, we'd lost Jay in B. Nam Pat, it was Nan for the night. Cuppa tea at Tony's, it had been a long, twisty day.

Next day all refreshed and kind of headed in the same direction, it's R 1091- R 1251 westwards towards Phayao, stupendous green collages on R 1091



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Jay


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She even looks great dirty


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Through-the-wheel-shot


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[KTMphil]

There's a cool looking MX/ ATV track that's been cut into the side of a hill on the north side of R 1091, that Bob discovered a few weeks back at co-ords:


N18.86211


E100.46002



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In the dry it would be a blast


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A great weekend & nearly missed all the rain squalls




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[nikhuzlan]

Good one Phil. That Hyper must have been heaven to ride on those roads. Range a problem with that tiny tank?

 

[KTMphil]

Nik - Fuel light usually comes on at 180km, then there's about 60km of reserve, so not really a problem. It's the perfect bike for here.

 

[bill]

Loei to Nan - The quick way, with partially fun roads, would be to take R 203 westbound, follow signs for Uttaradit, take R 11 north and then R 101 north east to Nan. Not a bad ride at all, but if you have time the border back roads north are so much fun.





IMG_8725_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



View attachment 29679





From the elevation profile, you can see there's some fun mountain ranges


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Phil, indeed, those backroads are fun.
I did a similar route yesterday.
Seems we have quite a low pressure system over the region at the moment. 10 degrees celsius at 10am in Nan, I was hoping it might be a bit warmer back in Chiang Khan....wrong
With my mesh riding gear and minimal clothing for the trip, it was a very chilly ride.
However, it was one of the most scenic and surreal rides I've done. Roads were mostly deserted, as were the numerous army checkpoints.
As I passed through the towns, everyone was rugged up and huddled around roadside fires. 3 days earlier is was warm and sunny.
My route was head Sth from Nan on 101, onto 1026-1083-1268-2195 ending in Chiang Khan. All easy on a sport tourer.



Rained most of last night and today in Chiang Khan
Scene from walking street last night