Mae Sam Laep To Mae Sariang Off - Road 16.1.2019

bsacbob

Administrator (Retired)
Joined
Jul 1, 2012
Location
Chiang Rai
Bikes
Honda CRM-AR 250, Honda CRF 250-L, Suzuki V Strom XT 650 Honda XR250 Baja BMW F650GS
The route from Mae Sam Laep to Mai Sariang takes you through a multitude of refugee villages some of them incredibly large, but each guarded by the Thai military at every access point, the scenery is again spectacular and some of the trails pretty challenging but rewarding.

The overall distance is only 130km but the diverse nature of the trail makes it feel double that.

The bamboo houses perched riverside leaving Mae Sam Laep.

Screenshot 2019-01-25 13.27.38.png

349_349.jpeg


350_350.jpeg

This is a busy makeshift port used for moving cattle, customs officials on display to make sure everything was above board.

351_351.jpeg


354_354.jpeg

As we reached the village of Ban Ko Mu Doe N17.92905° E97.74331° all the kids in the village slowly came out for a look at the strange farangs coming through.


355_355.jpeg

Though paved in the actual village, it was clear these people are absolute poverty.

356_356.jpeg


357_357.jpeg

This old lady all smiles as we pulled up to take pictures as were all the people we met along the way.

358_358.jpeg


359_359.jpeg


361_361.jpeg

Inquizative kids lurking.

363_363.jpeg

This old guy indicating the way for us.

364_364.jpeg

This climb was pretty steep and slick as the afternoon sun had not dried it out, Des was not up to the climb so I proceeded alone and headed back the paved way to Mae Sariang.

365_365.jpeg

Looking back down to the village.

367_367.jpeg


Making the steep climb I was rewarded with a large Christian church perched on the hillside, it looked little used.

368_368.jpeg


369_369.jpeg

The climb continued passing many small dwellings, this one making good use of an old tree trunk for support.

370_370.jpeg

Timber is still obviously in great supply in this area.

371_371.jpeg


373_373.jpeg

Pictures don't do it justice this climb was steep and continued forever, this coming up was slippy as hell.

375_375.jpeg


377_377.jpeg

House with a view.

378_378.jpeg

But what a view!!

379_379.jpeg


381_381.jpeg

Rangers station

382_382.jpeg

Some evidence of landslides from the earlier rains

383_383.jpeg


384_384.jpeg

Reaching the village of Ban Klo Se Lo looking for gas.

385_385.jpeg


386_386.jpeg


387_387.jpeg

This had a small one stop shop and was willing to sell some bottles of gas at 45 baht a litre hence the secret smile. N17.89344° E97.71856°


388_388.jpeg

Doesn't look like much of a shop from the outside.

391_391.jpeg


392_392.jpeg


394_394.jpeg


395_395.jpeg

This was a bizarrely constructed viewpoint in the middle of nowhere but would make a great overnight camping spot.

397_397.jpeg

What a view to wake up too.

400_400.jpeg


401_401.jpeg402_402.jpeg


403_403.jpeg

Gave way to these guys picking their way up the hill.

406_406.jpeg


407_407.jpeg


408_408.jpeg


410_410.jpeg

As always every uphill have an equally steep downhill.

412_412.jpeg

Interrupted these guy's not sure what was going on here and didn't stop to ask.

413_413.jpeg


414_414.jpeg

Timer house well underway with amazing views.

416_416.jpeg


417_417.jpeg


419_419.jpeg

Coming to perhaps the most interesting stretch, lots of single track along here.

421_421.jpeg


422_422.jpeg


423_423.jpeg


424_424.jpeg


427_427.jpeg


428_428.jpeg429_429.jpeg

Some fun bit's.

431_431.jpeg


432_432.jpeg

Beautiful forest section.

433_433.jpeg


434_434.jpeg

Unmarked village.

435_435.jpeg


436_436.jpeg

This was lovely riding along through the forest.

437_437.jpeg

Things are going great and I'm making good time.

438_438.jpeg

Until this.

440_440.jpeg

There was a smaller log in the middle of the bridge that spat out as I crossed causing the bike to lurch going at speed I hit the bank with a thump and ended upside down in the stream hitting my back and shoulder on the large log under the bike.

441_441.jpeg

Being a carbby bike it was leaking gas through the breather pipes I tried to haul it up but it was not going to happen, walked around shouting for help to no avail. Nothing else for it but to remove the bridge and let the bike drop in the stream and hopefully ride it out, my shoulder was hurting like hell (turned out i had dislocated it) but i had to get out.

442_442.jpeg

After a lot of pushing and pulling the bike was in the stream and i managed to wrestle the bike out and back on the track, this next bit was not much fun being steep and water running down was all i could do to get through to open ground for a breather.

443_443.jpeg

Came to another Refugee village and needed gas as most of it had gone in the stream, a couple of litres and a few red bulls and i was off.

444_444.jpeg

This was one of the larger villages, you can't help but feel sorry for these poor people.

472_472.jpeg

445_445.jpeg

The community centre and fire station.

446_446.jpeg


452_452.jpeg

What a beautiful location.

455_455.jpeg


457_457.jpeg

Happy smiling faces everywhere, but no time to stop darkness was upon me.

458_458.jpeg


460_460.jpeg


461_461.jpeg


462_462.jpeg


463_463.jpeg

464_464.jpeg

Interesting posters about child birth at home.

467_467.jpeg


468_468.jpeg


473_473.jpeg


479_479.jpeg

Funny as it was late in the day i didn't see one army guard at the checkpoints

480_480.jpeg


482_482.jpeg


484_484.jpeg


485_485.jpeg

These kids very proud of there creations made from gabage.

487_487.jpeg


488_488.jpeg


489_489.jpeg

Happy smiling people despite their conditions.

492_492.jpeg

From here it was as fast as i could back to Mae Sariang, reaching town in darkness for a well beer or two, it had been a great day.
 

Attachments

  • 2019-01-16 13:12:10 Auto.GPX
    1.4 MB · Views: 235
Your are stud... Love the fact you took the time to take pictures at the bridge.

Thank for the adventure
Jim
 
Your are stud... Love the fact you took the time to take pictures at the bridge.

Thank for the adventure
Jim

Been a long while since I was called that ;)i guess i was on autopilot taking the picture as i would, doing my duty of snapping a fallen riding partner on any trip.
 
Thats a fair ride for a day, coming off on that bridge obviously lost you some time, luckily you only dislocated the shoulder
 
Justin broken leg.
You dislocated shoulder.
Who's next?
Great to see the kids' toys.
Looks like an excellent ride. Well done Bob.
 
Justin broken leg.
You dislocated shoulder.
Who's next?
Great to see the kids' toys.
Looks like an excellent ride. Well done Bob.

We like to keep you all entertained Ron, all part of the mix.
 
Back
Top Bottom