New roads & trails south of R 1269 (Samoeng loop road)

[KTMphil]

A break in the rain made it a good day to go poking around, looking for some new tracks for Auke's north Thailand map.


Cabbages seemed to be the vegetable of choice in this region







With the Garmin Montana's huge, bright screen, it makes it much easier to spot areas that havn't been mapped yet. South of R 1269, the southern side of the Samoeng loop, there seems to be quite a lot of new trail and road data to be had. Being so close to Chiang Mai, this makes a fun day out & not needing to stay in a scanky guest house in the middle of no-where for a change.

 

[KTMphil]

Poking around south of R 1269, it was quite amazing to see the wealth in the area - beautiful manicured houses, some traditional teak, some more modern, all hidden away back there.












Then this turns to dirt and some great new trails to discover

 

[KTMphil]

A lot of them dead-ended at farm-gardens. Back down to the concrete road and a beautiful bridge that leads to one huge house







A little bit further along & the new Olive House Resort, looks pretty nice if you want to get away from it all, probably 40 minutes from Chiang Mai city.

Location:

N18.77358

E98.84519

 

[2wheels]

Very nice Phil.
That area is where a Toy Ride went to a couple of years back.
Wonderful, friendly Hmong people living in beautiful scenery.

 

[KTMphil]

Then further SW , up into cabbage-land, cabbage crops as far as the eye could see










Being a clear day, from up there, great views over the Chiang Mai valley





Some of the higher trails were now overgrown from all the rain and rutted, but managed to get most of them mapped for Auke





It's hard to beat views you've never seen before, especially when you've got some good viz.

 

[KTMphil]

Into a small village & this pig wasn't happy being trussed-up for ready market










Further SW found some lovely single track that followed the river which irrigated some rice fields







This poor old lady was bent double tending to her new rice crop

 

[KTMphil]

The new rice crop was all shades of green






Well built, home made bridge, further along the rice trail single track





Running out of time, had to turn around here on the single track, looks like it went on a LOT further, well worth going back to explore how far it follows the valley





Coming back the other way







Couldn't figure out if this was a school or a market]






Really was astonished at the hidden wealth out there next to the extreme poverty

 

[esspressolungo]

I know this single track very well, have been there exploring quiet a few times without any success, Maybe one day gonna try again, so far I only got dead ends. But the single track is just great, it takes you higher into the mountains to some gorgeous spots

 

[Satonic]

Hi Phil. Is this the area, if I can remember correctly that has a cave that you could explore or am I thinking of somewhere else?

 

[Captain_Slash]

Its so green out there right now, really lovely photos Phil

 

[2wheels]

Look at the old lady's back after a life-time in the fields.
Lovely area and well photographed Phil.