Poking around the Mae Sariang border

[KTMphil]

4 of us had a rough plan of some trails around the Mae Saraing border/ Salaween river region, it's one of the most beautiful areas in Thailand without doubt

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Our first glimpses of the Salaween river, looking westwards across into Myanmar


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.....More to come

 

[KTMphil]

Doing this trip, which follows & weaves through a river 30 times, in the middle of rainy season would be interesting, the photo below of Johnny's KTM 200 two-stroke should give you an idea of how things went

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Matt's KTM 300 two-stroke upside down with the spark plug out

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Surveying one of the nasty, rocky, fast flowing, rivers






Then all ok, time to go-for-it






Mr. Snedds attempting a rather tricky river bank

- He did it with style the second time, we pulled the rest of the bikes up.

 

[johnnysneds]

The Route


The last supper


Tomorrow should be a great day


Ready for the off


Matt on his way to see whats happened up-stream


Here come the locals


Friendly bunch


Look, im smaller than the locals











Here comes Phil without his bike...


Do you know what just happened to me?


I just fell off a cliff, landed on my head, still sitting on the the saddle.........lets move on....


No way through here...back track


hmmm...


One thing after another. Its all good for the soul though




Plenty of bamboo gates to take down and rebuild


Watch yer heed


Defiance


Farangs!








Farangs!


This crossing was particularly nasty




Under current very strong


I havent really just slipped and fallen in the river...






Shit! my turn


Whens it going to end?!?




Pondering


What was that nonsense I was saying about having a great day last night!


Godam Piranha fish


Farangs!


Im sure it goes this way...


Nope it was definitely this way up before the river crossing










Only way to cool down











yes, ive just completely submerged my bike...


In here


Eventually we made it to the village and were greeted with this


Relief




Myself and Matt continued on to Mae Sam Laep in the hope of getting a bed and some cold beer. 16Km of jungle trails. I didn't have and lights after being drowned a few hours earlier. The whole trail was in complete darkness following Matts dimly lit tail light. Very exciting and very relieved to see civilisation.


The beer...ahhhhhh


The local restaurant


Kindness


5 Stars


ok 4 and a half


Spectacular views the next morning






The guesthouse in Mae Sam Laep. An ex-police man and his daughters running the place. We were made very welcome indeed.


Lots of road construction going on the 1194




Packed up and heading for home

 

[Ally]

Spectacular, you lot are quite mad!

Well done.

Ally

 

[MartinThai]

Mental as anything! Respect!

 

[KTMphil]

Great photo's Mr. Sneds, that new Canon S 100 is excellent!

So it all started with Matt talking about some trails north of the Salaween Nat'l Park trail that leads westwards to the Salaween river, west of Mae Sariang.


We took two pickups from Chiang Mai, with 4 bikes & met up with Auke in Mae Sariang. Auke found this excellent new restaurant in Mae Sariang on the river.














Location of the restaurant:

Latitude : 18.164 (18°09′50.395″N)
Longitude : 97.93133 (97°55′52.789″E)
Accuracy of signal : 25.0 m
show on google maps


Into Auke's pickup




A few beers then off to bed at the Mitaree Hotel, 400 Bht incl aircon







They've gone with the large road marker which seems to be in fashion

 

[KTMphil]

Next morning at the bikes 0600, a quick ride with Auke to the Salaween Nat'l Park entrance, then off on our own westwards towards the Myanmar border

Trails not too bad to start with

Neil on a CRF 250 L going through on of the first river crossings

 

[KTMphil]

With the trail traversing the river at least 30 times, it was hard to see where the trail continued on the other bank as the river moves its location during the heavy rains

In most cases we could find it on the other side

The rivers we DEEP and incredibly rocky

 

[Satonic]

Fan-bloody-tastic - That's my idea of the perfect time. Dirt, Friends, Beers and random drowning of bikes

I can't wait to spend time up north.

 

[KTMphil]

This is roughly where I fell off the side of the trail down a 3 meter cliff into the river, snapping the visor off my helmet

More trails further west

 

[KTMphil]

The river crossings were endless

The next obstacle, 3, well tied cow gates to remove

Then back to the rivers

This one was one of the nastier ones, quite fast flowing

This one was deep, smoothe surface on the water

 

[KTMphil]

& this one just plain bumpy, with a hill climb to the left

You can see the float-sum left from the floods, monster trees washed down river

A pit-stop in the river

This local Karen fella to the right helped us out huge, many times we had no idea which was the best way to go.

Matt had a slip in this one and drowned his bike

Jonny on his first attempt at the river bank

Matt leading with a little foliage in his back sprocket, the Karen man assisting

 

[KTMphil]

Keeping cool

Jonny off surveyin

Neil checking the depth

Jonny dunked the KTM 200 in this one, it was deep and fast flowing

Draining the carb

Then upside down with the spark plug out to get the water out

 

[KTMphil]

Surprising how much rice there was out this way

Locals clearing the way for Neil

Finally at the Salaween river/ Myanmar border - beautiful!!

 

[esspressolungo]

Quiet enjoyed that one, this is a fantastic area to ride, the last time I rode around there is more then 10 years ago, I don't recognize anything....would love to join something like this in the future... keep it coming- great work

 

[esspressolungo]

oh almost forgot, in all my years riding I never had one problem with water in the engine, is this a common problem with the KTM's? I mean, I really don't know I have been with XR's for the last two decades and never had any problems crossing rivers, even they are very deep....maybe someone shed some light on this thanks

 

[KTMphil]

Jonny and Matt went south, following the river to Mae Sam Laep, Neil & I decided to stay north on the river in Ta Ta Fon

It's and interesting village, electricity only from solar. The locals are Karen tribe, they told us most if not all did not have Thai ID cards and they were all Christians.

This is Pichet's mother who took care of us for the evening, being from Myanmar, she spoke good English

They were lovely people, made beds for us in their house

Even mosquito nets

Cooked us a fantastic meal in their kitchen

 

[KTMphil]

The roof was tradition Karen leaf style, they say the leaves last for 3 years

Pichets local motorbike, nicely set up

Pichet

 

[KTMphil]

Pichet arranged for a boat to take us south from Ta Ta Fon to Mae Sam Laep on the Salaween river, total cost for 2 bikes and us was 1,200 bht

Getting them loaded

He gave us a farewell

 

[KTMphil]

& then we're off

rooster tail from the long-tail

Will have to give this one to Lan

house on the Myanmar side

Homestay on the Thai side

 

[KTMphil]

Approaching Mae Sam Laep

A bit of a crunch as we dock side-on to the current

No real dramas get the bikes off

R 1194 back to Mae Sariang still in a mess

Finally back in Mae Sariang & a very bright, Honda CRF 250 L

 

[LUFC]

oh almost forgot, in all my years riding I never had one problem with water in the engine, is this a common problem with the KTM's? I mean, I really don't know I have been with XR's for the last two decades and never had any problems crossing rivers, even they are very deep....maybe someone shed some light on this thanks

Yes the KTM's are crap in water. The airbox design lets in lots of water on the left side of the bike, the airbox cover is so low. Basically about half up boot level when riding is all a KTM will handle.

Honda / Yammies draw air from under the seat so they are much better submariners with better sealing and higher airboxes.

 

[KTMphil]

Yes the KTM's are crap in water. The airbox design lets in lots of water on the left side of the bike, the airbox cover is so low. Basically about half up boot level when riding is all a KTM will handle.

Honda / Yammies draw air from under the seat so they are much better submariners with better sealing and higher airboxes.

Jonny's went right under for about 4 minutes, any bike would have suffered








Photo's: Neil

 

[LUFC]

Kin hell that's a reet soaking, lucky it wasnae the WR Johnny you'd still be trying to start it.

Amazing after that much water has been ingested how 20 mins will see the 2 strokes fire up again.

Better get the grease gun out on them KTM's lads.

 

[Rudeboy]

Crackin report and looks like an awesome ride!!! look forward to reading more...

 

[KTMphil]

Turned it back upright, second kick it started (cold - it normally takes 3 kicks to start!)

Kin hell that's a reet soaking, lucky it wasnae the WR Johnny you'd still be trying to start it.

Amazing after that much water has been ingested how 20 mins will see the 2 strokes fire up again.

Better get the grease gun out on them KTM's lads.

 

[OlafJass]

Wow!!!....that looks like it was a real adventure...not just a trip.

 

[OlafJass]

Great photos Phil. It follow's the trip very diligently.

 

[Scott]

Looks like a great ride, some really spectacular shots. How did you go getting fuel along the way?

 

[KTMphil]

Its around 100km from Mae Sariang to Ta Ta Fon to Mae Sam Laep, you can get fuel in Ta Ta Fon so fuel really isn't a problem.

Looks like a great ride, some really spectacular shots. How did you go getting fuel along the way?

 

[KTMphil]

Some photo's from Neil

Me crossing one of the many rivers

Karen local

Matt & Jonny

 

[KTMphil]

More rivers

Visa gone now from falling off a cliff

Gettin some local help

\



Cooling off

 

[KTMphil]

Getting the river out of the bike

Looking west into Myanmar

Loading

 

[KTMphil]

The Karen locals pronounce the village "Ta Ta Fon", the actual spelling is That-a-Fang

Its around 100km from Mae Sariang to Ta Ta Fon to Mae Sam Laep, you can get fuel in Ta Ta Fon so fuel really isn't a problem.


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[KTMphil]

Unloading

 

[KTMphil]

 

[MastaMax]

Great ride guys, looks amazing and very courageous going in this region during rain season!

 

[Pounce]

Looks like 2013's trip is being planned already, this area & the Jungle Track may be a goer.
Cheers fellas for making me jealous & sad.

 

[Davevb]

guys, A quick question. After reading this I am keen to take my son out there for a look tomorrow as he is on school holidays and it looks a great place for a little nature adventure. I will be going in the 4x4 Vigo and is it possible to get to Mae Sam Laep in it? Not looking to go bush bashing but a little easy 4wd'ing is ok. Is there a decent place to stay there? I reckon a night or two there and a river boat ride would be awesome. Cheers.

 

[KTMphil]

Take r 1194 will be no probs Dave just a few muddy sections.

guys, A quick question. After reading this I am keen to take my son out there for a look tomorrow as he is on school holidays and it looks a great place for a little nature adventure. I will be going in the 4x4 Vigo and is it possible to get to Mae Sam Laep in it? Not looking to go bush bashing but a little easy 4wd'ing is ok. Is there a decent place to stay there? I reckon a night or two there and a river boat ride would be awesome. Cheers.