The Nan Loop - Seniors Tour

[Just Bob]

Day one of my Nan loop trip. Drove through Doi Saket to see how Ron lives. Nice place!
Stopped for a snack at the petrol station east of town. Thailand has the world beat for classy coffee shops. Note my "Product of Thailand" rice sack rain cover for my pack. I figured it would maybe fool tailgaiters into thinking I'm local and have a big family that would extract instant Kharma if they run me over.



I finally got my cheese omlette fifty kilometers out of Chiang Mai at the Rimtan Banmiang. The landscaping is beautiful.









On the road heading to Phayao.

Phayao Lake just visable.




I pulled over at this checkpoint on the 1091 outside of Nan for a pic of the view. This rozzer was pretty laid back. Did the awkward thing where you don't speak each other's language so you just babble away at each other and giggle like morons.


His views;






Made it into Nan and found this hotel (see Nan Hotel thread for info).

http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-forum/accommodation/646-nan-accommodation.html#post20155

 

[KTMphil]

Bob, being the Nan map guinea pig, let us know what you think of it if you can.


Link to information on the new Nan Province Map

 

[Just Bob]

The map! Genius! Tomorrow (Friday) I'm heading east on the 1168, north on the 1225, right on the 1257, right to Phu Fa, north to Bo Klua, then west on the 1256, south on the 1170, south on the 1081 and then back into Nan on the 1169. I'll call it the Bo Klua Loop.

So I'm resting up today, just kicking around Nan. Realized why I'm knackered when I saw yesterday was 305 kilometers.

Unfortunatly, breakfast at the Chinatipy is just toast and Nescafe. Riding around town looking for a cheese omelete with no joy and I finally am so hungry I pull into a roadside cafe. I ask for Pad Thai Gai since its the only thing I can say. The nice lady says something unintelligable to me and I say chai krap. Even though there is a nice breeze blowing through the shade at my table, beads of perspiration are exploding on my face as I devour a chicken and rice and chile pepper something or other. Aroy!



This is NOT a cheese omelete! The coffee cup from the hospital was a tip off on the Chilis.

I went to the bank to change money. The nice guard at the entrance understood enough to press the right buttons on a touchscreen and get me a que number. Thankfully I've learned how to count so I don't end up sitting all day like the illiterate ninny I am. Another customer walks by and I get a strong whiff of BO. Wait! I think its me! Next stop is the market for a bottle of roll on deoderant which I found if you put a bunch on then quickly put on your shirt and pat your pits before it dries you can go an extra day on the same shirt. Result!

Spotted this scooter in the old Gulf Oil racing colors.


The Nan market. Pink eggs? Really?

 

[KTMphil]

Bob - try Hot Bread for breakfast, probably the best in Nan


Co-ords:

N18.77527

E100.76969

Good place to try fix a hangover

& try this new place in Nan for dinner



BB 49 Steak

Location:

N18.79446

E100.78272


A new place that has opened in the north part of town






HUGE pork steaks in BBQ sauce






One of the guys with us had the crocodile, said it was excellent

 

[2wheels]

Very nice Bob; good to see you 'out and about'.
Whaddya think of the CRF?
Rgs

 

[Just Bob]

Okay, its the Bo Klua loop day. Started most auspicious with this lotus blooming in my hotel courtyard.



I headed out of town to the east on the 1168.
Stopped in a shop somewhere around Na Man on the 1225. This guy passing through could not get enough of the new map. I'm thinking a version in Thai would be a hit with the locals.


Corn fields on the 1257


Map on a tree. It seemed like a good idea at the time.


More 1257 views.


It gets a bit skinny but good surface.


Finally made it to Bo Klua at lunch time. Gassing up the Honda.


The Bo Klua Resort on the hill across the river.


Peter, the Aussie part owner, thrilled to see another farang. Being almost the same age (both born when the earth's crust cooled) we sat and yakked like a couple of teenage girls for a couple of hours. He was nuts about the new map.






The food was costly but delicious. I pigged out. Yes, the rice is purple. No, I don't know why.


I was excited to head up the 1256 as I was told it made the Mae Hong song Loop look straight in comparison. Unfortunatly, the marshalls declared a "wet race" right from the start.


There are more mountains hidden in the distant mist. Not a great day for views.

At this point, the Phukah Tree, I'm just a bit damp.


I have no idea...


After the Tree thing, it started raining seriously. Buckets of rain. Rivers in the roadway. This not being the Sepang MotoGP, I channeled my inner Cal Crutchlow and pressed on. The grip was good except in the muddy spots. Big smooth lines. Lots of hanging off and keeping it stood up. Challanging but good fun.
Speaking of which, the entire top of that mountain collapsed in the 2011 rain season and the top five or so kilometers are through deep mud and heavy construction vehicles. I had to wait a few minutes at one point for a track-hoe to get off the only passable lane. No way in the world would I have wanted to be up there on anything without knobbies.

In this shot you can see the roadway continuing up the next ridgeline. And resembelance to a roller coaster is spot on.


Once over the top a ways everything was all sunshine and dry pavement again, except for my sodden knickers.




A stop in Don Kaeo and you can see the customer looking at the map I left layed out on my seat.


From there I missed the turn for the 1081 and ended up in Tha Wang Pha. Mai pen rai! An hour down the rocket ship fast straight of the 1336 and I was back in Nan at five.

In retrospect, I tried to cover too much real estate in a day. Should have made Bo Klua an overnight stop. I did about 244 kilometers. It didn't leave enough sideroad time. Its such a conflict... On the one hand the views are OMG stunning. On the other hand riding these roads is mind bogglingly serious fun time.

I think I may have broken my fun-o-meter!

 

[Just Bob]

Phil - Thanks for the food tips.

 

[Sonny Koo]

you look like Dr House

btw nice share, look to read those experience ...

 

[Ally]

You haven't broken my fun-o-meter yet !!

Keep it coming Bob. Lovely pics.

Ally

 

[KTMphil]

I knew you'd love the riding and views there Bob, great place to base yourself for a week and do some loop riding. Glad to hear the Nan map is opening up some excellent riding opportunities.

 

[Just Bob]

Oh the irony! Phil, Sorm and another rider... Was that you I passed just south of Chiang Khan today on the 1185 (I think)?

I got itchy feet and twisted the throttle to Chiang Rai.

 

[johnnysneds]

Awesome Bob, looks like your having a great time in a great area. This has given me some inspiration to get off my ass and get back down there for a blast.

 

[bigntall]

Fantastic report and good to see you enjoying the curves of Nan.

Phil - that pic of Hass is a keeper, I remember him slightly off song that morn.

 

[Just Bob]

Okay... the Nan Loop is over. Now in ThaTon via Doi Mae Salong. I'll start a new thread with pics for this part. Pops rentals expected me back about five days ago. Hope they don't think I stole their Honda. :G

 

[KTMphil]

Funny seeing you coming the other way- that was on R 1148!

Oh the irony! Phil, Sorm and another rider... Was that you I passed just south of Chiang Khan today on the 1185 (I think)?

I got itchy feet and twisted the throttle to Chiang Rai.

 

[Gnasher328]

"Bring me the crocodile steak - and make it snappy":bash