Back to Thailand

3rd Feb 17

We ride today to the border town of Mae Sot and stay the night on Thai soil.. will actually be sorry to leave Myanmar inspite of its bad roads and dusty chaos..and the fact I only had cold water in the bathroom! Only 200kms today, Jay presented himself for the ride dressed in an Hawian shirt and Paul insisted on riding; the gaffa tape must have worked ?

First part of the journey was uneventful, apart from my tangle with a big black dog! I was riding behind our leader  when the dog sauntered into the road; Duncan managed to avoid it and scared the dog, it wasn’t sure which way to go. I chose the wrong way and it suddenly changed direction and made straight for my front wheel. Not sure if I hit it but it was quiet a moment.

We stopped for coffee and discussed 2 route options; the new road to the border, or the old mountain road which is very narrow, very twisty and not so good road surface, and sheer drops by the roadside! Apparently before the new road was built all traffic used the mountain road; it was a one way system run on alternate days due to the narrowness of the road. The group split into 2 and I went with Duncan, Pat and Simon for the mountain road!

By now it was hot, 30c+, we stopped for water at a very remote shack on the way up. We found a woman making Tanaka paste in the back. This is the yellow stuff the women and some men put on their faces; it is a cross between sun screen and makeup. Made from a tree branch which must be at least 25 years old and ground with oil on a rubbing stone to make a paste.

We set off to tackle the mountain road;  it certainly was narrow and twisty with tight up hill corners, often with broken surface, gravel and sand..just as well it’s not used these days, you wouldn’t want to meet someone coming the other way! The road climbed until we reached the top, stunning views..very remote, no one lives up here. We made it down the other side and met up with the other group for lunch..it was all part of the adventure ?

Lunch was noodle soup again, then on to the border crossing. 35c and busy chaos, after an hour or so we were through and back to driving on the left in Thailand. No hot water in my room again, then out to our last dinner together, which was a BBQ which we cooked at the table. 7 am start in the morning for the last day’s ride; 480kms of good surface flowing road to Chiang Mai.. looking forward to riding a fast sweeping road again ?