25.01. - 28.01.2001
And Nature it was!!
Go to the end for all the photos
After leaving Bangkok early in the morning doing a high speed ride to Tak we managed to get there approximately lunch time. The ride was relatively uneventful, except a short stop by the Highway Traffic police. Did we speed? No, the average speed on my trip meter told me we had been going 108.7 km/h. This was a little bit over the allowed speed but still within margins. After explaining this to the police he was satisfied and send us on our way. Lucky!!!
From Tak we used the only road possible Route 105 to MaeSot. A first feel for what was to come. A windy but well paved road with wide curves and room to maneuver. Everybody got exhilarated by this 80 km stretch. One could see it in the faces how everybody had enjoyed it. How many where there? Altogether we were something like 18 bikes. This time nearly everybody had brought his beemer from RS to LT to GS and RT. It was a pleasure to see.
After a short break and a small meal, refilling the bikes, checking the personal cash situation (Umpang no Credit Cards or ATM's) we were ready to leave for the 160 km ride to Umpang. Now how shall I explain and tell the story, it was fantastic!
The scenery is absolutely out of this world with wide and deep valley's between high rising mountains, covered by thick jungle. The road was a different story. The first 30 km no problem nearly the same like the road to MaeSot but than it started. 130 km of mostly narrow windy road with as we were told in the certificate we received 1219 curves following and crossing the mountain ridges. But not enough some of the road was under construction and covered by very fine split, which made the road nearly impossible to drive. It was either to much power on the rear wheel going uphill or to much braking going downhill. Unfortunately 5 casualties have to be reported with fortunately only minor damage to pride, fairings and mirrors and a couple of bruises. It was nearly 5 pm when we rolled into Umpang. Out of nowhere this little mountain village came and greeted us with cool air and beautiful wooden houses. Having the accommodation sorted out at Phu Doi Camp Site we queued to have a shower. It was 4 showers for 15 people. But everybody took it in his or her stride and by 7 pm we were all back into shape to have dinner and fun with karaoke and lots of beer. Little did we know what awaited us the next morning.
River rafting on the Mae Klong River was the order of the day. The sun just barely managed to clear the fog and we were off in 3 rubber dingy on the most beautiful ride down the river embraced by mountain cliffs in some places as high as 100 meters. Enclosed some pictures of the scenery as it can not be described.
After about 3 hours we arrived at our destination Pha Leud sanctuary where we boarded a pick-up after a hearty meal for a ride to the most scenic waterfall Thailand has to offer, Tee Lor Zoo Waterfall. After about 1.5km walk through the jungle we arrived at the waterfall. It bears its name rightly because it was breath taking. The fall is about 300 meters wide and 150 high and falls in basically two steps. Following a cooling and I mean cooling bath we headed back as the hotel was miles away and the jungle path did not allow driving faster than 10 km/h.
Everybody was well exhausted but spirits came back after a good shower, dinner and beer. But still the Camp went quiet early. One could only hear the occasional snore! It was 5 am when we got up in order to see the sun rise at Doi Hua Hod close to Umpang. I have to admit, I chickened out and did not go, so I did not see the sun rise, but apparently it was quite nice to see the sea of fog which covered the valley beneath and the sun rising over the mountain ridge.
For the rest of the morning people were attending their bikes to be ready for the return trip to MaeSot. After a lunch and far well to our landlord we headed back into civilization. The trip over the mountains was uneventful this time, because practice makes perfect and everyone had learned his own lesson and had added to his driving skills. At 4 pm we arrived at the waterfall being the meeting point with Khun Radap and our friends from Chiang Mai, Khun Lek and the North Comets. Here a shortcut to Lek's photos. (http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1330086&a=11235374) Now reinforced by the Harley group we rode into MaeSot, where after a short shopping spree at the Rim Moei market we had dinner in a beautiful restaurant.
200Baht eat and drink as much as you can. This rounded up the trip as the next day we were heading back to Bangkok. After a good night sleep a warm congee to wake up the spirits, it was farewell time. Some of us headed directly to Bangkok the hardy ones went to another Tourist attraction, a water filled cave. I for my part headed back.
At this point I would like to thank Khun Peera, our secretary who had done a fantastic job in organizing this tour. It was meticulously planned and it went like clockwork. In the name of all participants a big cheer and thank you to Khun Peera. I can not wait to do something like this again.