Endlessly on the Kanchanaburi Trail
New rides to be appended to this post.
Latest ride at the top with date.
Nov 16th – Bikes Husqvarna 701 / KTM 690 / CRFl 250
Leave work a bit early and stop at Saiyok Pizza House before getting to the resort.
Great ride here.. Shame the mountain track up to Khao Pla Noi is closed. Open in December. The 4X4 chewing up the wet track too much.
Damian – CRFl Water Splash.
701 Water Splash.
Stop for some beers at Wasan’s shop on the way back to the resort.
Beautiful start to the day.
YouTube
Khao Pla Noi – Conquest of Paradise
The Rainy Season Has Arrived
Sept 7th
Just me and Filip this time around. Decide to head back up to Saiyok Yai and revisit some of the old trails here along with a visit to Phasawan Waterfall.
The creeks were full all around and it had been raining heavily recently. So decided to skip Phasawan waterfall as it will be raging and not very safe or good photos.
YouTube Video
YouTube Video of the days riding.
Always a good fun blast around the back trails and down the Bamboo jungle track.
Filip getting adventurous trying to reopen old trails early on in the ride.
So wet and muddy.
Favourite view point and lunch spot.
The end of the day.. But in all honesty. The bike looked like this after the first 20 mins riding.
Hin Dat Hot Springs
A visit to Saiyok Yai would not be compelete with out a late night visit to the hot springs.
A fun ride and a slippery 60 km today.
Still rather be riding here in the rain than the scorching heat.
August 10th
The first ranger station entrance to the single trail leading to the 4×4 tack chest deep in water. Head to the other back way to get in and that is also flooded out..
Only one way.. Back the way we came.. Below picture the second way in. Glad we didn’t come all the way down from the top and started here.
The best noodles for miles.. The only noodles for miles.
Khao Pla Noi Jet Ski Trails today.
My bike took in some water and went crazy with stuck throttle.
Rode out after cleaning up the carb.
Waiting for the verdict on the cylinder from the mechanic.
Someone (Filip) lost control coming out of the big puddle and made a new trail.
Leif took on a branch and lost.
No riding for me Sunday after the water in the bike. So put the Jet Wash to work and cleaned up my bike and gear.
Monday morning coffee with a view before heading back to Bangkok.
Another great ride..
Khao Pla Noi – Muddy Muddy Muddy
August 03
A great ride with Carsten, Joshua, John and myself.
Thanks for the additional photo’s Carsten.
Arrived at the first Border Patrol Police stop at the base of Khao Pla Noi.
Take the track to the right and you are in Burma. Track to the left to the Border Patrol Police.. But first this big mud bog to get through.
No one up top. At the base the cars were all waiting. Expect the track was closed as dangerous earlier with all the rain.
Another world up here. The Police said the weather had been like this all week.. Wet, windy, blowing a gale and cold. Happy to get back down to the warmth.
Western Border of Thailand – Khao Pla Noi
As we left. The first of 20 plus 4×4 started to head up the mountain.
The pictures below passing the pickups on the way back down.
Keep on Trucking
Passing the convoy heading up the mountain.
Back in Saiyok Noi.
Rim Nam Coffee – A great spot.
14.11184° N, 99.14935° E
Stretching my legs on the 701
16 July 2019
The year of so many public holidays.
Be rude not to enjoy them.
Decide to explore around Sai Yok rather than Jungle riding.
In the week, had a good look on Google Earth to find a nice view point. Then check out the train schedule for a nice picture over looking the Death Railway.
I was 30 mins early and the train was 10 mins early.
Death Railway. Saiyok, Kanchanaburi.
Then head off to meet the local Enduro boys.
I am not going on the trails. So don’t need the GPS. Lost on the roads in 10 mins. Know the trails better than the road it seems.
On with the GPS and a mystery tour back to where I wanted to be.
YouTube Video
A great blast around the back roads and trails.
Stunning spot. Will come back here and camp after the rainy season.
Always pass this spot and think. Must come back for a picture.
Well today.. Is that day.
Off to Hug Hill Cafe before sun set.
Heading back to Saiyok Noi. Barely one kilometre from Hug Hill. See the moon coming up. Pretty stunning.
Then wait a little. The sky is so clear. You can make out the Moon surface.
Off to Saiyok Pizza House..
Time for a 7/11 breakfast by the river. The breakfast is good at the resort. But always the same, so gets a little boring.
Khao Pla Noi – Enduro Club Ride
13 July 2019
Frank back from offshore so head out to Khao Pla Noi. See if we can have a bit of rainy season muddy fun.
Franks friend joining and Enduro Cop from the local Border Patrol Police joining too. Will be a fun ride.
That is until Frank’s chain decided to die. Super friendly locals took Frank back to the resort. They had a good laugh and livened up the day.
Frank’s friend and I continue on to meet Enduro Cop.
Just past the first ranger station and 29 KM of fun Enduro riding to the top of Khao Pla Noi. If you go the direct way, we probably added another 20km going in a round about muddy way.
Rest up at the next Ranger station before continuing on the single trail to the 4X4 track.
Snacks, drinks, Fuel and head on for some mud.
Khao Pla Noi
” Western Border of Thailand. Khao Pla Noi”
A walk around Khao Pla Noi. 1040 metres above sea level.
12.3 km at 300 metres above Sea level from the Border Patrol Police at the base of the Mountain to the top of the Mountain.
YouTube Video
The ride up. The rainy season is the best time to be out here.
Before heading back to Bangkok Sunday morning.
Frank and I check out Hug Hill Cafe.
A really lovely place to chill for a coffee and snacks.
Saiyok – Myanmar – Khao Pla Noi – Saiyok
29 June 2019
The rainy season is here. Time to enjoy some of that fantastic Kanchanaburi mud on offer.
Up at 4.30 and on the way at 5am from Bangkok. The usual routine.
Stop at the 7/11 for some essentials.
After the resorts get to know you. No issue checking in early so you can unpack and get on the bike and go for the day.
Head off towards Khao Pla Noi and Bong Tee.
I found this cut through a few months back. Cutting out where we use to have to hit the tarmac and back on the trail.
First time to ride this way in the rainy season.
As we went in to the farm track cut through proper. The bike just started to sink in the mud.. So opened up the throttle to power through, going left and right and powering ahead.
Once through I can hear Filip calling out. Look back, realise he was right behind me when I opened up the bike and received a mud shower.
Totally covered, even in his mouth.
We had done about 15 km of dirt and 6 km of tarmac.
A good sign of how the day will pan out.
Then it was my turn to hit the mud.
YouTube Video:-
Stop for a drink at Wasan’s shop.
We were going to head on to Khao Pla Noi. Then Wasan said he would ride with us. Great. The plan was Khao Pla Noi. But that didn’t happen as took so long to get though this track to the Khao Pla Noi track.
Turned out to be one of the hardest and longest rides I have done in Kanchanaburi ( Easier when not wet ).
Note the fire.. To make smoke and keep the mosquitos away.
A little bit of video commentary while taking a break.
My video
Filips’ video
Pretty amazing view looking back towards Saiyok Noi direction.
A bit long steep and hard climb up to here.
A third of the way in !
From here it only got harder.
Wasan was up here a few weeks ago with a group. They turned around where we had the fire. One of them wanted to go back. Wasan said it was much easier then as not too wet. Later on when we still have twenty KM of below to go. Thinking. No going back now…
Some nasty Bamboo in here.
It rained the entire way out from about half way.
So put on my safety glasses as couldn’t see through the goggles.
I kept on giving Filip a hard time. Calling him old man. 35 years old and flagging. He got to return it later on in the day when I was flagging.
Notice the spurs on this rim. For when you really can’t get out.
I don’t think you want to be in here when it is rainy season proper and a good few months in to the season.
A creek to ride through with half the forest having fallen in.
Elephant Traps.
The trap is covered, then after the Elephant falls in they leave it a few days until it is hungry and docile. Then dig it out and move it to the new location.. Legal and legit. No poaching.
There were numerous Elephant traps in this area.
From here on no more pics and video except at the end. Some really hard bits in here and it was raining. So tired. Just sitting there in the rain taking a break and no one complained.
YouTube Video:-
Saiyok Noi – Myanmar – Khao Pla Noi – Border Trail.
Full Ride Video
#RELIVE
We were all totally shattered by the time we made it out off the mountain and on to the Khao Pla Noi track.
Once we reached the Khai Pla Noi track. We saw some burnt out shacks.. All thought the same thing. Civilisation.
I felt like my left arm was dead. Like when at school you get a punch in the arm and given a dead arm by your mates. All shattered, we went back the easiest and most direct way. We still had 1.5 hrs to get back.
Sunday totally shattered and it was raining. All aching good and proper.
Decide that Saturday ride was good enough and clean up the bikes.
On the way back. We stop at Saiyok Pizza House.
Great food and hit the spot before the drive back to Bangkok.
Each to their own.
Recommend three people minimum to tackle this trail. One with some mechanical knowledge. The other to stay behind if any injury or issue while one gets help. Carry some spares too. Plenty of water and food. You will need food as burning a lot of calories.
Food, water, lighter, tubes, pump and if you bike has a dodgy clutch. Don’t do it.
Until the next muddy weekend and it will be soon.
Cheers for the extra photos and video Frank – Filip
Brian
Songkran Long Weekend April
Early wake up and ride out to Sai Yok Noi.
Decide to take both the 701 and the TE 300. Make sure the 701 is in good working order before the next big trip after the work done recently.
701 Bush Whacking
All was good until 20 km in the bush and the new EBC clutch crapped out. Same problem Frank had on his 690.
Looks like the friction plates are not the same spec as per the KTM parts website.. TBC in getting this right.
After we get out of the bush. Head back with the slipping clutch.
Then realise left my plastic air filter mount for the TE 300 back in Bangkok.
So up and on the road at 5 am the next morning for a 400 km round trip to Bangkok to get it.
Back by 1 pm and 37 c.. Decide it is time for a swim and cool off.
Beer O’clock
Beer O’clock has never looked so good.
TE 300
Back to the riding on the mighty TE 300.
As it is sooo hot.. Decide to do a 200 km mega loop from Sai Yok Noi to Sai Yok Yai.
More flowing sweeping tracks with some nice jungle single trail at the below Khao Pla Noi.
Breakfast view.
Never a dull spot for a picture and always a fun ride over the bridge.
Hintock Cutting – Burma Railway
Back on the Trail
Fun tracks behind Baan Ricky and on the way to the other resort we stay at in Sai Yok Yai area.
This bridge was only put in a year ago.. First rainy season and washed out.
Songkran Water Splash
I need some fuel and the kids are having fun.. It is hot.. So we might as well join in and cool off at the same time.
The kids loved splashing the Farangs.. The mother videoed the entire time on her phone.. Great to interact with the locals
Refreshments
YouTube Video
Taking in Bridges, dirt trails, Burma Railway, small river crossings as well as some fun flowing tracks at the base of Khao Pla Noi
19th / 20th January 2019
The first Kanchanaburi ride of the season.
Frank the Tank, Filip and Leify from Pattaya.
Big drive for Leif all the way from Pattaya for a weekend of the best trails.
Now we know you have the Kanchanaburi riding bug.
I was on the road at 4:45 am. Take out the fuel and 7/11 toastie stop. Talking 2 hours 10 mins with the early start.
Going back to Bangkok 3.5 hours. Sunday afternoon, with no stops.
Filip took on a tree that was slightly sticking out in the track. Ripped the top of his boot off.
Never tire of riding this track and area.
#relive recording of the route from Saiyok Noi up to Khao Pla Noi and back.
YouTube Video
Saiyok (Khao Pla Noi) Kanchanaburi 160 KM Mega Loop
Off to find the Killer Mountain Track.
YouTube Video
Killer Mountain Saiyok, Kanchanaburi.
Listen carefully for Leif imitating a crow call near the end.
Plus a very special technique to turn the bike around.
A great first Kanchanaburi weekend ride of the year.