We meet up just on the outskirts of Bangkok and head the long way round to the ferry crossing over the dam. Some nice remote and narrow roads once we reach Saphan Buri.
But first a coffee and food break.
A view point along the remote mountain roads.
My T7 hit empty with fuel light flashing, and I was unsure if I had a 4-litre reserve or not. We were heading towards the ferry with no fuel stops until the 323, except maybe a sketchy local shop with fuel in Coke bottles. Decided to play it safe and filled up nearby. Not risking a tow out on a dirt track 30+ km long if I miscalculate.
Turns out, my decision was spot-on. I messed up the GPS location, leading us way off course. We ended up in the middle of nowhere, skirting the edge of the national park and winding up halfway to Sangklaburi with a 30km backtrack to Thong Pha Phum. Dodged a bullet there.
Waiting for the ferry.
Ash with his Issan Riders sticker. The other side was covered with various club stickers.
The Captain of this fine vessel sits up here.
Disembarking from the ferry
YouTube video
Made it to the other side, we top up on drinking water.
At this stage the weather is fine, but the sky is threatening. Now roughly 30 KM of dirt and concrete to the 323 I thought at the time.
Right after we hit the road, it started pouring rain—like, torrential downpour level. Surprisingly, the 70/30 tyres held up well, navigating through potholes like champs. Throw in my GPS mishap, and we ended up on some wild remote tracks.
The rain didn’t make it any easier, especially with those not-too-steep but lengthy muddy climbs. A couple of close calls where I thought I’d eat it, but letting the bike do its thing instead of wrestling it saved me from taking a mud bath.
Below was easy compared to what was to come.
The conditions got seriously messy and soaked, with some parts of the track turning into raging torrents. We passed through villages and skirted the edge of the national park, all while it got darker and rained continuously. It was pouring so hard that I didn’t bother taking any photos; my only focus was hitting the tarmac before it got too dark.
Once we hit the pavement, it was a straight back 30 km to Thong Pha Phum, straight to the hotel for a hot shower and to dry off. We rolled in under the cover of darkness.
Bangkok to Thong Pha Phum – Relive
Morning vibes from the resort in Thong Pha Phum!
Great day for it!
Thong Pha Phum to Pilok on the 3272.
This road’s in the best shape ever, just a few potholes to dodge.
The first viewpoint looking back the way we came.
เนินช้างศึก
First a stop at the Border Patrol Police.
GPS Coordinates 14.672680050245196, 98.3685651755187
Looking in to Myanmar
Reached the spot where the gas pipeline makes its journey from Myanmar to Thailand.
GPS Coordinates 14.681131800318429, 98.36286131283528
The Myanmar military watching our every move.
The Myanmar Military camp on the border.
Thong Pha Phum to Pilok – Relive
On the way to Three Pagoda Pass and Sangkhlaburi.
Stop and check out Big Fields.
GPS Coordinates 15.17329112027047, 98.47151926578498
Sangkhlaburi. Where the grass is always greener 😉
Three Pagoda Pass.
GPS Coordinates 15.301672419179207, 98.38670007080951
This area is a special tax-free zone, geared towards boosting tourism. One of the perks? Booze at prices way friendlier than what you’d find at the airport duty-free. Cheers to that!
There is an army checkpoint on the way in and out. Never an issue and always friendly.
A bottle of JD is 850 Baht. Bangkok Airport Duty free is around 1,200 Baht approx..
Sangkhlaburi | P-Guest House and Resort
Absolutely love pausing for a night or two, enjoying the laid-back vibes and the local Mon culture. The activity around the Mon Bridge adds an extra charm.
Time to find dinner in town.
Back at the room, kicking back on the balcony, soaking in the view of the town all lit up over the water.
Morning coffee at the Mon Bridge.
Pilok – 3 Pagoda Pass – Sangkhlaburi – Relive
The next morning head back to Bangkok.
Ready for the first 1000 km service and pleased with the mileage. Covered a mix of highways, mountain roads and off-road terrain.
Sangkhlaburi to Bangkok – Relive
Had a fantastic three days of riding with Ash, and I’ve got to say, I enjoy the T7 more on the roads than the 701. The 701 still reigns supreme off-road, but the T7 holds its own pretty damn well.
Giving the T7 an off-road boost with a suspension upgrade—new rear shock spring and a few other tweaks. Time to dial in those minor mods for an even better off-road adventure ride.
Cheers
Brian