A Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you all

We are back in Chiang Mai having said a sad goodbye to our honda 500's yesterday, they were good enough but I don't think I'll buy one when I get home.

I'm writing this on Christmas eve, I was sitting in a cafe this morning thinking about how lucky we are and at the same time thinking how Bizzare to spend Christmas in the heat.

We finally managed to book  bikes for the next leg of the adventure, Honda Wave 125 which seems to be the most used bike around here, we got to take them for a wee test ride, I felt like a deranged orangutan on a circus bike. Hopefully I get better at it quickly, we pick them up tomorrow so I suppose it will be a Xmas present to us both. Back on the road on the 27th, watch this space 😎 

Keep on keeping on and have a good one

Our mighty steeds for the next part!

Stunning roads and stunning scenery

We left the very pleasant Maceo hotel in Non Kai and made our way to Chiang Khan, all following the Mekong, there were a lot of trucks in some bits, when I say a lot ,one or two occasionally, they are carrying material for flood defenses and they occasionally held us up but not as bad as Motorhomes back home. We were pretty wabbit so stopped at a small roadside cafe with a tremendous view of the river for a coffee to try to revive us. Unfortunately it was strong a hell and had other side effects which I wont go into. Quite happy to call it a day at around 1pm. Had some food ( noodles) and eventually,  found our hotel "the Pud Dee" a nice town, very rustic and full of preserved old wooden buildings. After some food at night we had a wander along the market where Fiona bought a enormous bunch  of  bananas for 20 Baht (around 50p)

Dogs, I am not a fan of badly behaved dogs especially when as a big group they start barking and howling every hour as if trying to outdo each other, then at 6am the monks in the Wat next door start chanting and playing a drum, very authentic.

On to a small  village Na Hao over the most tremendous pass with stunning roads, obligatory photo stop at the top. A young Thai couple were there and I asked if they wanted me to photograph the two of them , I took two shots then realised it was a old Nikon film camera, i hope they came out ok and I didn't waste film. 

Our digs for the night was an group of cabins  by the roadside, once again super nice people who couldn't do enough for us. Two motorcyclists rolled in later Bernard and Russell all the way from Singapore, nice meeting them. It turned cold later and I actually put a jacket on, my god! It was cooler in the morning but by the time we had the bikes loaded it was roasting again.

We took a short cut which was mainly a  single track over the mountains and quite honestly the tightest gradients and hairpins i've encountered for a while, certainly kept us on our toes. Eventually pulled into Uttaradit roasting and very wabbit at 1.30, that was enough  for the day.

Fi found a steak house just round the corner from the Hotel and a 7/11, a great result. Very nice sirloin and chips washed down with a couple of beers ,felt much better after that, the diet gets to you sometimes and although it was expensive for Thailand it was still less than half price from home.

It was busy leaving in the morning all the way to Phrae , stopped for a KFC to keep the spirits up then the road was great twisting and turning all the way to the outskirts of Nan. By then it was almost 1pm, the sun was relentless as was the locals driving! Glad to get to our hotel.

We left Nan and headed over to Chiang Khan, spectacular roads , the 1148 must be one of the great motorcycle roads anywhere, hairpin after hairpin and when you could take your eyes off the road stunning views. Eventually we rolled into town and even managed a nice pizza for.dinner!

Friday we decided to stay in the Another great day same hotel, £10 for the night, our dinner costs more.

Went out for.a run on 1093 & 1155, once again stunning but there's been a bit of damage with landslides which started to freak me out, one roadworks in particular was through wet mud, arse twitching time especially when we are on rented bikes, we have been on this road before 12 years ago, because i have the photo of the Wien keng police station. Another great day. Headed North to the tea region again some stunning roads and some quite scary , it was cold and I ended up feeling quite miserable at night because of that but next day it was sunny, the roads headed south were full of roadworks and crazy driving which wasn't the best but had a good night in wiang pa pao , found a nice place to eat and met some scooter guys, great to see youngsters having a life rather than playing games.

Monday we stopped at a hot spring place just down the road, been here before. A couple rolled in on a 1250 gs whilst we were having a cuppa, of course I went to speak to them, from luxenbourg, enough said , she asked to use the toilet and didnt even buy anything, full of their self importance I reckon, not planning to be buddies with them.

Pics tell the story,  but aren't in order but enjoy anyway!

It Rained for a while

But it was mainly this

And a lot of this

And many of those

At last we are on the road

 After having a last breakfast in Chiang Mai until just before xmas we ordered a Bolt ( Uber thing ) to take us to the bike shop. The guys had the bikes ready for us and after  getting our stuff loaded we rode tentatively out into the traffic, of course we took a wrong turning but eventually having fueled up we headed towards Lampang . A busy town which we visited before, main roads the whole way. Driving is different but in general much slower so you get a chance to think. Found a coffee shop near our hotel and had some slightly spicy food and at the 7/11 ( spar type shop ) got beer, all good so far.

The following day we rook some amazing back roads where we saw a guy riding an elephant with a baby elephant in tow, you don't see that in the sma glen! We stayed in Sukhothai , a braw day and even found a biker bar for beer and food. We then headed to lom Kao over some amazing very twisty mountain passes, but dual carriageway the whole way, and I though we were the first world country, we are having the wool pulled over our eyes by politicians that's for sure.
Thursday into Nong Bua , wonderful very high passes but only two lanes and very quiet, spectacular views everywhere. Roadworks to improve bridges and upgrading the roads and more importantly the drainage, passing through very traditional villages where the people are still working the land.
A visit to the very busy market and then a sports bar later for burger and chips and HP Sauce, amazing.
Friday and we only had roughly 60 miles to do today, it was very hot and the traffic busy as hell, stopped about half way for food and petrol. Ran into a German biker who stays here in the winter with his Thai wife, talked nonsense with him and then headed towards Nong Khai which is on the other side of the river from Vientiane capital of Laos. 
En route the roads were packed with people waving Thai Flags and at one point  a whole school waving ft us, Fiona had spotted a official looking convoy but I realise it was for my benefit, thanks guys, i'm touched.
We looked for a viewpoint to see the bridge to Laos but got lost and ended up at a customs station, quick u turn and then headed to our Hotel. 
Super nice staff so we decided to stay another night. Out for a wander down the walking street where the market was happening. A beer and food and plenty people watching , plenty to see. Fiona joined in an impromptu dance at some point, crazy woman !
Over 750Km so far, bloody warm though but all good.

The route so far

Favorite Snap

Market

Night traffic

Bikes resting

Temple at night

KFC, sometimes you just have to do it

Beer, sometimes you just have to do it

Chinky at the side of the road

Bikes at the side of the road

Not a bad view

Fifi's new pals

Nice place

The Mekong, and the bridge between Thailand and Laos

Street market

Fiona joining in Later

And again

Beer time

The band