*MOTO TALE* : Jacket Lost / Jacket Found

Mini Adventure Drama...with a magical twist. 
 (...involving "homing pigeon" shoes, a beloved moto jacket, an orange shopping bag, and a dizzy female > me)

Day 1 (2 days ago):
Took a quick motorcycle trip around the Samoeng loop, only to stupidly lose a bag i had (obviously) tied badly onto my bike. In that bag was an awesome pair of beat up flip-flops and my prized motorcycle jacket that fits me like a dream (we women of various shapes and sizes don't find this easy to come by!). So..tracing back my route 3 times and finding nothing, i eventually gave up. Handed in my number to a local policebox and returned home despondent. 

Day 2 (yesterday): With a renewed resolve of at least ATTEMPTING to find my jacket, i made up some posters and flyers in English and Thai (thanks to help from my friend Tik). I went back over the area and painstakingly got on and off my bike on a hot day to hand people the posters and flyers and explain the situation. I figured that if i didn't at least try, i would end up kicking myself. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If i didn't get the bag back, it wasn't meant to be. The nice part of the whole thing was that it forced me to interact with people (which I'm normally quite reserved about), who all turned out to be lovely and helpful. A bonus being some mahouts with baby elephants that i stopped to chat with.

Day 3 (today): Well officially last night really. I received a phone call around 7pm last night. My bag was found! I was to meet at the local police box at 9am. I arrived at the box before 9am, (and as is the way of Thailand in general haha), when I arrived, I was told that the lady who found it had gone to work and forgotten to bring the bag in. So, I had to ride back 80km or so home and wait to return later. Around 2pm i received a call to say the bag was handed in and to make my way back to the policebox.

I arrived to find all the contents intact! The policeman (although not smiling in the photo) was lovely. I left an envelope with a finders fee for the lady who found my bag, and a bag of home made treats for the policeman. Really amazed and happy about the outcome.
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The magical twist...
..ok. The flip-flops that were in the bag are really old beat up things that i have had for approx 8 years. In that time they have been washed down a fast flowing river and retrieved (which i actually have a comical video of) ..fallen off on a road... fallen down a mountainside... and well, a number of things. Yet, they somehow let themselves be found. Because of these magical homing-pigeon flip-flops, my bag and jacket came back to me. HAHAHA.
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To end..
Most people do like to return things. I could have made it easier for them to do so if i had put a number in the pocket of the jacket or used a marker on it etc. Its a good heads-up to me to do this to my motorcycle gear and anything important to me. So...might be a good tip for you to do so too. ^.^

*MOTO TALE* - One Screw Loose

One screw loose.
No, not me. The bike!

So i think its about time to learn more about fixing up my own bike. You know "just in case". ..and, because i enjoy it. ..and, because im Scottish (frugal is the word, frugal!)
Anyway, there was an rather annoying ratting/vibrate sound coming from my bike. The longer i didnt do anything about it, the more the sound began to irritate me.

So... time to investigate. Turned out to be one small thing. A missing screw. Funny really. One small thing causing a whole lot of noise.




Talking of bike maintenance, i also finally did my first home oil change. Yes, i really havent done it myself before..>.< Pretty vile what came out actually, and shockingly small amount. Feeling ashamed that i let the oil get so low and so manky before changing.

Next, is the brake pads....

*TRIP REPORT* *DAY TRIP*: The Wiang Haeng Loop

Having heard that the Wiang Haeng loop was supposed to be a great loop and scenic, i thought it was worth a check-out.
Turned out to be, for me, more challenging than i had hoped, and not in a good way.

I had based myself for a few days in the beautiful area of Chiang Dao with the intention of exploring the area, then got the notion to do the Wiang Haeng Loop.


For me the 1178 /1322 from Chiang Dao to Wiang Haeng, wasn't in the same league as the Chiang Dao zone in terms of scenic value.
Initially the road itself was ok, if you want just road for riding sake. 
It was just ok, not great, but ok.   

I confess I'm spoiled when it comes to beautiful and scenic roads in Thailand, so it's not one i thought was particularly special in terms of scenery.Wiang Haeng itself was just a simple rural town, with not a lot there.

After Wiang Haeng, continuing on the 1322, the road took a turn for the worse.
Basically no road. Just rocks. Lots and lots of rocks. Big chunky rocks.
Thinking that it probably wont last for long, i pushed ahead, but alas the broken up road lasted the whole of the rest of the trip, until i neared the end of the loop and into Chiang Dao. Just rocks, big rocks, gravelly rocks, ditches and ravines, and red mud.
Im not so confident on this kind of road (due to my accident) and i initially tested my mettle by standing up and letting the bike take the bounce. But after a while i grew weary, not just physically, by mentally from the concentration.
Don't mind challenging myself, but not for such a lengthy period in one go.

Pretty knackered by the time i got back into Chiang Dao, and a little frustrated by the additional time the trip took..especially as it wasnt particularly scenic or special..well, in comparison to the areas around Chiang Dao.

Wont be looping around Wiang Haeng again any time soon i recon...

*MOTO REVIEW* Yamaha MT03 - v - Honda CB300 - my personal opinion of both bikes.

Had an opportunity to test ride the CB300 and the MT03 for a couple of hours around the Mae Wang loop. This is a really nice loop btw! Many would say there isn't much difference between these two bikes, but for me the difference was huge. The MT03 was an absolute dream, and i didn't like the feel of the CB300. Here's why:

The CB300 was not as balanced weight-wise for me as the MT03 was. Preferred the smooth throttle of the MT03 (although that could be altered on the CB300). The MT03 was smoother all round, from acceleration to gear changes. It handled the curves perfectly and on the straights it went to 145 in a flash..and for sure it has more power in it, but i was just too wary on a new rental bike (and my own experience of it) to take up the power more. On straight highway roads I'm sure this bike would get up some good speed, and wouldn't even feel like it.

My dtracker 250cc shakes at 130, but the MT03 was steady and smooth at 145.
Makes me wonder how much power is in it.

The only thing about it that i may not like about it, if i was riding on it for any length of time, is the fairly fixed positioning.

On my dtracker i have a lot of maneuverability. I can shift my leg position a lot, taking them right off the the peddles and onto the frame if cruising, or placing them right behind me on the passenger pedals.
I would be concerned about possible cramp or stiffness and soreness for long touring rides.
Would be good to find out when more people ride it long distance.

But for a daytrip like i did, it was an absolutely fabulous bike..and i just didn't want to get off it!

MT03 - 1000 baht at POP rentals
CB300 - 800 baht at POP rentals

*MOTO GEAR* - pee like a man.....

Not exactly moto "gear", but absolutely worth doing a write up on.
This is one for the girls.

Picture this:

• You are on the bike.
• Nature calls.
• You are far from anywhere.
• The bushes await..

WELL, IVE FOUND A SOLUTION! ..(bear with me as i give a little lead in..)
If, like me, you have been caught short whilst riding and need to "go" in nature, then you know its not much fun as a woman. Squatting down with your riding gear around your ankles feels pretty damn vulnerable. Not only in terms of possibly exposing yourself or needing to flee, but also in terms of what bugs etc are around. Case-in-point, this video of me dealing with exactly that struggle, here:

Basically not being able to pee like a man, makes things difficult. Well, this solution i found works, Ive tried and tested it many times...and it works 100%!

Its called the Shewee and simply put, you can pee standing up. Its a funnel-like small fold-able device, made of silicon...and its awesome.

LOL.

HOnestly though, it may be too much information..but its too much of a great piece of information NOT to share!

You can also find cheaper generic versions. Im really really happy with it and i no longer have a "toilet dilemma" like my video above!

*MOTO TRIP* - Mae Hong Son Loop (through route 1263) Chiang Mai > Mae Hong Son > Mae Chaem> Mae Wang> Chiang Mai.

A trip in which i retrace the route of my accident I had four year ago.

Setting off early to make good time, I headed for the 1095 to Pai. The 1095 is a well-loved moto route, both for scooters and bigger bikes. If you love your twisties, this road is for you!

At the time of this trip however, the road was still undergoing reconstruction. So, unfortunately it was a far more cautious and slower beginning to the trip that I have enjoyed in the past. Usually I will stay in Pai for a night and chill out, but this time I just stopped off for lunch and short relax then continued on towards MHS instead. I missed out Fish Cave, which is actually a really great place to visit, and also Lod Cave.

Just before MHS you reach a town called Soppong. I had been told that Soppong River Inn was a lovely place to stay. So I headed there. I arranged to stay in a bungalow on the river, which had a nice peaceful feel to it. Until, that is, a large group of riders checked into the bungalow next to me. The noise was really quite bad and a lot of people were getting drunk and rowdy. It required being brought up about to the owner. Thankfully she was understanding and offered another room. However, what happened instead (which was really very nice of them) was that the group of riders who were told about the noise disturbance, decided to move to a different bungalow instead. I did feel a little guilty but at the same time I got a much needed quiet time and a good nights sleep. The bungalows at River Inn are close to each other so noise reverberates, sadly. It was a very scenic place though and would stay again.

In the morning I allowed myself a long lie in before check-out then set off for Mae Hong Son for lunch. Had a quick look around MHS and grabbed a bite to eat at Salween River Restaurant. Enjoyed the food and the prices, and the owner was lovely.
They also had a GT.Rider map up on the wall. Nice one! Cant recommend this map enough!
Get yourself one if you plan on exploring the Northern regions and Laos.



I ended up taking far longer in the restaurant than I should of and realised I wasn't making good time if i wanted to get to Mae Chaem. There were dark clouds looming also, and it seemed a spot of rain was heading my way. I absolutely didn't want to stay in Khun Yuam, that's for sure, as too many bad memories from years before (I'm referring to my accident, which is what this trip was actually all about..). So I headed off for the 1263, only stopping in Khun Yuam to fill up. As I mentioned previously, this trip was a cathartic one for me, because it was all about retracing my steps when I had a serious accident 4 years previously on the same day. I recall nothing of the route due to the concussion I sustained and I wondered if riding along the same route would bring back any memories. But nothing was coming back to me.

I found the road fun to ride on, as it was now completely resurfaced making it an easy ride.
About half an hour into the ride a small thunderstorm hit and it was really refreshing. It didn't last long and at the end I was rewarded by a beautiful rainbow (a double rainbow in fact!). I felt good. I felt happy. I was finally going to finish the trip I never finished those years ago.



About another half hour or so on 1263 route I was losing myself in enjoying the ride and had to remind myself to keep a look out for any possible reminders. I had been going along happily, I felt good, really good, when suddenly a weird thing happened. You can read about that and watch the video i took here.

Anyway after I recovered myself I headed on towards Mae Chaem, happy that I the past was now behind me. Before I got to Mae Chaem the sky was getting dark. I had set off way too late in the afternoon and with the rainstorm stops (2 stops)  and the time resting near my accident point, I found myself beginning to ride in the dark (and around these areas it really is PITCH black at night). The headlight on my dtracker is poor and the GPS on my phone was out (because i had no signal), so as I wasn't sure how much further it was to get to Mae Chaem, I decided to rest up at the first town I came across. Found a small town and some ratty accommodation owned by a sweet old couple and rested up for the night, after eating at a local cheap eatery. In the morning, when I headed out for Mae Chaem, it turned out to be just about 15 mins away haha. But no regrets, I enjoyed the quiet cheap place. There was also one very lovely aspect and that was the brightness of the stars outside. There were very few streetlights and no road lights anywhere around the area, so the sky was stunning. It was a little spooky at times though...BOO!.

Anyway, headed into Mae Chaem, fueled up and then took the road to Mae Wang. Really great curves and enjoyed it a lot. Came out at Doi Inthanon, but didn't go up. I do have a Doi Inthanon trip report here though (link to be added). I also saw a monkey at Doi Inthanon checkpoint, which I really didn't expect. Apparently there are some monkeys living around there. Here is a video I got of it (he sprayed on that lady's red car. Cheeky bugger!)

I actually (embarrassingly) don't quite recall what i did after that. I think I was just on a high. A high from the trip and from it being such a significant trip for me. I do remember arriving home a bit later and thinking "I wish I was still out riding!".
I could have kept going. I felt exhilarated and happy to be alive.

Safe travels friends.

My bike got just a tad dirty on this trip..haha.

*MOTO TALE* - Accident scene revisited, 4 years later.

After a bit of distance and several years of riding under my belt, i felt strong enough to retrace the route of my motorcycle accident from four years ago.
Given that I had concussion at the time and remembered nothing leading up to the accident, I wondered if any memory would return.

My full trip report is posted separately here, so this blog is concentrating solely on the ride on route 1263, where i had the accident.

 
I set off along the road and no memories were returning. I kept looking around trying to get some kind of flashback, but nothing came. The road had also been resurfaced, so that probably didn't help much either. As the route went on I began to just enjoy the route, often forgetting the purpose of my trip. It really was a lovely route.

I was already more than halfway into the route and totally happy, when I had a sudden frightening and strange reaction. (My body is full of goosebumps just now, just writing about it and remembering!) I came around a curve at a bow of a hill, and suddenly it was like a camera bulb going off in my face. The whole scene became like camera snapshots rather than reality. Sudden terror took hold of me and my body began shaking convulsively. I let out an horrible wail. (Im really filled with goosebumps and shivers going up my back now!!) I was still riding and this was really not a long section that I experienced this weird and terrifying reaction.
I pulled over to catch my breath. 

Huge body shaking sobs took over for a moment and I slumped over my bike, letting it out for a bit before finally composing myself again. I looked back over the area I had just passed and I was filled with utter terror. Yet when I looked at the road in front of me, I felt neutral. I absolutely KNEW that was the section of road. I cannot explain it. I do not recall the road. No memory came back. But inside of my brain somewhere the GPS location of my accident is hardwired. 

Amazing really!

RIDE SAFE!