Thread: Trail riding around Khao Kho, Phetchabun

Sitting in Chiang Mai now with my beloved KTM sitting 450k's away and missing being able to go for a ride. Not sure if I will be able to keep it now as my situation has changed and thought I would describe the rides me and my old Aussie mate there used go on for old times sake so to speak.

We lived in the foot hills of Khao Kho, Phetchabun, a really nice area with an elevation of about 1000m.

My mate lives in the hills and sometimes I will load the bike and gear onto the truck and head up to his place or he will come down to mine. We then head into the hills, and go up one track and down another about a 60-70 klm ride. I usually go to his place as there are a couple of Thai's keen to go from there as well which is handy as you will find out. Conditions vary, if it is wet it can be very hard with the clay type dirt getting up some hills and little traction, some pretty rocky sections, 4 or 5 river crossings and overgrown branches to get around, some very fast sections and tight stuff. My mate used to run enduro team here and he say's it is the best kept secret in the country.



So I load the gear onto the truck with my mrs giving me a push as those 4wd Vigos are bloody tall and once all strapped in it's off to the 7/11 for a bunch of snack food and M150 for energy to scoff on the drive up. Next stop the only gas station around that sell real 95 octane fuel Shell V power. 20 litres of that in the fuel can and I'm off.

My mate is usually half ready but has a nice big shed full of bikes so we sit and talk while he gets ready. The approaching sound of a "webaak" signals the arrival of the Thai rider(s) and we are nearly set. We decide on the ride, Final checks and gear up. I wear body armour (worth it-it works!) which is a bitch to get on in the heat. It used to fit good but must have shrunk in the wash as it's now too tight....It has a built in kidney belt which is great to hold the sex machine fuel tank in place. My mate has similar trouble and we both have the same problem of needing a piss once fully geared up.



Fire up and we're away!. We ride about 10k's of bitumen through Khao Kho indian file and enjoy the cool mountain air breezing through me. Last couple of corners and we hit the dirt and give it a couple of good blats to set the mood though the farm land. a few locals heads pop up from their toil and all the kids jump and run around excited.

We then hit down hill section and it is slow going here with washed out rocky sections, giant bamboo fallen across the track to get around and get to the first piss stop river crossing. I take my helmet off and have a long drink from my camel back, wait for the others and gingerly, feet down ride across the moss covered rocks and we are away again. It starts to level out here and I can get in some good speed and try and concentrate on my technique.

I wait at the next river crossing for the others again and this one is a bit more tricky with some big rounded boulders submerged so have to pick your line. I do my usual trick of crossing first then waiting which stirs up the silt making it impossible for the others to see the rocks. Mate falls off as always and we spend 10 minutes kicking his soaked CRF 250 back into life. We take it in turns as we both get tired legs and I curse his lack of electric starter. I now have a hole in my boot where it slips off the kick starter and hits the foot peg and we are all soaked and pissing sweat. Everyone gets across and we are now into the low farmland where the track is ok for the locals trucks so good and fast but aware there are people about so ease up on the blind spots.

This whole trip, the locals are great, they hear us coming and pull off the road and wait until we pass, they love seeing us. I often feel a sense of accomplishment about where I have managed to ride, happy I have a purpose built bike that can handle everything I throw at it then my bubble is burst as a local puts by on his wave with knobbies.....

We eventually pop out onto the bitumen and head another 10k's down to another track which then heads back up into the hills. Gun it into 6th and have a look around the bike to see all is well and chunks of mud flying off the tyres.

We regroup at a waterfall, have a drink and get going again. This is my favourite section, lowland farm land again, 4 river crossings before we hit the steep up hill section. The rivers are mostly easy but one gets a little deep and the KTM has a bit of a splutter before clearing up (they don't like water much) I know this section like the back of my hand, am fully settled into the ride and open the 450 up, standing on the pegs, barely able to hang onto to it and process what is happening blast up for another 5 k's before I am too tired and have a stop. I can't even hear anyone and settle in for a drink and wait, checking out the views. I eventually hear the approaching bikes, blat blating and hope every one makes it. No fun having to go back and help people and it's dangerous riding back down trails you know people are riding up..

The next section is just awesome, a continuous series switch backs and s bends, I am close to heaven with the ease of familiarity, caning the bike into power sliding one way and the the next. I am very chuffed with myself when I get this section right and we regroup for one final stop right at the top of the hill before making our way through more farmland which signals we are coming into Kho Khoa again. We try and take it easy here as there is more traffic but being all pumped up with adreniline from the ride still go mad.



We hit the old lady's shop where we always have a few beers and then one two many before we take off as it's getting dark and head down the road back to my mates place. I get my bike loaded up first before the beers come out as another time I got pissed first and fell out of the back of my truck, bounced off his bin and hit the dirt while trying to tie it down.

A couple of beers enjoyed in the mates shed and then the phone starts and it is time to get home, mrs getting cranky...

I take the very quiet and steepest back road home, unload the bike, and sit on my tailgate drinking beers checking it out, just glowing about an awesome day and blabbering about it to my wife and son who look on bemused from the lounge room window while she urges me to take a shower.

My Nirvana.

It's a shame I don't have more pics, being so wet it is hard to carry a camera. I have a water proof one now, maybe I'll get some rides in up here in Chiang Mai and get some good pics but it is going to be hard and think I'll have to sell the bike....I'm not here enough and when I am I will have to look after my son every day.

There are a lot more tracks around there, we have the choice of about 4 different ones, all quiet areas and great. There are a lot of resorts to stay in the area as well.