A day in the life in the North

[moose65]

Yep, the lovely, friendly tasty Snakehead!

[Mendip]

^ I considered the snakehead but I would have thought that was more the equivalent of the carniverous pike, at the top of the food chain?

[Stumpy]

^ That lake looks open enough to cast a fly. A lake such as that in the UK would contain wild brown trout, and maybe stocked rainbows as well, depending on the ownership/arrangement.

I've often wondered if there is an equivalent fish in Thailand to the freshwater trout? Any idea, Mr Stumpy?

Lakes around here are all full of predator type fish Mendy (Not that Trout aren't), but what I have seen and I have caught here.

ep, the lovely, friendly tasty Snakehead!

YES!!!!. That is a very formidable fish to catch. Kind of a cross between a largemouth bass and a Pike. I will definitely return to this lake with my fishing gear. Its a lot more user friendly for casting versus the other one I came across. This latest lake definitely has access to walk some shoreline and cast plugs. No idea what may or may not be in there but I feel pretty confident there are snakeheads around. September through late October is when they spawn and they are very protective of their fry and swim around them to keep them close.

Years back I caught a beauty Snakehead at the Kaeng Krachan lake in Phetchaburi. I saw the fry at the surface and cast a plug over it and dragged it through and BAM..... Fish on!!! I guess it was a 5 to 7lb. I got it up to the boat and released it never taking it out of the water. Beautiful black and white colored Snakehead. Of course the boat owner looked at me cross-eyed like WHAT?!?!. But I always catch and release, especially so it can go back to protect its young ones.

[Stumpy]

News showed some flooding in Lampang City. From what I gather a dam/spillway wouldn't lower so the water could be controlled so it backed up and diverted into some city areas on the North side. They got it freed and then it lowered all the way and dumped all the water.

Few pics of the Wang today by our place. Its about as high as I have seen it in all my years here. The heavy wave of water washed away the embankment and eroded all the support away. That road will fall soon. They have it blocked off now.







It has breached the much lower side in numerous places. Wife says another storm coming.

[DrWilly]

That is a huge amount of water, lucky you are on the high side of it.

[cyrille]

It seems there is indeed more on the way.

All the more reason to stretch out and enjoy this terrific afternoon here, and count our blessings.

[armstrong]

If it could wait until Monday that'll be fabulous

[Stumpy]

That is a huge amount of water, lucky you are on the high side of it.

Yeah. On the oppsite of the river its much lower and if the water rises much more it will flood out the government building and the school. Took a bike ride and checked and its not rising anymore.

It seems there is indeed more on the way.

All the more reason to stretch out and enjoy this terrific afternoon here, and count our blessings.

Yeah it was raining a bit this morning then stopped and is a beautiful day but humid as hell. I see some clouds forming but doesn't look like big rain but north looks pretty rain filled and that will all wash down the Wang.

If it could wait until Monday that'll be fabulous

Good Luck with that Armstrong. I guess there is a big monsoon and tropical storm depression coming over China and Vietnam and should arrive in Thailand late tomorrow. But like any weather here...Its like tossing dice.

[cyrille]

Just pretend it's 1974 and you're Charlie George .

You'll be fine.

[Stumpy]

The Wang river has breached its embankments in numerous places from Lampang City all the way to Thoen. While nothing as severe as what many have experienced in CR and CM, it is still washing out some properties, crops and homes.



This is at least 15 meters over where it normally runs





There used to be a road there but its all gone now.

After my ride to check on the Wang river, I headed up to the mountains to see how the local lakes were holding up. Today is the first break we have had where there was some sun and no rain.





Nice enough day and great to be out.

It was clouding up and wind picking up as I think the storm noted on the news is coming.

[bsnub]

Is that the stock suspension, or did you add aftermarket?

[Stumpy]

Is that the stock suspension, or did you add aftermarket?

That is the factory stock fully adjustable suspension the x 1000 offers for the Gen3 model. Man is it nice. Its like riding around on a Cadillac.

[Stumpy]

Thought I'd add a few ride posts since it seems to annoy those like Hal the drunk and SA who can' t leave his condo in the slums........ ..

What many seem to forget is that...I can and do and love it and riding out on the mountain trails and roads is quite enjoyable and way better then sitting around doing nothing wondering when one has to take their next dump of meds



Took a ride up to the south heading towards Thoen. Lot further ride then I expected ( ride was 60km). Trails and roads can go on forever. Vid is just a few minutes after leaving the lake heading back to main road to head off to the next trailhead.



On my ride the other day, I met up with a few Thai farmer folks. We chatted by this big pond then the owner said, follow me back to the cabin so you can meet some folks. We sat and I had a Mendy moment and knocked back a few Ya Dongs. I figured if they drink it...we will all die together. It was actually pretty good. The owner said he owns about 1200 rai where I was riding and I can ride any time.

[taxexile]

I met up with a few Thai farmer folks. We chatted by this big pond then the owner said, follow me back to the cabin so you can meet some folks. We sat and I had a Mendy moment and knocked back a few Ya Dongs. I figured if they drink it...we will all die together. It was actually pretty good. The owner said he owns about 1200 rai where I was riding and I can ride any time.

it's alan partridge!

[Stumpy]

it's alan partridge!

Didn't take one of my fans long..

[BLD]

Didn't take one of my fans long..

He's hankering for more chainsaw pics stumpy.

[Mendip]

We sat and I had a Mendy moment and knocked back a few Ya Dongs. I figured if they drink it...we will all die together. It was actually pretty good.

Wow... I never thought I'd see the day...

What's next... Stumpy having a Ya Dong with Leo chaser while microwaving last night's quiche...

There is still hope...

[Stumpy]

What's next... Stumpy having a Ya Dong with Leo chaser while microwaving last night's quiche...

Hahahahaha. Well gotta tell ya Mendo, quiche is out and not on my list of foods to try before i die and I'd drink water before Leo. Ya Dong might happen again although I think I prefer my US Bourbon as I know what's in it. The Ya Dong wasn't bad though but every batch is...well..special

Folks up at the "Cabin" were nice folks. I have a few pics of us all sitting around but never gone post on this site for a host of reasons which you experience.

[bsnub]

Love it. Is a Mendy Stumps meet up going to be a thing?

[malmomike77]

Wow... I never thought I'd see the day...

What's next... Stumpy having a Ya Dong with Leo chaser while microwaving last night's quiche...

There is still hope...

i see the multy tiered insectarium is still in use

[Mendip]

^ That thing is absolutely disgusting and no self respecting insect would be caught anywhere near it. It's a multi-storey petri dish and Wuhan has nothing on Mrs Mendip's experiments.

I hesitate to post a photo out of worry that it's filthy state will reflect badly on my good self, but I thought that Level 3 was interesting enough to show tonight. It appears to contain rancid pieces of dried and fermented squid which have been there, to my knowledge, since at least the end of last week. On opening the draw a rotten, overpowering fishy smell, similar to that experienced around fishing quays in the tropics, immediately wafted over me, so I closed it fast.

I'm not gonna dare open Level 4.



In fact I may but the wife a few more of these things and just treat them as weekly disposables.

Love it. Is a Mendy Stumps meet up going to be a thing?

It could be on the cards Snubs, but he'll have to raise his game a bit!

I'll have a talk to Yogi in the morning. He doesn't show off his 'nutsacks' to just anyone.

[Stumpy]

On opening the draw a rotten, overpowering fishy smell, similar to that experienced around fishing quays in the tropics, immediately wafted over me, so I closed it fast.

I'm not gonna dare open Level 4.

[Stumpy]

Well my wife and I are back in the wine country at my Pops place. He has some medical procedures in the next few days so we are here to care for him and hang out. Good to be back in the land of access albeit "HOLY SHIT" its expensive as hell here. Every time I come back it seems like everything went up 20%. Takes about a week to get over that.

The trek here is always a long one.



Luggage loaded up albeit 2 of them are full of food and spices my wife brings over to eat while here and will be loaded up with stuff to bring back



It starts out of Lampang on the puddle jumper plane to BKK. Have to gather up our luggage then head over to international side to check in the luggage then wait. Then fly to Taiwan and this trip there was a category 4 Typhoon lingering heading right towards Taiwan which is always fun. It made land fall the day after we left. A few hour layover then the long haul to SFO which is about 15 hours followed by about a 2 hour drive to the wine country.



We flew premium economy plus to the US and will do business class back. Using up some miles to upgrade. I have to say EVA and Singapore airlines Premium economy seats are extremely comfortable and relaxing. I am not really fond of business class as I do not eat airplane food and it always felt weird laying down and sleeping.

Anyway this time of year is the grape harvest and processing. Its a unique sweet smell as they begin to ferment. Looks like a banner year this year for the multiple wineries around.







These are Cabernet grapes and will be harvested this Friday. These stay on the vine longer and taste quite sweet. My wife enjoyed a small branch of them.

Monday my Dad goes into his first of 2 heart surgeries. They are deemed medium risk due to his age.

My dad and I are enjoying the MLB playoffs, the NFL games and the Golden State Warriors kick off preseason Saturday and I have cleaned up the grill and will get cracking on some Steaks, Ribs and Hotlinks.

[bsnub]

My dad and I are enjoying the MLB playoffs, the NFL games and the Golden State Warriors kick off preseason Saturday and I have cleaned up the grill and will get cracking on some Steaks, Ribs and Hotlinks.

Deal me in stumps!

[Norton]

My dad and I are enjoying the MLB playoffs, the NFL games and the Golden State Warriors kick off preseason Saturday and I have cleaned up the grill and will get cracking on some Steaks, Ribs and Hotlinks.

Say hi to dad for me and you guys stay cool over there with temperatures in the 35C range.