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In celebration at Tha-Pai Memorial Bridge as the worst climbs are over and our hotel is not far away! @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/au4JY2idU8Xe8Z4Z7. The modern day concrete bridge in white paint which runs parallel to the memorial bridge can be seen through the metal trusses.
As explained by Dr Ugrid, the current bridge we are standing on is the 3rd bridge constructed over the Pai River. This steel bridge is Narawat Steel Bridge which used to traverse Ping River in Chiang Mai. It was dismantled and brought over to Pai. Reconstruction finished in 1975.
Dr Ugrid went on to share that he remembered using the 2nd bridge when he was only 13 years old and it was solely built with logs. This 2nd bridge which was rebuilt after the war was washed away during the bad flood of 1973.
The 1st original bridge, also built solely with logs was constructed by the Japanese army in 1941 to facilitate the invasion of Burma. It was destroyed by the Japanese when they lost the war! |
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| Stepping into the resort's restaurant at 7 am in the morning! Everything was misty |
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| Zoe and Mindy were one of the earliest to arrive at our breakfast table! |
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| At 7.10 am, the resort was still covered with mists |
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| The road ahead |
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| The cafe by the road. But the restaurant is a bit lower down the hill from the cafe |
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| Cappucino and Thai Tee were great |
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| The fried rice was delicious! |
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| We were in a good mood after a good night's sleep and was not rushing to start |
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| Even though Kelvin and Jasmine have decided not to join the ride today, they were up early to cheer us...and so did the Sun! |
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| Settling our bills at the cafe |
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| Even though we had planned to start at 8 am, Dr Ugrid and Deng only arrived about 8.20 am as we had requested for their help to buy water. They bought more than water, supplying us with bananas and oranges as well! We started not long after this photo was taken with a very obstinate VT wearing only a thin shirt! |
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| Thereafter, we enjoyed another 7-8 km of continuous glide. Any climbs in this section are small and easily conquered with a downhill momentum push. |
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| Even though it was already 8.30 am, some valleys are still covered in mist |
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| Another Penny Farthing used as a mascot to promote cycling in Thailand. |
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| At this point, we have clocked 13 km and Pai is only another 51 km away...easy if it is a flat road! |
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Reduce Speed!
Some people unable to understand the context... |
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...while many others happily obey!!!
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Every November, the winding roads of Mae Hong Son are draped in vibrant yellow by the Mexican Sunflower or Dok Bua Tong. Introduced by missionaries, these flowers bloom in abundant by the mountains in November but usually wilt and die by mid December.
We were so blessed to see them in full bloom.
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| Streetview |
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| Streetview |
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| Wished we had brought our Asia Cycling Network sticker here! |
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| We were not very hungry and thus most of us ordered meals to share. Leaving the route planning to a male, all he did was from start point to end point without further research on meal or water stops. This will be the day we did not have a proper lunch! |
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| While fried pork skin is easily available on the MHS route, this halal restaurant offers fried buffalo skin which was far more tasty! |
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| Midway climbing and tackling the multitudes of bends between Ban Mae Sae and Rak Chang Viewpoint, panting hard with accelerated heartrate, you see a vision of white and thought you've been called to the Kingdom of God! But instead of angels, you see albino buffaloes greeting you as you drew closer! |
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| Up another bend and you see this lone black buffalo staring back at you! This is 3 km from Ban Mae Sae and you wonder why the farmer left his animals to roam so far off! |
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| Rak Chang Viewpoint, right opposite the Wildfire Control Unit at 11.30 am |
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| Lisu Cafe with another eatery opposite at Rak Chang Viewpoint |
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| 20m before Rak Chang Viewpoint is this signpost. In a way, serves as a good advertisement to influence tourists to make a stop |
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| At 12.50 pm, we crossed Huai Nam Dang Mountain Pass |
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| At 1 pm, we arrive at Pai Checkpoint. Hoping for some hot food, the area only serves coffee, cup noodles and snacks. Since the area is within the Golden Triangle area infamous for opium, wildlife and lately human trafficking, it is heavily patrolled by border police |
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| Since it was past lunch time, Mindy was in trouble. Low in fuel, she took a long time to arrive and our dear, sweet Dr Ugrid faithfully waited for her down the slope. He even helped her to push her bike for a short distance. Both of them arrived 15 minutes later. |
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| It was almost 2 pm when we started to roll down from Pai Checkpoint as we needed to make sure Mindy had properly refueled on cup noodles, ice creams and bananas. 12 km later or 30 minutes later, we had made our 2nd stop where this photo was taken! Our rims were burning hot! |
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Tha-Pai Memorial Bridge and the new concrete bridge side by side.
Even though it is 19 km between Pai Checkpoint and Tha-Pai Memorial Bridge, it took us 1 hour to get here! The descent was insane.
Out of the 19 km distance, 16 km of it are continuous downhill with 5.6% gradehill. The balance 3 km is the final distance to the bridge which is flat.
And out of the 16 km continuous downhill segment, the final 7 km comes with a 8% gradehill. Many times, we have to swerve out to tackle the nasty hairpin bends! |
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| We arrived at Tha-Pai Memorial Bridge at 3.00 pm. Hereon, Ban Nam Hoo Bungalows is about 11 km more. The route ahead was mostly flat. Having spent slightly more than half an hour on this bridge for photos but mainly to say goodbye to Dr Ugrid and Deng who were leaving us, it never dawn on us that we will only arrive at our stay so late....at 5.30 pm! The suspense is continues... |
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On Rural Road Mae Hong Son, Route 4080
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| Cut paddy straws drying in the sun |
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| We were riding past villages |
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| Farmers at work |
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| We had missed lunch but filled our stomachs with fruits and ice cream instead. Hence we weren't exactly hungry but everyone soon folded to VT's incessant pleas for tea break! |
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| Tea break at 4 pm |
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| The village shop have frogs too! |
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| School children on their way home |
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| ...and here we are in a jungle trail... |
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...while VT and his co-navigator were charging ahead, Zoe and Claudine were reluctant to move! As soon as they entered the jungle trail, both girls questioned the credibility of the route. VT assured our accommodation is just 3 km more and Mindy agrees, adding komoot shows this is the one and only way with no other alternatives! Her conjecture froze Zoe and Claudine! There was no way our accommodation for the night is only accessible through this jungle path. It was too narrow and filled with deep ruts for a car to go through!
When this photo was taken, Claudine had momentarily thought she had lost Zoe in the jungle. As doubtful as Claudine, she had stopped to call Kelvin to verify his location and the location of the accommodation. Both girls had the fear that our navigator had selected the wrong location hence the jungle trail... |
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| ...out of the jungle but through some thick bushes, the trail is still visible here... |
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| ...out of the thick bushes and through the dried corn fields... |
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| ...and the 2 bulls who were charging ahead suddenly stopped as the trail ended at 5.07 pm! You can see Mindy in a tiny red dot in deep discussion with VT who is camouflaged by the tall cornstalks... |
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...as VT and Mindy were so far ahead, Zoe and Claudine had no choice but to follow. When all 4 heads were together, VT suggested turning back before the sun sets as there was no visible path ahead. We were in the middle of a cornfield surrounded by tall dried stalks.
As the accommodation appears to be 1.6 km more, Claudine did not want to give up. Turning back was a tougher task. Leaving her bike with the team, she turned left and spotted an opening through the tall stalks. Beyond the gap was another field of flattened stalks! |
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| ...our prayers were answered but the worse is not over! Before our eyes, is a vast field of flattened stalk. There was a village straight ahead but a bigger house was closer to our left. We did not know which iss the easiest way to reach the road. Thank goodness we spotted a farmer in a shed who heard our shout and cries. He could not understand our question but we surely looked very lost to him for he gestured towards the village! |
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| ...following his advice, we continue going straight... |
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| ...Hurray!!! VT had spotted the road at 5.17 pm! |
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| ...it was not easy to walk through the flattened corn stalks but at this point, the end is near, so a selfie to mark our victory is most appropriate... |
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| ...through a few village homes and this bridge... |
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| ...right after the bridge! Not another obstacle course!!! |
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| Thank goodness the gravel section was short and we soon spotted Wat Nam Hoo Temple |
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| Victory at 5.30 pm! |
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| Kelvin and Jasmine took pity on our struggles. They gladly offered to drive us out for dinner at Charlie&Lek @https://maps.app.goo.gl/2XA2p1oVd3JrzedR9. The place was recommended by our stay and the food was good. |
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| As Pai night market was nearby, we took a walk before calling it a night |
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