Bicycles & Motorcycles

[retired1]

Will be in CM for a month in January, am planning to rent a motor bike for my stay. Did this two years ago in Cm and enjoyed it. This time I want to ride it to Chiang Rai, am I crazy?

[frogblogger]

If you survived Chiang Mai, you've got some idea of the dangers!

Towards the second half of this piece I summed up driving in Thailand ... click here

That was about the route from Chiang Mai to the Burmese border, via Chiang Rai. It's your life!

It's about a three to four hour drive. The road's not bad, but there are plenty of potholes once you get beyond the superhighway stretch.

[retired1]

Thanks so much, very interesting.

txs

[Serendipity2]

Originally Posted by retired1

Thanks so much, very interesting.

txs

retired1,

Before you finalize your journey from Chiang Mai to Chaing Rai I would urge you to read about all the highway fatalities on just that stretch of road during Songkram. While the casualties are higher than normal during that festival that's one risky run in anything smaller than an M1A1 Abrams tank. You're fair game on a motorcycle.

Reminds me of the old adage, "There are old motorcycle riders and there are bold motorcycle riders but there are no old, bold motorcycle riders." One can apply that to skydiving and hang gliding - and probably several other avocations too.

Thanks again, frogblogger, for yet another entertaining piece of driving and surviving the highways of Thailand. You really should write a book of short stories complete and add many of your photos! I would be happy to be your first customer!

Serendipity2

[frogblogger]

Thanks S2... one day, one day. (Those monks were really buying viagra, you know!!)

[retired1]

Thanks for the information, I do appreciate it. As an ex professional driver of 35 years I do feel that I may be a little more defensive in my driving than others, saying that, you can only do so much to protect yourself from the way others do drive. I will certainly take your advice seriously prior to making my final decision. It's just that I really hate taking a bus, after driving one for so many years. Ugh!!!!!!

[Serendipity2]

Originally Posted by retired1

Thanks for the information, I do appreciate it. As an ex professional driver of 35 years I do feel that I may be a little more defensive in my driving than others, saying that, you can only do so much to protect yourself from the way others do drive. I will certainly take your advice seriously prior to making my final decision. It's just that I really hate taking a bus, after driving one for so many years. Ugh!!!!!!

retired1,

Those are mighty treacherous roads and the Thais drive with reckless abandonment as though Buddha himself is watching over them. A bus may not be sexy but they usually DO get from point A to point B and back. Not so much the motorcyclist. :|

Serendipity2

[Serendipity2]

Originally Posted by frogblogger

Thanks S2... one day, one day. (Those monks were really buying viagra, you know!!)

frogblogger,

Imagine if O'Henry had not taken pen to hand - mankind would never have had "The Starlight Room" or "The Gift of the Magi". What a loss that would have been. But he did and frogblogger hopefully will too!

If those were young monks what do they need Viagra for? Now if they're old that's a whole different kettle of pharmaceuticals!

[King Silk]

Rubbish! I have driven a Motorcycle here in Thailand for over ten years, and I have only nearly been killed 249 times........a day!

[Serendipity2]

Originally Posted by King Silk

Rubbish! I have driven a Motorcycle here in Thailand for over ten years, and I have only nearly been killed 249 times........a day!

Silk,

As you say, "When ignorance is bliss it's folly to be wise". So you know all about the "near-death experience"? Sometimes its also better to be lucky than smart!

Serendipity2