Long Weekend to Phuket (Thailand)

[Sin_Tiger]

Last minute decision to go on the annual pilgrimage to Phuket Annual Bikeweek (Hogfest), would the Steamer be ready, would she hold together with the couple of remaining niggles, would I be taking the Striple again, could I hack nearly 4 days in the saddle after several weeks of late nights in the office, could I be @rsed whacking up nearly 1000kms of mostly straight highway in the company of several BM's hell bent on going fast as much as possible!

Hell yeah.  :lol:

First day of the journey wasn't a good start after a last late night and then packing, leaving my phone alarm on silent and rushing to the meet up for 06:30. Then it's a bit of a slog up the highway for 800km with a couple of fuel / snack stops and a last stop for local Thai third party insurance which is mandatory but you can buy it in Malaysia and a last top up before the Malaysia - Thailand border,  and Thai fuel is a lot more expensive and a Gasahol mix.





Managed to make it to Hat Yai not long after the BM's arrived, even though I took it a bit easier due to suspension and fuel concerns, a couple of misunderstandings about meeting points and forgetting the name of the hotel being different from last year.

Out for a local seafood feed up, couple of beers and then a pretty decent rest got us ready for the next morning. I woke for breakfast and was greeted by this sight, sadly I couldn't pay my dues as there were no shops open to buy food for the monks as is customary.





The small group went most of the way together, bumped into a few Malaysian groups on the way, after a stop in Krabi town for a light refreshement, I split off to do my own thing. On the way out of Krabi I just had to stop for the last shot, look at the sign to see why, sadly I didn't think I had enough time to explore.



Try not to break the Tiger Mr. Bond




The previous year I had missed a turn after a misdirection and stumbled upon a fabulous road, I knew I was on the wrong road then as the HD's we were escorting would not have made it through several of hte bends such was the camber and steepness. Sadly I didn't save the way points and didn't manage to figure out where I had gone looking at the maps over the last year and nobody could tell me which road I had been on. Anyway I was determined to find it again as it was hugely entertaining.





Well I found it and spent an extra 20mins than the others getting to Phuket but the 1200km haul was worth it just for that short section alone.







Southern Thailand's answer to the Tail 'o the Dragon


Phat Put to Phang Nga as the road starts to rise over the mountain is hte original Route 4, everybody else turns left at Phat Put onto the 415 as it's shorter and dual lane most of the way but they don't know what they are missing. It's approximately 9.5 Kms up to 270m and about 15mins non stop, but you have to, even as the next bend beckons, just to enjoy the peace and the view across the mountains.



The maps tell the tale but you have to really look, if you just look at getting A to B it's easy to miss. I shot some video but I am cr@p at video, if I figure it out I will upload it to YouTwat or somewhere.



Even the video does not tell the whole story as the cambers and steepness of some corners is just plain hard to see. Riding in and out of sunshine and patches of damp road, the greeness and smells are a joy. Rarely out of second gear and slipping the clutch on a couple of tight ones. Great road surface mostly, resurfaced I think the year before they were still tidying up when I rode it then. I think I know how they get the strong yellow colour in those road markings, they use banana skins for pigmentation. When you really start looking on Google you realise there is even more than meets the eye in the area, might just have to go back that way next year.



On getting to Phuket the local groups lay on a reception with information, food and refreshments and great smiles all round, they are just genuinely happy to see a couple of thousand bikers descend on the town and enjoy themselves while contributing to the local economy. Had to wait ages and suffer about fifty HD's revving up to go together (behind the two pick ups with three broken ones) just to get that shot.



Reached the Patong Beach and went to the Northern end to get a shot just as the clouds gathered and the sun set.



On the way back I took the more used route for a change but even that can be spectacular in places.



The early start I had wanted to make turned into a bit of an obstacle course, several km's of such a bad jam that I ended up riding most of it in the grass verge. Turned out to be an overturned diesel that had blocked my side of the dual carriage way and spilt it's load around 100m, that was very interesting, like trying to get accross a skating rink in high heeled dancing pumps, lost count of the number of times I thought "I've lost it this time" and no I didn't stop to take a picture  :p

Then long slog back to Singapore is usually where it goes wrong for some, every year there are tales of crashes if not fatalities after fatigue or complacency sets in. I did it, not properly zipping up Stretch's old Mad scientist tank bag and having my mobile and passport go flying over my shoulder at 150kph, sadly it went under the wheels of a large fuel tanker before I could save it.

Weary but happy and safe after a full 5 days and around 3000 kms. :lol:

[Nick Calne]

Cool! Good to see you out and about on the steamer... 8)

[zombie2]

brilliant, well done

[JetdocX]

8)

[BigDan]

I love that the translation of Hogfest is "Phuket". Which I read as Fuck It.

Hehe  :lol:

[Sin_Tiger]

Nearly, pronounced Fookette