My Garmin Zumo 550 at night. Its been very helpful traveling with this GPS. The Zumo was designed specifically for the motorcyclist. Its waterproof, vibration proof, has a big bright screen and touch screen controls that can be activated with gloved fingers. It has many features such as a fuel calculator, compass, elevation, trip data etc. Its also an mp3 player and I can hook up a mobile phone thru the unit and rout it to helmet speakers via bluetooth.

But theres no substitute for an old fashioned map. You need both for a quick and accurate portayal of your location and destination.

I followed this road northwest of Chang Rai, hugging the Mae Nam Kok river thru Lum Nam Kok National Park.

I couldn't resist a good dirt road when the pavement ran out.

I eventually ended up in a village called Op Sun Wen. There are dozens of Karen, Lisu and other hill tribe villages in the vicinity.

A Karen elephant camp. I fed them sugar cane and bananas which was fun. I was too lazy to rotate this pic in my camera prior to uploading so you'll have to rotate your head. haha

Well I'm in Chang Rai now after a beautiful ride here from Chang Mai on route 118 thru the mountains and am staying at the Chat House. After riding around for 40 minutes, I asked an American Expat on a motobike where to stay. He led me to this place. ITS A BACK PACKER place and cost $9 a night with cable TV, air con and great food.

My room.

Chang Rai is like a very small version of Chang Mai. Many options for Treks to hill tribe villages, rafting etc. Its also very close to laos and many tourist use it as a jumping off point into laos. Its relaxed here and the people are very friendly.

I've logged 4200 miles so far. I go thru periods of intense homesickness, fatigue, excitement and joy. I wanted to go home a little early but my wife called the airlines who said nothing is available. I purchased my tickets using my air miles and got business class, which was wonderful. I don't think I want to scrap the return ticket and buy a new one just to go home early. I was gonna go into Laos but now am thinking I won't since I was there on motobike 9 years ago. I'm pretty sure its still the same. Instead, I may head down the east coast of Malaysia but I can't say for sure. My plans change daily and even hourly sometimes. Many times I don't know where I'm going until I'm on the road. Its a wonderful way to travel and the ultimate in Freedom.

Cocking fighting on the side of the road.

Doi Suthep, Chang Mai.

My bike towers over other motos in the hotel parking.

The interior of Doi Suthep.

Chang Mai is a wonderful city in Northern Thailand. After traveling thru rural Thailand for many days, its a great place to recharge your batteries. I could easily spend two weeks here.

The stairs of Doi Suthep. Yes honey, I climbed it 10 times but it wasn't as hard as the Lyon Street Steps. But very magical in the early morning.

I get coffee every morning from carts like this throughout Thailand. They usually have both nestcafe and a thick, fresh brewed concoction made to your specification. Less than 50 cents.

This is what I normally eat for breakfast. "Jok", a rice porridge with things like pork, ginger, scallions and sometimes pieces of intestines from some animal. Its delicious and very healthy, kind of like oatmeal of the east. About 80 cents.

Lunch is very often soup noodle on the side of the road. Its also delicious, very healthy and cheap.

A young yellow lab I met in Pai. Very nice dog!

Well, I'm in Pai (pronounced bye) in northwestern Thailand after traveling several days thru the mountains. The place has grown quite a bit since I was here 9 years ago and remains a laid back hippy/artist retreat. Their are many things to do including trekking, raftings, massage, cooking classes, elephants etc.
But I'm here just to recharge my energy. I'm pretty worn down and quite homesick from being on the road.

My bungalow cost $12 per night.

I have to push my bike over this bamboo bridge to get to my bungalow. Very cool.

My right pannier was miraculously repaired in Penom Penn.

At Bankok BMW, I met a couple traveling from the Netherlands to Australia overland on an older BMW.

My place in Bangkok for $18 per night. Near Victory Monument where everything is.

Killing time working out at Lumpini Park waiting for BKK BMW to service the bike.

I Was driving thru a village outside Sen Monoram when I spotted a man with a sewing machine. He stitched up the main zipper that secured the tank bag to the tank. Good as new for less than a dollar.

Driving out from Sen Monoram at dawn.

It took these two fellas over an hour to wash all the mud that was caked all over the bike.

Coming out of the Death Highway. That was tough. The bike went down about 6 times in all.

The Stump. Coming from the other side, it was camoflaged.

A bummer but well worth the adventure. Also damaged or lost were right and left engine guards, rear mud guard, rear tool compartment door, and my tank bag zipper. I'm heading to Penom Pen for repairs. Its amazing what mechanics from this part of the world can do.

Some Friendlies my guide and I met on the trail.

The route.

Covered in dirt and beat down by the trail. Only halfway there.

Despite the knobbies, it was very easy to lose traction because of the weight of the bike.

I am riding the Death Highway,, 200Km from Ban Lung to Sen Monoram. The route consist of ox cart tracks thru mud, deep sand, creeks and some little hill climbs.

River crossing at Lumphat, just south of Ban Lung.