Doi Charlie was a war monument and base on the few reviews that said road were ok so long it was dry season gave me a booster since it was super hot and sunny.
It was only 11km to Doi Charlie from where I was when I decided to do the detour instead of going stright to Kon Tum. Off the main road and the road were a little gravelly and broken which was nothing to worry about and seam doable.
It was only 11km to Doi Charlie from where I was when I decided to do the detour instead of going stright to Kon Tum. Off the main road and the road were a little gravelly and broken which was nothing to worry about and seam doable.
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| The Begining to Plantation Riding towards Doi Charlie |
Checked the map and I was going the wrong way. Double back onto the trail and the road become a dirtpath and then became a weird offroad adventure ride.
I soon abandon the plan to reach Doi Charlie once I saw a few steap climb with super broken crevice which looked like a mini canyon. I decided to back track and go along the gravel road till I could join back to the main road.
I soon abandon the plan to reach Doi Charlie once I saw a few steap climb with super broken crevice which looked like a mini canyon. I decided to back track and go along the gravel road till I could join back to the main road.
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| Only 5km in .... and already wasted so much time battling the offroad. This is where I decided to give up Doi Charlie. Steep Raods plus broken crevies ahead |
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| Still a Beautiful Detour though the countryside |
The ride was good for a long time through the bad gravel and suddenly without realizing I was back in the forest dirtpath with the path getting worst every minute.
By this time I was already so far into the path that backtracking would take me another hour. I had also barely traveled more than 5km. Mental fatigue built up fairly quickly and I was really oppose to backtracking all the way.
By this time I was already so far into the path that backtracking would take me another hour. I had also barely traveled more than 5km. Mental fatigue built up fairly quickly and I was really oppose to backtracking all the way.
Suddenly I saw a good road up ahead but as always and as feared, there would be a crazy pass somewhere at the end point which would prove to be my downfall.
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| Contemplating the Steep Downhill .... |
A super steep downhill where if I commit to the ride, would be a one way trip. Either get down in one peice of fall down. There was no way I could stop on that slope which looked like a 20% incline. Even walking down had a chance for slipping and falling down halfway. The good road was the tempatation and by this time I was a bit crazy.
Down the hill keeping to lowest gear and keep reminding myself to not insticttively clutch in and not to over break to lock the wheels and cause a slide. I rolled down alrite and the last few meters went pretty fast which feels like a roller coaster but I made it without a scratch.
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| Made it down the steep slope in one piece .... |
All those training with Bluey going up and down dirtpath road falling over and over again had paid off but I would not do it again if I had the choice.
Stupid detour to Doi Charlie failed and cost me 2 hours whacking through the plantation road trying to get out. It was a direct mainraod from then on to Kon Tum where I would rest for the next two nights.
Traveled on: Jan 2024
Stupid detour to Doi Charlie failed and cost me 2 hours whacking through the plantation road trying to get out. It was a direct mainraod from then on to Kon Tum where I would rest for the next two nights.
Traveled on: Jan 2024
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