24-Feb-2013 -- This confluence visit is the second last out of a series of 15 visits in Malaysia and Thailand. The previous confluence is 17°N 99°E. It is in turn part of a 4-months bicycle trip starting in Tasmania at 43°S 146°E.
On confluence day, I started at 6 AM in Mae Pa (แม่ปะ), which is 90 km from the confluence (on roads). I crossed a mountain range of 500 m in height and while coasting down, I met an English cyclist. He was riding the reverse route from Chiang Mai (เชียงใหม่) to Kuala Lumpur. Without a proper map, he had spent a whole day heading in the wrong direction. I suggested to get an electronic map of Thailand with all details. With such a map it is possible to stay on minor roads which are ideal for cycling. After we had spent 45 minutes exchanging our experiences we split and I headed to the confluence point via the roads no. 106 and no. 1219. The latter road gets within 720 m to the confluence. From there, a cycle-able, but steep farm track took me within 60 m.
The confluence is at the edge of an orchard of longan and banana trees. In 66 m distance, there is a little shelter for farmers to escape from the heat or rain. It was unpleasantly hot, but I preferred to escape to the next town Thung Hue Chang in 3 km distance and have a big lunch.
I spent the night camping out about 20 km south of Lamphun (ลำพูน). There was no hotel nearby and anyways I was longing for camping out after spending several weeks exclusively in hotels.
CP Visit Details:
- Distance to an asphalt road: 720 m
- Distance to a track: 60 m
- Distance of bicycle parking: 60 m
- Time to reach CP from bicycle parking: 1 minute
- Time at CP: 1:30 PM
- Measured height: 592 m
- Minimal distance according to GPS: 1 m
- Position accuracy: 5 m
- Topography: mountainous
- Vegetation: Longan and Banana Trees. A mixed forest to the South.
- Weather: fine, 33° C (felt temperature)
- Given Name: The Longan Confluence
More pictures of the trip can found at mautz.net.
The story finishes at 19°N 99°E.