Chiang Mai X-Centre

Dam Boat Trip!!!

Posted on 27. Oct, 2009 by iankiwi in Ian's Blog, Trip Reports

I have been in a bit of a Rush this week with the India Trip and every­thing else that has hap­pened But I was deter­mined to get the Boat out for at least one Maiden Voy­age before I leave. This week I had Our Staff make up a Cra­dle for Our Trailer to carry the Boat in it’s nor­mal Posi­tion so as soon as it was all ready I decided Sat­ur­day was the Day. With the Kids back to School Mon­day it was the Only Chance I had so we Packed up and Myself, Amanda & Aaron were joined by Kiwi John and John Coy for Our Trip up to the Huge Mae Ngat Dam about 40 min­utes drive north of the X-Centre.

Here is the Boat ready to leave the X-centre.

The Mae Ngat Dam is mostly used by Local Thais in Tra­di­tional Long Tail Boats so we made a bit of a Novel Sight with Our Clean New Trailer & Boat with a Shiny 4 Stroke Out­board!!! We backed down and unloaded amongst the Long tails while under the Scrutiny of the Locals.

Boat in the Water

Only ever hav­ing been on the Edge look­ing out from the Restau­rant I never realised just How Big this Damn Dam Is (Par­don the Pun!). We had a nice lit­tle Cruise up explor­ing dif­fer­ent Bays. Amanda Proved a Very Enthu­si­as­tic Cap­tain and Pro­fi­cient Skip­per under the Expert Guid­ance of Kiwi John!!!

We stopped at a Float­ing Restau­rant We came across after quite some Time and Let the Kids explore while we had a cou­ple of Beers sup­plied by Our New Found Hosts! They even Had Ice ( And the Beer needed it! )  Was a Great Day out most enjoyed by all I think. Time to head back!

Just before we arrived back at the Boat Ramp the Out­board ran out of Fuel which we thought quite Funny and took some time to get it started again once we had topped it Up and all of this was in View of the Locals sit­ting in the Restau­rants so they Must have been amused at these Silly Farang with their New Gear drift­ing around!!! All ended well though and We were soon back on Dry Land and Loaded up once More!!!

As I Parked the Pickup I heard some­one Yell out My Name so Looked around and Here is Our Mate Brian!!! He is still tak­ing His Sis­ter and Her Hus­band around Sight­see­ing on their Hol­i­day so By Coin­ci­dence ended up at the Same Place. Of Course that was Worth a Beer together!!!

Great Day Out and the Boat Worked Per­fectly so another Trib­ute To My Mate Simon who Trag­i­cally Passed away last week. He had arranged the Pur­chase and Deliv­ery of it for Me. Wish He had been able to Enjoy it with Us But I am Sure He was Look­ing over Us and Smil­ing all the Same. Good One Mate!!!

Have a Great Day.

Cheers Ian.