NW of Rama 4

Across Rama 4 bridge on the west side of the Chao Phraya lies an area I'd little visited.  I'd noticed some potential cycling trails by studing satellite photographs, and decided to take a look as well as photograph the flooding.

I followed the road signposted to Wat Toei (วัดเต), which starts to the north under the exit ramp of Rama 4 bridge.  Begin earlier than I did...

f2.8 2011-09-28 17:51:24

Sunset over Koh Kred

One has to cycle on the pavement against the flow of traffic due to the U turn road being one way.  If you are hungry a number of vendors seem to be omnipresent here.

f2.8 2011-09-28 17:52:49

Pak Kred under Rama 4 bridge

The water levels were noticeably higher than I'd seen previously.  River water was seeping through sandbags at the edge of riverside properties onto the road outside Wat Toei.

f2.8 2011-09-28 17:54:08

Water Leaking from Residential Homes by the River

The riverside track is reached by turning right toward Wat Tamnak Nua.  A bicycle partially submerged by the road sign was an indication of things to come.

f2.8 2011-09-28 17:56:08

Partially submerged bike by road sign

The road was flooded, and a tall temporary wooden path had been constructed to facilitate walking.  I chose to cycle through the floodwater, but stayed close to the path as I knew I would not fall off the edge of the road.  At one point my front wheel was almost submerged, and I realised I could not drink from my water bottle as it had been in the flood water also.

f2.8 2011-09-28 17:57:20

A man pulls his wife in a boat

f2.8 2011-09-28 17:57:52

Man cycling through water half a wheel deep

As I approached Wat Tamnak Nua the water level receded to ankle deep, more palatable.  But not for long.  My route turned east along the north side of the wat, a small residential street.  Thai children made fun of me as I cycled through the deep water taking pictures and generally looking like a stupid farang.

f2.8 2011-09-28 18:03:16

Bicycle wheel half submerged

Turning left, I found the riverside trail.  As with many riverside areas, the path is one of raised concrete and you have to concentrate not to fall off.  Several dogs greeted me at the first gate, it appears the owner keeps several as they were in good condition, and not all all threatening.

One means of dealing with floodwater is to build temporary wooden bridges where paths once were.  I saw a group of men with power tools helping build a path for an old lady, it was good to see the community helping each other out.

f2.8 2011-09-28 18:04:30

Locals with power tools helping to build raised wo

f2.8 2011-09-28 18:04:43

Raised wooden paths provide access to houses all b

Unlike some other paths I've been on this one is right beside the river.  Normally there are several layers of 'slum' houses right at the rivers edge, but this time the path won.  I found a long fenced section which offered supreme views of the river and safe easy cycling.

f2.8 2011-09-28 18:05:25

An old shack on the river close to flooding

f2.8 2011-09-28 18:06:05

A fenced riverside path, woot

f2.8 2011-09-28 18:07:24

Fenced riverside path

Several houses were close to flooding.  If I ever live near the river the house will most definitely have stilts.  I saw several basements that look inundated.

f2.8 2011-09-28 18:09:39

This house is close to flooding

f2.8 2011-09-28 18:10:58

A house on stilts is the sensible option

f2.8 2011-09-28 18:11:01

A house on stilts is the sensible optin

The only access to these houses is by motorbike or boat, and many of the locals had a boat 

parked outside.

f2.8 2011-09-28 18:10:20

Boats are the best way to get around

The route ended sooner than I'd hoped, and due to lack of light and too much water it was not safe to explore further.  On return to Wat Tamnak Nua I found a vertiable maze of raised wooden paths.  It was not particular safe to walk on and my fat foreign frame was shaking as much as the path was over the rickety planks.  I saw some people swimming in the river, whilst nearby monks continued sandbagging.

f2.8 2011-09-28 18:19:22

A maze of wooden paths at Wat Tamnak Nua

Cycling back through the wheel deep floods children stopped me to talk, asking where I was from and what my name was (in that order).  I guess they don't get much of a chance to talk to practice their English outside school, and it also helps my Thai.

f2.8 2011-09-28 18:30:32

A dog on a raised path, wet dog below