Saraburi is where the central plains finally begin to give way to hills, and it is a useful place for a rider to know. The city sits about a hundred kilometres north of Bangkok, with over sixty thousand people, and the limestone ridges that rise on its edges tell you that the Khorat Plateau and its mountains are not far away. For anyone heading to the Wang Nam Khiao hills or Khao Yai, this is a natural point to top up.
Fuel is easy. The town has stations on all the main roads, including big ones on Highway 1 and the road toward Nakhon Ratchasima, and there are cafes, convenience stores and restaurants within a short distance. If you are coming back, this is also the place to take a last break before the long, flat run to Bangkok. Kaeng Khoi, about eleven kilometres south, is where much of Thailand's cement industry is based, which explains the quarries and the white dust on some roads.
Saraburi has a significant place in Thai Buddhism. Phra Phutthabat, a temple north of the city, shelters a footprint of the Buddha that has been venerated since the seventeenth century, and pilgrims come from all over the country. In the cool season, sunflower fields in the nearby province of Lopburi draw crowds of photographers, and some riders make a detour to see the yellow carpets stretching toward the hills.
The riding around here is mixed. The main highways are fast and busy with trucks, and the cement works add heavy vehicles to the mix. Smaller roads toward the hills are more interesting, with curves and gentle climbs through scrub and rubber plantations. The surface is generally good, but loose gravel and mud near quarries can be a hazard.
Early morning gives the best air and the best light on the limestone. By midday the heat shimmers off the tarmac and it becomes uncomfortable. Drink plenty of water, keep your visor clear and plan to be at your destination before the afternoon storms roll in during the rainy season. Saraburi will not dazzle you, but it is dependable, and on a long ride, dependable is worth a great deal.