chrissables

Day 28. 03 Oct. 178 km. 4 hrs

Mai Chau to Son La

A grey, damp, wet, very wet, repeat type of day, but not a hard day.

I had a few beers with this guy! hahahaha

Day 26. 01 Oct. 6 1/2 hr. 110km

The Goat track Loop.

Great riding weather, although hot. As with most of this area stunning views with mountains everywhere.

As it was very remote, the locals would stop and check that all was ok if you stopped too.

At the actual “goat track” I need the help of a local as the clutch needed adjusting, it was impossible to slip it, which was needed to ride slowly over the rocks.

On my way to the "goat track"

Day 22. Friday 27th Sept.

Hoam Kiem Lake and Old town walk about.

Day 19. Tues 24th Sept. 9 ½ hrs 442 km

Phong Nha to Binh Ninh (Tam Coc)

Another long day with great views. Riding the HCM Road and cutting down to Thanh Hoa then Tam Coc.

Day 17. Sun 22nd Sept. 360km. 9hrs 15 min

Hoi An to Khe Sanh

A long ride today, west out of Hoi An and north along the HCM Road. Poor visibility ruining good views and heavy rain at the end of the day.

Day 16. Sat 21st Sept. 237 km.  6 hours

Hoi An – Hue – Hoi An Loop

There is a new road, just about finished but not open to the public. But by dodging around barriers and potholes you can gain access! 70 km + of new road and empty except for the odd construction vehicle!

There is a tunnel 1.4km long which had no lighting and nearly brought on a claustrophobic attack.

I came back via the Van Hai Pass, unfortunately the small road to the very top is blocked now. A pity because it has the best views.

Day 15. Fri 20th Sept. 8 hrs 253 km

Hoi An – Prao  – Hoi An Loop.

Great riding and first time on this trip to ride the Ho Chi Minh Road.

Heavy showers, but short. There must have a lot of rain previously as there were quite a few landslides around.

A link to today's route.

Day 14. Thur 19th Sept. 8 hrs. 184 km

Quang Ngai to Hoi An

A new route I made up as I rode, a bit convoluted but very nice riding!

Day 13. Wed 18th Sept. 342 km 9 hrs

Quy Nhon to Quang Ngai

QL19 and up to An Khe – DT669 north to cross QL24 continue north then west on the DT630 – DT633 and down to Quang Ngai.

Again a route I have ridden before, but a wonderful ride through the mountains.

No rain and a beautiful day for riding, very remote in places and still jungle.

Day 12. Tuesday 17th sept. 90km

Beaches around Quy Nhon.

There was a charge to get to one of the beaches, but they let me ride to take photos for free, but without access to the beach.

Day 10. Sunday 15th Sept. Local in Nha Trang

Day 11. Monday 16th Sept. 405 km. 10 hrs

Nha Trang – M’Drak – Ayun Pa – North to QL19 and west to Quy Nhon.

Another route I have ridden before, but such a nice ride, long though! No rain today!

Day 9. Saturday 14th Sept. 315 km 8 ½ hrs

Cam Ranh Cai Valley / National Park and Da Lat.

Great riding in the mountains again and some bad roads that had been washed away. Also heavy rain at times.

Day 8. Friday 13th Sept. 210km

A ride from Nha Trang into the mountains east of Dalat.

My route was south and west into the Cam Ranh Cai Valley on DT656 and back along QL27B

Day 7. Thurs 12th Sept. 12 hrs 350km

Da Lat to Nha Trang

My route was south out of Da Lat, past Elephant Waterfall before looping west on QL27, then north and turning east on DT12 which is a small and bumpy road, then riding down into Nha Trang in a huge thunderstorm.
The hotel I booked was <deleted> and asked me to remove my boots to get to the room. So I left and found another.

Day 6. Wed 11th Sept. 138km. 7 hrs

Dalat Pine Tree Road and back.

I have ridden up this road before, this time I managed 65 km before coming to the end of the road, a little further than my last trip.

There are amazing views along this road and the construction workers at the end of the road were very friendly and kept taking selfies with me. They even asked me to join them for lunch, which after my issues with the police yesterday was a nice surprise.

On my return to Da Lat I found a film crew making a music video, I stopped to take some photos but they had a break and I ended up having a nice chat with the stunt man there.

Further along I found a sofa repair shop and had my seat modified, a whopping 5 pound!

Day 5. Tues 10th Sept. 198km 6 hrs

Mui Ne to Da Lat

I was stopped by the notoriously corrupt police leaving Mui Ni this morning. As I was totally legal with the correct licence and not speeding I stupidly showed them my licence. They took it away and demanded 1,500,000 dong or they confiscate the licence and I collect it a week later and also still pay!

I offered 1,000,000 dong and was on my way. That amount was way over the norm, but I just wanted out of there.

It’s a great ride up to Da Lat on the QQL2B and QL20.