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chrissables
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Posts posted by chrissables
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Day 42. 17 Oct. 216 km. 8 hrs.
Sapa –Y Ty – Lao Cai – Sapa
It started off to be an easy day, but I got carried away and started looking for the Chinese border point called border port No 90. Supposedly a historical landmark.
Following google maps sent me eventually to a dead end (track disappearing in the wilderness) near the river which is the Chinese border. I ran out of time to continue exploring due to leaving late.
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Day 41. 16 Oct. 340 km. 9 ½ hrs
Sapa – Mu Cang Chai – Sapa
A nice ride to see the rice terraces, it was a bit late in the season to see them due to me spending so much time exploring other places!
I got carried away riding up the mountains and continued on up to 1850 meters on the gravel tracks.
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Day 40. 15 Oct. 103 km. 4 ½ hrs
Sapa – Lao Cai – Cho Xuan Giao – Sapa Loop
Raining again in the morning
The road to Lao Cai has beautiful views on a good weather day, but today it was not so nice.
From Cho Xuan Giao the road is a quiet ride up the back roads into Sa Pa with great scenery until after Ban Den and the tourist area, then the road was bad and busy until Sa Pa.
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Day 38. 13 Oct.
Sa Pa.
Pissing down all day, cold too so i stayed in my room.
Day 39. 14 Oct. 271 km. 8 hrs
Sapa to Phong Tho – Muong So – Dao San - Sapa Loop.
It was raining all the way and visibility was bad, but it cleared slightly in the mountains between showers. I took a wrong turn and ended up at Dao San 1358 meters high in the mountains.
The views would be spectacular with no fog!
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Day 37. 12 Oct. 171 km. 5 hrs
Muong Lay to Sapa via Sin Ho
From my room it was a 5 km ride north before turning east up DT128 through Sin Ho and onwards to Sa Pa.
Wet with pea soup thick fog made for an interesting ride, especially as the side of the road just disappeared down the mountain with no barrier. Bad roads and landslides added to the fun!
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Day 36. 11 Oct. 182 km. 6 hrs
Muong Lay to the Dam and river road hunting
I was looking for a road that followed the rivers edge heading into the restricted area, but after quite a lot of hunting around and getting turned back at the dam (Lai Chau Hydropower Plant) entrance and off road riding to bypass the security I gave up. It was either under water or the map was wrong.
I decided to go inland over the same mountains as the day before and try to find the road from the west side heading east. I still could not find any evidence of a riverside road, but I spotted a bridge over the river with a road disappearing up into the mountains, the DT127, I managed 15 km until the road construction stopped me going further.
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Day 35. 10 Oct. 343 km. 10 hrs
Muong Lay to Pac Ma return trip.
Pac Ma is a restricted area and I had been told there was no way of riding there without getting stopped by the police. There was nobody around to stop me and the locals were friendly. I could have kept going but it was a long ride back to my room and I didn’t want to ride in the dark, so I had to turn around.
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Day 34. 09 Oct 190 km. 7.5 hrs
Dien Bien Phu – Tuan Giao – Muong Lay
Another great ride, north back to Tuan Giao then onto a new road for me before ending the day at Muong Lay.
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Day 33. 08 Oct 110 km 5 hrs
An unplanned great ride through a some remote villages outside of Dien Bien Phu.
It was the same route to start as the road to Laos border, then off north over big mountains topping off at 1300 meters.
There was a stretch off about 20 km off road, rough track on the way, ok riding, but slow going.
I stopped a local to confirm I could continue my loop back and he took me to the town where to road was better and there was a clear route.
I gave him some petrol money and was rewarded with a kiss. 5555555
That evening there was a wedding party in town and I was invited to join them. I was thinking beer and bridesmaids, but there only a few ladies there and tea to drink. I was given a rose and invited for coffee by one of the male guests though!
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Day 32. 07 Oct 265 km. 7 ¾ hrs
Dien Bien Phu – Muong Cha – Cha Cang – Muong Tung – Dien Bien Phu.
A ride north and west towards the restricted areas. Then looping back east and south. It was a longer day than expected but with the stunning views a great day. The last leg was quite a rough road though.
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Day 31. 06 Oct 181 km 6 ½ hrs
Dien Bien Phu to the Laos border and back.
This was not the normal border crossing point, but a remote crossing along the border further south east. Link below.
A lovely ride through the valley before a stunning climb to the Laos border. The border control building looked abandoned with a small building to its side. Nobody was visible so I carried on and a guy in a beat up old car waved me on.
I rode past the Vietnam / Laos border point for a while and the track disappeared into the distance.
There was also a side road up to some pylons that with more time needs exploring.
Heavy rain for a short while returning
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Day 29. 04 Oct
Around Son La
Thunderstorms in the morning until 1pm.
Day 30. 05 Oct. 170 km 5 ½ hrs
Son La to Dein Bien Phu
I took a diversion down the mountains the back way to Tuan Giao, some more new roads I found and great views.
Great views, no rain!
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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
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Day 27. 02 Oct. 147 km. 5 hrs
North to Lo Gao Waterfall and back through the park avoiding “goat track”.
I met two German guys on their way to the goat track, and after seeing my photos they decided not to bother.
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My "helper" up the "goat track", and my route through to the other side!
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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"
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Day 25, 30 Sept. 307km 10hrs 15m
Large Limestone Loop.
http://vietnamcoracle.com/province-of-paddies-and-pinnacles-the-thanh-hoa-loop/
More roads I have ridden before, but as usual great riding, if a hard day.
The waterwheel from my previous trip is now partly destroyed and not working.
It was slow going from near the Laos border with quite a few landslides on the way.
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Day 24. Sun 29 Sept. 6 hours 110 k
Exploring Mai Chau
I rode out of Mai Chau and I was lucky to see the sea of fog before continuing to Lo Gao waterfall north of town, and riding a road west parallel to the main Son La road. (Marked 6Cu on google maps)
A very small road off the normal tourist routes, lots of small landslide making it a slow ride, but spectacular scenery!
I reached 1271 meters on today’s ride.
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Day 23 Sat 28th Sept. 5 hrs 161km
Ha Noi to Mai Chau
A pleasant and easy ride once out of Ha Noi. I stayed at the same hotel as before and I was greeted like a long lost friend, which was nice.
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Day 22. Friday 27th Sept.
Hoam Kiem Lake and Old town walk about.
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Day 20. Wed 25th Sept 118km 4 hours
Tam Coc to Ha Noi
An easy ride north to Ha Noi, but I was stopped by the police!
Police.
Vietnam has a drug problem, it's becoming very serious and the addicts are easily seen as you travel through the country.
Their drug of choice is caffeine which to most people seems harmless, but the strong desire for this drug in Vietnam is really affecting the locals. They are willing to lie and make up any story just to get a fix, as most drug addicts do.
I was feeling benevolent today and when i was asked for some financial help from a couple of these addicts i decided help. 500,000 dong should buy a lot of coffee and keep them off the streets for a while!
This payment is well known in Vietnam and is called "coffee money" and is very similar to "tea money" in Thailand.
The photo below is of a caffeine addict really in need of a fix, enjoy and choke on it!
I had the bike serviced and a bit of a run around finding a hotel with secure parking.
Ha Noi is a great city, I always enjoy my time here.
Day 21. Thurs 26 Sept.
Relaxing around Ha Noi
I visited the small lake (pond) where an American B52 had crash landed, then went to one of the “Train Streets”. I’m glad I did as the police have shut all the bars now!
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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.
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Vietnam Trip 3, 2019.
in Motorcycles in Thailand
Posted
Day 43. 18 Oct. 199 km 6 ½ hrs
Sapa to Xin Man
Heavy rain soaked me in the morning and gradually stopped during the morning.
My route was north to Lao Cai, then continuing north alongside the Chinese border on QL4D to Muong Khuong, then north east to Pha Long on the DT153 looping south past the gorge which is on the border with China.
The road between Bac Ha going north east to Xin Man is now in great condition, previously a nightmare.
It felt cold up in the mountains max height 1736 m (2114 meters max height must have been from Mu Cang Chai a few days ago)
Eventually the clouds broke and great views were everywhere!