Hopping to HaNoi

[papa al]

Well made it across the pass, no prob.

One construction zone muddy mess.

My bad, that was not the highest pass.

It was pretty cloudy/foggy.

Visibility <30m at times.

Really nice big room at Monaco hotel $18.

Lake view and everything.

Sent laundry out.

Plan to base here for a few day doing day rides in surrounding area.

;-)

Edited December 28, 2017 by papa al

[chrissables]

1 hour ago, papa al said:

Well made it across the pass, no prob.

One construction zone muddy mess.

My bad, that was not the highest pass.

It was pretty cloudy/foggy.

Visibility <30m at times.

Really nice big room at Monaco hotel $18.

Lake view and everything.

Sent laundry out.

Plan to base here for a few day doing day rides in surrounding area.

;-)

The Tram Ton Pass is the highest pass in Vietnam, why do you think otherwise.

 

Hope you don't mind my suggestions :)

 

Nearby great riding........http://vietnamcoracle.com/sapa-y-ty-scenic-motorbike-loop/

[papa al]

4 hours ago, chrissables said:

The Tram Ton Pass is the highest pass in Vietnam, why do you think otherwise.

 

Hope you don't mind my suggestions :)

 

Nearby great riding........http://vietnamcoracle.com/sapa-y-ty-scenic-motorbike-loop/

well, thought i was wrong,

but i wasn't

i guess.

&

thanks for the suggestions.

[papa al]

Checked into hotel just before 2pm.

Sent laundry out, showered and took a little nap.

At ~4:30, knocking on the door.

Laundry finished. !

They must have electric dryers.

A good size load only $2.

papa likes this place.

Showers here and at previous hotels

seem to use central boiler 

rather than the Thai-style in room e-heaters.

They are all scalding hot.

Sapa is a yuge tourist set up.

Many beds, restaurants, &c.

Occupancy seems pretty low now tho.

Trying to find a sports bar that will show

UFC card Dec 30, stateside;

[31st here.]

 

 

[Rhys]

When does the ride end Papa?

 

[Damrongsak]

12 hours ago, papa al said:

...Sent laundry out...

Had to laugh.  My wife is of Vietnamese stock.  When I first met her in Loei, I hired her to do my laundry.  It was cheap then, not so much after we got married.  Never got 2 1/2 hour turnaround ... no dryer.  Actually no washer, just a tub and scrub brush. 

 

It can get really cold riding a bike in winter months in the boondocks, especially at elevation.  Years ago, Canadian volunteer rode back from Udon area to Loei early one morning on the back of a bike in the cold season.  Said he'd never felt colder.

 

If you ever pass by Nha Trang  in the south, honk your horn and wave.  I have a sister-in-law there.  Right where that recent typhoon made landfall.

[papa al]

Socked in Wx.

Rode 150 km over to BacHa.

Drizzle.

Luxurious suite for $25.

Bought some new underwear at the Saturday market.

Oddities noted:

They sell helmets with a cut-out in the back

to accommodate ponytail.

and

they sell helmets with a fist-sized bump-out 

on top to accommodate a bun that  

ladies of certain ethnicities affect.

and

ponchos with a clear vinyl panel to 

allow draping over head-lights of scooter.

Pretty cool.

;-)

[watcharacters]

On 11/28/2017 at 12:39 AM, papa al said:

Well, at least they drive on the proper side of the road.

 

10,000 rpm,?

papa shifts at 11,5oo, redline.

 

 

 

 

Sorry papa, but does Majority rule as to proper or not proper?   Google..      

[papa al]

13 minutes ago, watcharacters said:

 

 

 

 

Sorry papa, but does Majority rule as to proper or not proper?   Google..      

right = right

[watcharacters]

4 minutes ago, papa al said:

right = right

 

 

OK,  That means left is not universally proper?      Yes?     

[papa al]

14 hours ago, watcharacters said:

 

 

OK,  That means left is not universally proper?      Yes?     

yes

[papa al]

 

In a small town Yen Bai now. 

Been riding all day in drizzle.

This seems to be the only hotel around.

The lady at the desk has been taking on the phone for 20 minutes,

so can’t tell me how much the rooms cost or anything.

Pretty weird.

When she is ready for me

plan to call someone on my phone and

yakyak and let her wait. 

 

Have ridden on more wet road in the last week than in the last 10 years.

 

[papa al]

Finally checked in; 300,000dong = $13.

Was directed down the road to a restaurant for dinner.

Arrived at a busy place and was immediate approached 

by several young Vietnamese guys to join them at their table.

Only white person around and definitely the centre of attention.

Many dishes to enjoy.

Given a small glass of water which 

actually was hard liquor.

Whoohoo.

Everybody wanted to talk but they only knew a few words English.

Half the guys were tipsy of course.

Wanted to set me up with one of the middle aged women,

as usual.

Many were wearing white headbands and inferred by sign language.

that they were from a funeral ceremony.

One google translated asking me to stay with his family but

flashed my hotel room key/fob so declined.

That wouldn’t let me pay anything or even leave tip.

Pretty fun.

[papa al]

Have hopped back home now.

Hanoi ..>>>>>    BKK 2 hrs air-time.

Vietnam has similar small m/c scene to Thailand for little cc bikes.

~Scooters in city...

~Underbones in the country...Same as here except plenty Cinese copies too.

Honda #1.

Airblade125    &  SH125/150     √

Rarely see PCX  groms,  Zoomer.

Never:  Fino, Scoopy, Clicks  &c.

No Kawasaki.

Battery power everywhere.

Guess Chinese made solar-chargers are cheap.

I thought I would see more Nouvos, but no.

Guy I rented from says they were high maintanece, especially as a rental.

Yamaha 115 cc underbone very popular

work-horse everywhere.

The 150 cc Honda Winner papa rented 3-weeks ran  A-Okay. 

Just gas & oil the chain daily...has centre stand, so EZ.

Uncomfortable seat...  too far forward before hump.

Could be redone easy.

Exciters very popular.

No MSlaz.

No CB/CBR150, 250,...

No Nmax,  Aerox, Forza, 

Big cc is very expensive tax and tax.

Met one pack of big sport-bike outside Hanoi in the mountains one day.

But travel there is slow, and papa could keep up

in climbing  twists.

papa not shy about high revs.

For about 20 -minutes

then got a little frazzled /

came to my senses

and took break.

;-)

Maybe 15 minutes.

 

 

Edited January 11, 2018 by papa al

[papa al]

So I took my boots, helmet and riding gear to VN.

in an army duffel bag.

A few days in country

papa donated it to a worthy recipient.

So for the return flight to BKK

bought one of the big cheap villager poor person

type of big vinyl bag $3.

Big boots, helmet jacket….all my clothing except wearing.

They plastic wrapped her up at the airport

 for free.

check it out….

/////////1.5 liter bottle

Edited January 11, 2018 by papa al

[Rhys]

Welcome back ....  that must have been some ride..... Down here still trying to make it to Phuket... on a CBR 300R...