Day 59 12 June. Sapa

 

Day 60 13 June. 7.5 hrs 196km

Sapa to Xin Man. Via Muang Khuong,

Jeff had decided to call it a day and was leaving on the night train to Hanoi, where we would meet up again later

I left in heavy drizzle at 6am, but as I rode up into the mountains north of Lao Cai the weather was ok and it was a good days riding. Quite cool up the mountains though.

The route is here: http://vietnamcoracle.com/ha-giang-extreme-north-motorbike-loop/

Leaving Sapa looking north in the morning.

Great roads winding through the valley.

Day 61. 14 June Xin Man to Dong Van. 10 hrs 295 km.

There was light drizzle and bad roads for the first 100 km, but with great views again. In Ha Giang heavy rain.

Day 62. 15 June. Dong Van to Chinese border (Cho Xin Cai 1500m high) 6.5hrs 100km

Today the weather was not good for photos. But I wanted to get to another Chinese border point.

The road from the valley up to Xin Cai was bad at times, but the views great!

Once I got to the border point I walked as far as I dare into China, the Vietnam side was a muddy track, the Chinese side a newly laid concrete road!

The view were so good even the locals could not stop looking!

The well guarded border.

Day 63, 16 June Dong Van landslides. 70 km

My original plan was to go to the North Pole, but many road works and landslides followed by a blocked road stopped me. I had been on my previous trip and today the weather was very overcast and foggy, so I was happy to ride around seeing different sights.

Day 64. 17 June. 206 km. 8.5 hrs

Dong Van to Cao Bang.

My route was south to Meo Vac and DT217 to Bao Lac. From here I found a road not on my maps that cut across to Cao Bang, slow going on road DT204

I left early in the fog and rain, after only a few km I came off on a particularly slippery part of the road. It was quiet strange as I had ridden across this stretch two times already and knew how bad it was. Both front and the rear wheels slid sideways from under me, I can only think there must have been a ridge left there by a truck for that to happen.

As I was aware of it slippery I was riding slowly, but still banged my knee hard and cut my foot.

After 50km I found a roadside water pipe and cleaned myself up. The rest of the day there were patches of bad road and weather.

Also great views were ruined by the poor visibility.

I found a nice place to clean myself up hahaha

On a sunny day this ride would be great!

Day 65. 18 June. 9 hrs. 215 km

Ban Gioc Waterfall

I received a bollocking from the hotel owner as he thought I used his towels to clean my sandals. But it was the ingrained clay from the accident! I was too hurt to scrub it hard, so washed as well as I could, but when drying it the clay stained the towel.

Today’s ride I was really looking forward to, the Ban Gioc Waterfall, which is half in Vietnam and half in China. I went here on my last trip also.

There is a temple complex that has been built on a small hill that is great for taking photos, when at the waterfall is was too wet to get near with lots of mist blowing everywhere.

I then rode along the river trying to find a place I had read about where you can get across to China on a smugglers boat and walk around the market there, but I could not find it.

I did spot some smuggling going on and was told “no photos”! I did eventually find a road that arrived at the Chinese border, but there was no way into China.

On my return trip I stopped behind the top of the waterfall where there is a market and I could shake hands with the Chinese tourists and take selfies, but not cross into China.

Smugglers boats.

Day 66. 19 June. 127 km.  6.5 hrs

Cao Bang to Chinese border near HCM’s cave.

 

The ride today was very remote and filled with stunning scenery. Again my plan was to try and sneak into China.

I  headed north on DT208 and turned right on a very small road at Ha Quang which wound its way through the mountains. I continued on that road until I found the New Great Wall of China!

Nobody was around so i walked through a gap in the railing to take some photos before returning to Vietnam and Cao Bang.

At the New Chinese Wall, the bike is in Vietnam and i was in China.

Just before the Chinese border i found that evening's dinner looking very nervous!

Day 67. 20June. 324 km. 9.5hrs

Cao Bang, Ba Be back roads to Thai Nguyen.

 

The weather was clagged in until Ba Be Lake, after that some great views but a hard day. The back road out of Ba Be Lake is a wonderful ride through the countryside.

Day 68. 21 June  324 km. 8 hrs

Thai Nguyen to Cam Pha via Lang Son

A great road across to Lang Son, but my seat was getting so uncomfortable I found it hard to enjoy the ride.

Cam Pha  is a industrial City looking over into Ha Long bay.

Day 69. 22 June 188 km. 4 hrs

Cam Pha to Hanoi

Today was an easy ride to go and meet Jeff for a few days. The road was full of crazy truck and bus drivers!

 

Day 70  23 june Hanoi

Jeff and I decided to get very pissed, Jeff was more successful than I was! A great night!

2 hours ago, chrissables said:

This 18 year lady, aged a lot riding pillion with me!

Still very beautiful...

Day 71. 24 June

I stayed in my room all day resting, except for an evening meal.

 

Day 72. 25 June

Hanoi to Hue

I left Hanoi at stupid O’clock, 4.45am in the dark and arrived at Hue 12.5 hrs and 689km later! It was the longest and hardest day of the trip as well as difficult due to the traffic on the main north to south road.

Day 73.26 June

Today I walked to Hue Citadel and enjoyed looking around again. But lots of it were being renovated.

When I was crossing over the bridge back into town I was offered a blow job by someone on a push bike, the trouble was he needed a shave!

Day 74  27 June. Hue

I serviced the bike and spent time relaxing.

 

Day 75. 28 June 200 km to Hoi An

Today’s ride was stress free and I had time to explore the Hai Van Pass area again. I was lucky with the weather, hot but good visibility.

The Hai Van Pass viewed from the top, looking north,west and south.

Day 76. 29 June. Hoi An

Stayed local.

 

Day 77. 30 June 282 km

Ride to near the Laos border.

A pleasant ride, I had intended to go right to the border, but was suffering with the seating again and cut it short.

 

Day 78. 01 July Hoi An to Quy Nhon 5 hrs 304 km

An extremely hot and tedious ride, a day of other road users trying to kill me.

 

Day 79. 02 july. Quy Nhon to Nha Trang 4 hrs 235km

A nice ride along the coast from Quy Nhon, very hot again.

 

Day 80. 03 July Nha Trang

Stroll on the beach, relaxing.

Relaxing at Nha Trang Beach!

Day 81.04 July 117 km along to coast to a reservoir.

It was a nice ride, an easy day, but again so hot! Also the road around the reservoir was closed.

Day 82. 05 July to Day 85 08 July I spent getting pissed in Nha Trang.

 

One of the nights I had another claustrophobia attack. About 3 in the morning the whole area had a power cut, so the room got very hot very quickly. I decided to open the window and get some fresh air. It was barred like a prison, this started my attack. So I dressed and found my way down 4 flights of stairs in the blackness to find the front door was locked to. But security was sleeping in the reception and let me out.

By this time I was feeling so ill and sweating, but not just due to the heat.

When the power came on I was back in the room and was actually vomiting with the stress of it all. Really strange and I can’t explain it.

I decided to relax with the lights and TV on, and just as I was feeling better the power cut again!

So the whole procedure was repeated, with me bollocking security for actually locking the door.

 

Day 86. 09 July

Nha Trang to Mui Ne. 250 Km 5 hrs

On the sand dunes just outside of Mui Ne I saw these interesting graves.

Day 87. 10 July. Mui Ne

 

Day 88. 11 July. Mui Ne

 

Day 89 12 July HCM 240 km 5hrs 45 min

An easy ride, but I wasted an hour lost in the back roads along the river in the center of the city.

Day 90 13 HCM

Day 91 14 HCM

Day 92 15 Home to Thailand!

What a trip!

37 hotels to check in and out of and 12,791 km of mostly fun riding!

1 hour ago, NCC1701A said:

Amazing trip! Thank you for sharing. It is a lot of work to edit photos and write a description.

Thanks!