Venture Into Vietnam 2011: The Bikes

Waiting at the train station where there were hundreds of people and lots of trains, language we couldn't understand, I'm so glad we were in a group tour and didn't have to try to find our train. As it was it started pouring with rain, then when it was time to go to the train we had to cross over half a dozen tracks and go around the end of the train, then find our carriages. We saw a couple of girls miss their train, it would have been a nightmare if we had had to find it ourselves. With language barrier, the 100's and 100's of people and trains everywhere, how would you find the right train.

Well we settled into our carriage, 4 people to a berth, HARD as mattresses where we would overnight before arriving at Lao Cai in the morning. Not too much sleeping for some of us. Others had sleeping pills and slept the whole night.

Getting off the train in Lao Cai

Our first glimpse of the bikes, so that's what they look like, Hmm, which one is mine

Arrived at Lao Cai and were met by our van driver with all our bags that we hadn't seen since before we went to Halong Bay. It was time to get into our riding gear, then have breakfast in the restaurant where we could get changed. Our bikes were brought down off the train by the crew that were to come with us. The bikes were allocated to us, some had shorter some had taller bikes, think the only difference actually was the thickness of the seat padding.

First it was a spin around the car park, see if we could handle our bikes, that's mine there with NO rider on it. I have been for a spin and needed to take some photos.

"Russian Minsks are perfect for small single tracks far up in the mountains where no one has been to before. They are tough, light and robust motorbikes, with more than enough power to get you up any track, especially now that we have modified them with strong 4-stroke honda engines." (a description of our bikes).

It is now Tuesday 8 November 2011
Our first ride will be from Lao Cai to Bac Ha, 150km, looping up close to the Chinese border. We had been given instructions on how to ride our bikes in Vietnam and it was re-iterated again. We were to have a lead rider, he stays out front, no passing him, and Mike and Angela will be at the tail end. We can stop to take photos and ride at our own speed.

When we come to an intersection where we will change direction, the rider immediately behind the lead rider will stop at the turn off and wait till all of the group had gone through to direct them in the new direction, and wait for tail end charlie, thats Mike and Angela. They are on a 650 Ural.

Well, time to set off, first stop, China, well not actually in China, tha'st it there just across the river. China actually bombed Lao Cai in 1979, apparently flattened it, but it had been re-built.

Well Looks like some of us were wise right from the very beginning and put their allocated riding ponchos and leggings on. Some of us, thought well might just wait till it rains.

Well it was off again, down a few main roads, then turned into a winding tar sealed road, Bliss. This is what we came here to do, so much fun. By now it was raining, the rain got heavier and heavier, water was pouring off my riding pants into my boots, squelching, starting to fill up my boots, don't want to stop, it is too much fun. Well another turn, It was my turn to do corner-man duty, had to stop, so was time to put on the Rain Poncho and leggins, already wet, never mind,it is still warm

Stopped and got our first taste of Vietnamese coffee at our lunch stop.
Strong black stuff that drips slowly into the cup from hot water poured from a thermos flask, drips slowly andit is cold by the time you drink it, then you put in condensed milk. Makes it a bit more palletable, if you need to drink coffee. It was our first picnic lunch that Angela and Hai prepared for us. Salads, meats, cheeses etc in baguettes

It was also time to add some extra clothes as we were riding high in the mountains and it was getting pretty cold. Didn't expect that.

Look at those mountains

The ethnic people in this area are called flower H,mong I think because of their brightly coloured dress. Even in the rain they had a smile and a wave as we went by.

Life goes on for these people, rain hail or shine. Later in the day we came to a junction where the van would be going one way and we had the choice of following it or going by another more adventurous route. No more tar seal for us now. It turned into a running, wet slippery bog. What fun. There were a few fall off's, one went over the side of the track. But she was ok, came up smiling and asking, "did you get that" on film, which I had. Got photos and video footage of it.

Winding our way up mountain passes into the mists and down again, passing villages and people going about their business as usual. Children playing beside the road, or also working, carrying machetes or loads of wood home. Really small chiuldren carrying machete's.

The day ended at Sao Mai Hotel at Bac Ha. a 2 star hotel with its own restaurant where we had dinner and breakfast the next morning. First job was to hose all the mud off our boots and pants before entering the hotel. Most of our rooms were about 4 floors up and had to carry our bags up the stairs. Why is my bag so heavy. It was drinks in one of the rooms with some of the rest of the group, before dinner, so had to get some coke from the receptionists to go with the rum that we had bought in the market in Hanoi.