Tracey from Wide Eyed Tours has written a fantastic blog about the great success of our Motorcycle tour in Vietnam last May. It was such a popular trip the we have hosting a reunion tour this April with most of the same crew…. Have a read!
Back in May 2011 a group of Aussies converged on Hanoi to tackle the mountains north of Hanoi by motorbike…….or should we say scooter. Their travel agent, Meghann Fallon of Go Explore The World, is not your average agent. She pulled on the leathers and joined the tour making sure everyone had a blast.
This was a journey full of laughs, superb scenery, a few flat tyres and many sore bums. Meghann set the trend by buying a pillow to strap on to her bike seat, somewhat relieving the pressure on the rear end.
Travis led the tour both on and off the road. Managed to lead Paul astray one night in the bar and paid for it dearly the next day. A tough day of riding on a road under repair is challenging at the best of times, but with a thumping head and bleary eyes……mmmmm
This group photo was taken at a lookout with fabulously dramatic scenery. One could be accused of thinking we were in a studio with a fake picture behind us.
Here is Travis modelling the latest in fluoro vests standing next to Tracey the WET Operations Manager, Duc our mechanic, Milney the yogi biker and our fabulous travel agent, Meghann.
It was hard to choose which day of riding was the best, but with this stunning view it is hard to go past this day. Sweeping bends, cliff hugging roads, sheer drops, cheerful children popping up everywhere and bright sunny days made for an unforgettable day.
The amazing thing about riding up north of Hanoi is that the scenery is like no other part of Vietnam. At times we felt we were in the mountains of Pakistan with the rocky plateau which was dotted with colourfully dressed minority people toiling away at the unforgiving soil. They sure have a hard life up there trying to grow crops between a bunch of rocks.
When we got to the markets it was nice to see the locals girls having a break from all the hard work and shopping together, having a laugh and wearing their sunday bests.
They walk for miles and miles to spend the day at the monthly markets. So much gossip to catch up on and new clothes to buy. The boys and girls are flirting, the men are busy throwing back rice wines and the old ladies are bickering over prices.
All that riding, enjoying the scenery, getting a sore bum and meeting the locals sure makes you thirsty. Lucky we stayed in an oasis at the midway point of the tour so we could kick back, get a massage and cultivate a hangover.
This glorious little resort is nestled at the base of a mountain across a swing bridge where the river babbles by creating a scene of peace and beauty.
Here is Travis and Big Tone. As you can see we really were riding scooters but these little bikes are stronger than you think. Check out these two heffer lumps on one.
We all had such a blast that at the end of the tour we decided to do it all again with a reunion tour in May 2012. This time we will go from Hanoi to central Vietnam on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
In January 2012 Tracey was back in Australia visiting family and spending some time with Meghann. So we got some of the crew back together for a reunion drink and to rope some newcomers in for the reunion ride.
Here at the Langwarrin Pub is Mark, Cat, Lawrie, Darren, Paul, Tracey, Milney & Meghann.
Stay tuned for a blog of the reunion bike tour…….
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