Hanoi, Vietnam: prep for motorbike trip to NW

About there months ago, I read the Author’s Profile in the beginning of the Lonely Planet book. One of the authors wrote about his “favorite trip” up to the far northwest of Vietnam. He took a motorbike on a massive trip over 1000 km through the high mountains, meeting tribes of villagers and having the greatest adventure of his life. At that moment I made up my mind to do a similar trip.
I managed to find the right bike to set out on. It’s a Yamaha, 2-stroke, 175 cc motorbike. Now I need to find a warm jacket. It’s COLD here and colder in the mountains. Gloves, hat, rain cover the whole rig.
With much trepidation I have planned this trip as a solo venture. Of course, once here I’m hearing stories about people who do this thing solo all the time. I’m amped and ready for the challenges that the road and trail bring. Finding these tribes could prove to be quite a challenge, but one I’m really up for. Lots of hiking and getting lost on trails and the road are surely in my near future. This is it, the apex of my adventures on this trip!

Leaving tomorrow, if all goes well today procuring various things I need. I’ll be riding with a spare tire and some tools for working on the bike, should it break down. I’ll have a single change of clothes and, of course, the camera gear.

Massive vistas from towering mountain passes. Mud slides. Mechanical failures. Days and days alone. It’s all coming.

Right now, all limbs and faculties are working. I just hope that when I come back to Hanoi I can say the same. I’ll be as safe as I can be! This is IT!!!

I’ll post if it’s available to me, but likely I’ll just post a massive one on return.
Best,
-Z

This entry was posted on January 20, 2007 at 10:46 pm and is filed under Motorbiking Vietnam, SE Asia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

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