Pinhole Perspektiv

The countdown has begun. In only 6 days time my father, Steve (The Don) and myself will be collecting our two Belorussian Minsk 125cc Motorbikes in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, and start heading off into the mountains and mist to seek adventure and the bonding experience of a lifetime.

First, some background to the trip.

With each of my two older brothers, when they reached the ages of 16 or so would go on a bonding experience alone with my dad. Simon climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, whilst Kevin climbed to the base camp of Mt. Everest. Due to circumstances I could not go on a trip with my dad when I turned 16/17 and so we postponed our experience till we had the time.

Now that my parents are living in Saigon, Vietnam, we have the perfect opportunity to go on an adventure unlike any other. I have a great love for motorbiking and thus decided I’d prefer a bike trip than climbing a mountain with 15kg on my back. So here we are. 6 Days away from a 16 day trip that is as an unknown quantity as the nature of quantum physics!

The Plan:

We will fly into Hanoi on the 29th of December 2009. We will head straight to the rental shop where we have booked two Belorussian Minsks (That’s the bike, not a mail-order bride!) for US$8 a day - bargain!

That lunch time we will head South West out of Hanoi towards the Laos border. We will then proceed North and head in a clockwise direction through the mountains, rice paddies, jungles, bamboo forests, mist and rain. We will then head south, back past Hanoi and link up onto the old Ho Chi Minh Trail road where we will continue until we reach the old citadel of Hue about half way down the country. From Hue, we will ride the epic Hai Van Pass - an amazing Coastal Mountain pass with breathtaking views. This will take us to our final destination of the coastal town of Da Nang where will hopefully arrive on the 14th of January.

You’re probably wondering how much research and planning we’ve done. Good question. Well, I watched a Top Gear Vietnam Special episode a couple of times. And then we got a map and plotted the route - with an average of 250-300km a day of riding. We’ve never been to these places before, don’t know how long it will take to get there or what roads to take. We will stop when we are tired or it gets dark and press on the next day, in the general direction that we are aiming for. Other than that - its quantum physics = who knows?!

The route will be posted up after this.

The Bike:

If you are going to be doing something memorable like this, you have to do it in style. The Minsk to Vietnam is like Football to Brazil, the Chevy to America and the AK-47 to the Taliban. Its an integral part of the culture.

The Minsk

For some info check this link: http://www.minskclubvietnam.com/index.htm

Here is some light literature from the Minsk Club Vietnam on the bike.

“The two stroke, single cylinder Belorussian Minsk is a 125cc dirt bike capable of getting you anywhere in Vietnam. In its manual it says: These motorcycles are especially suitable for service in the country-side with bad or no roads. It’s got a top speed of around 85 kilometers an hour, its tank’s about 11 liters which will get you around 200 – 250 kilometers”

Here is a classic pic of some Taliban guys on a Minsk. Perhaps the Americans should’ve ridden into Baghdad and Kabul on these? Just a thought really!?

This trip on any other bike would still be great, but with the Minsk it will simply be Epic.

Whilst on the trip we won’t have much contact with the outside world, so the updates will all be put up after we return.

Let the adventure begin and the good times roll.

drew
dec 09