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After waiting around picking my nose far to long at this mechanics house. Eating slimy dumplings and loads of rice and fish. I hit the road off to Vinh Moc tunnels. Apon arrival I wondered about for quite a while trying to figure where the hell I can enter the tunnels. I had seen all the entrances but they were all pitch black.. I had no torch. Ended up finding some dude wondering about to put the lights on for me.

The tunnel system was alot larger than I thought. It's darn hot down in there and I got way lost.. At one point I thought I would have to climb the bank at one of the sea front exits to get back. I enjoyed that so missioning about being the only one in there.

Woke up a bit groggy after the night out with Hue's chief of police. Munched down a chicken burger as would be the last for a while. Pottered about with the crazy kids laughing at the night before's antics.. Let's just say Jackson had a Vietnames group get a free show.

Before to long they were off to the beach, I did a few odds and ends with the cameras. Once I had sorted that all out I was off headed to see the Vinh Moc tunnels and DMZ sights. A little hung over bit happy to be moving on again.

The next day I got up around 8 am and was told by the cleaning staff check out was at 9. A bit strange as that's only hotel iv been at that's been so early. Leaving there was a discrepancy with the bill they wanted to charge us extra for Jackson. We argued that right after a while. The raided goods also found their way on to the bill.

We wondered over to Tam place, she offered to take us to a waterfall in the hills for the day. It took a while to get everything sorted, Jacksons bike was having issues and my stand had been broken by Billy. Those fixed we road up into the hills outa Da Nang.

The next day in Da Nang only surfaced at 2 pm, took a stroll to Tams place. Billy was allready there listening to some more stories. Felt a little jelous that I had missed out on a few. Had a awsome burger and smoothy. Some of the best food I've had in Vietnam.

Second day in Hue got up and hit some of the sights in town. The citadel, tombs and the famous pegoda where a monk lit him self on fire out side in protest. That photo that was taken of the event was really moving. The guy got out his car sat in the lotus position and struck a match. In the photo of the massive fire ball surounding him you can see he is calm. Wow! Then the government responded with 'let them burn'.

Jumped on the bike in the morning to do some exploring of Lang Co. Zipped around the town, got down to the beach for a squizz. Nothing to grand but suppose it's just had a typhoon blow through. Then wondered down high way 1, got flagged down at the toll booth and told to take another road no moto here. So off I went and vwola I found top gear corner. It was a grand view with the bridge, island like town and fishing boats.

Spent most of the day down at the beach reading the last few pages of shantaram. As well burning parts that have not seen the sun for 20 years. I was the only sole on that strip of sand that streched for miles. That evening took a ride back up to the view of the town from the end of the mountain pass.

Next day we were back to our cheery selves, except that this would be our last day together. Had a list of a few things we wanted to do. The ride to Vinh where Claudia would catch her train was rough again in that wind. We were a bit damp from the ride in, we stopped for some coffee at the first chance we got. Vietnames coffee is basically an espresso with condense milk, it's wonderfully strong stuff.

I booked in the hotel across the road not wanting to waist time looking for one at 180 000 dong. Unpacked the bike and headed out to find some western food (as this was a large town). Cruising the streets, we passed a ice cream shop. Yip they sold the ones we were after, oh so good! More riding about the rain starting to poor now, we ducked into a coffee shop.

Waking up in the loony bin house did not change reality. They were still as whacked as every hacking up laughs and grinning through evil teeth. Decided to leave quite early as we were not to comfy with this lot. So did the morning pack, dunno how but you always end up emptying the bags allover the show. Ready to strap everything to the bike. When I notice the rear wheel is soft and going flat. Jeez another thing gone wrong on the bike now. The thought crossed my mind someone had tampered with it, but off I wizzed to get it fixed.

Felt bad leaving Claudia with that lot, but I could not put extra weight on that wheel else I'd need a new tyre as well. So a few km's away from the city and far from anything that looks like a bike shop. None the less I head off randomly picking a direction. Was not to long when I spot something outa the corner of my eye. The tyre by now is totally flat and I can feel the wheel squirming on the rim.

In the morning before we set off I still had to figure out why the bike was cutting out at low revs. So ran up and down the coastal road with it. It seemed to be better this morning but still cut out on me a few times. But it was able to go slow and with the throttle wide open. So strapped all the luggage on the bike large back pack, medium back pack, day pack and camera bag and Claudia. Yip definatly got the Vietnames look down.

All abord we headed outa Sam Son, but the bike got worse now it would not idle or keep running at low revs. So decide to have it looked at. Stoped out side what I thought was a mechanic shop. After my heightened Vietnames being flung around me, we now had a crowed gathering. A dude appeared outa nowhere speaking some English. Explaining that I wanted a new spark plug and cover that had fallen off. He dissappeared to return with the news it's possible but was expensive. So I played hoo and hum game, we then road off to a mechanic. He had a look and said all was fine, god damit I'm riding this thing with the choke off it don't run mate! Anyhow jumped back on and headed outa town, now I just jamed the choke on.

The beaches were supposed to be pretty good here. But it was littered with debris and trash and the sea was brown. Coming into town the bike changed it's note suddenly and was cutting out. I had filled up with fuel, which I first thought it might be. 

But we found a hotel at a decent price an pulled in all to quick. Strange how far we were from any western tourists.. Must be the bad beach. But we had some good sea food that night that stayed down.