2024 - Vietnam by e-Bike

21(Bne) - 35 (Sin) - 37 (HCMC) deg C Greg slept well, Wendy not as good. We were up just after 5am and left at 6:30am for Andrew’s Airport Parking. We were at the airport at 7am and then the fun began. They have automated all check-in counters except one. And every third kiosk is out of order so you can’t print your boarding pass nor baggage ticket, so you have to line up for assistance from the one and only check-in chick!!! Not sure if this is for all airlines, but QANTAS need to pick up their game and make sure all kiosks and baggage drop belts actually work.  We made our way through security and immigration and found the QC. This lounge has deteriorated somewhat over the years, despite being renovated not long ago. The four of us that were flying Business were able to get the other three in as guests, but we were still missing one; Gunther decided to fly Singapore Airlines. We boarded 30 minutes late, and took off an hour late. A rather underwhelming flight really. Wendy watche...

16-26 degC We were up at 5am just because we were awake. By 7:30am all our pre-departure jobs had been completed and we were ready to leave. However we but had arranged an ETD of 10am with the others and didn’t want to muck them around so we just sat down and relaxed. But Glen and Carmel were also running ahead of schedule and arrived just after 9am.  When Wendy looked at Google Maps, she saw that Sue, Mark and Gunther were already on the road. So, we did a quick change of clothes, did a final pack and were on the road before 9:30am. Our first drive on the new Gympie bypass and it was great; pity about other bits of the highway that are not so good, and they’ve now reduced the speed to 80 on a section that was previously 100. Not sure why.  Eventually it will all be 110, but maybe not in our lifetime. We stopped at Glass House Mountain rest stop for lunch about midday.  We arrived at our accommodation for the night, Airway Motel, about 1:15pm and reception was closed - ch...

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Hanoi by e-bike 30 Oct - 23 Nov 2024 Greg attempted to complete a similar tour in Feb 2023 with Mr Biker (a Vietnamese company), however, came down with a very nasty case of COVID, then bronchitis, so only managed to ride halfway. Not sure who suggested we do it again, but here we go. We chose our usual Indochina/Asia cycle touring company - Cambodia Cycling, as Mr Biker did nothing to help Greg when he got sick. We out the info out to our local BUG and to our surprise five of them said, “yes please.” So, Sue & Mark, Glen & Carmel, and Gunther from Howard, Bob from Canberra, and two unknown ring-ins from Europe will make 10 riders; we hope the Europeans don't bring any nasty bugs with them. From the Cambodia Cycling website: VIETNAM CYCLING TOUR SAIGON TO HANOI 17 DAYS / 16 NIGHTS On this classic Vietnam Cycling Tour, you will develop a deep appreciation for this fascinating country and experience some biking. During this biking trip in Vietnam,...