Day 18: Final ride, last day with group.

Thursday, 11/7/2024

Woke up at 6:00am as usual, but very tired this morning for some reason.  Took a shower to wake up, then got dressed and packed things up.

I did some online updates and then went down for breakfast at 7:00am.  Much less crowded today.

Many of the group had already finished breakfast and left, so I sat on my own, though Mark did join me for a bit, then I went back to the room.

I did the final pack, geared up and checked over the room.  Took the bag downstairs and put it in the pile for the truck, checked out and paid my laundry bill, which was about $20 for all the clothes and the riding pants and jacket.

Went across the street to the garage and got stuff setup on the bike and pulled out the rain gear as it was already raining this morning.  I will just wear jacket today, predictions were for light rain, so will risk not wearing the rain pants.

I then returned to the lobby to use the restroom and then went back over to the garage and moved the bike outside where I sat on it and waited.

We pulled out just before 8:00am and rode southward to get out of town.

Was a lot of city street driving as this is a large populated area here, and once out of the city, it was a series of small villages, one right next to the other, with very little open space between them.

We reached a large area of cemeteries where the people construct these massive, temple like burial structures that can cost up to $100,000.

They typically just contain the person and perhaps a spouse, though some will have burials for many family members.

The places are very elaborate and ornately decorated and painted.  Amazing artistry, though seems like a massive waste of money to me personally.

I did a few photos of some nearby structures, then a few of us rode the bikes back into the narrow lanes where we did 360 video footage surrounded by these tombs.  Be interesting to see how that turns out.

Detail of one of the structures

Large plot with structure built within.

We then regrouped and got back on the road, without the rain gear as that had stopped and sun was shining now.

A short distance later we stopped for our morning break to get drinks and rest for a bit, then back on the bikes.

Break stop at small café.

 We crossed a bridge over the entrance to a large bay as we moved into an area of smaller hills.

Stopped on the bridge for a few photos.

View of the mountains we are heading into next.

This was a fun section to ride once we got past a few slow moving cars.

We turned onto a highway with a 0.5km (almost 1/4 mile) tunnel we had to pass through right away.

We entered the tunnel in sunshine and came out into a rain storm.   We all pulled over and quickly donned our rain gear again.  We then rode another 1km (about ½ mile) to a turn off onto a country lane and where the rain stopped and the sun returned.

We should have just kept riding; probably gotten less wet than standing around trying to put on rain gear.

Short stop after getting back out of the rain.

We rode onward, making a few stops now and then for breaks or to take photos, and then headed along the coast for awhile.

We stopped briefly along the water front in a small town at the base of another mountain ridge, then hit the narrow road going up the mountain alongside the railroad to reach the pass.

View over the bay along town.

Heading up the hill along the coast.

Riding up the hill. (Photo by Jerry?)

Here we stopped at a small business area on the pass where we could get drinks and rest for a bit.

Break area at the pass.

View from the shop we had our drinks right on the cliff edge (looking toward Danang)

There was also a large fort like structure at the top where you could get some nice views over both sides of the ridge, looking back at Hue and onward to Danang.  I hiked up to do that.

Fort like structure on the pass.

Inside the structure, some nice view points here as well.

Once done, we started down the other side, but half way down it again started to rain.  We had to pull over to side of road and put on rain gear again, as we had removed it at the earlier stop.

The road down (taken from the pass).

Views going down the hill before the rain started.

We then continued down into the edge of Danang.  Once there the rain slacked off, but still a few sprinkles until we got farther into town.

Coming into Danang city along the coast.

Crossing the Han River in Danang.

Here we were again riding in city traffic, though mostly on good, wide 2 lane roads, and moving at a very quick pace for some reason.  We did make a few stops to view the fishing boat fleet and a beach area, but they were short stops both times.

Fishing boat fleet.

Stop at ocean facing beach with Danang in distance.

Beach stop for a short break and photos.

We eventually reached the restaurant in Hoi An we would have lunch, but also where we would part ways with the motorbikes.

We removed all our gear from the bikes and left them to the crew of the truck that would load them up for the drive back to Hanoi.  The truck was already waiting, which explains the rapid pace we had been keeping to get there as soon as we could.

Goodbye bike, you were a great ride the last 2 weeks.

We walked over a few buildings to the restaurant and sat down for lunch.  This was a seafood place, which was good, but still too much of the same food we were tired of.

Lunch stop at local seafood place.

When done, taxi’s were called to take us the rest of the way into Hoi An to the hotel for the night.  It was only a short distance away, so a quick trip.

We pulled up and got out of the taxi’s.

We retrieved our bags, which were being unloaded from the truck, as it was leaving almost immediately for the drive back to Hanoi.  A few of the group also picked up the bags they had left in Hanoi that had been shipped to the hotel here in Hoi An.

We checked in at registration and received our keys, and left our bags with the staff to have them delivered to the rooms.

I inquired if they had gotten Tan’s request to book me a 2nd night, that I would pay for outside of the tour.  Tan had offered to contact them the day before to assist me with this.  They did get the information and confirmed with me that I will stay here 2 nights.

I found my room, which was very nice, and my bag was delivered shortly after by the bell staff.

My room block at the Vinh Hung Riverside Resort & Spa - Hoi An.

My 2nd floor room.

Did my partial unpack I always do and also cleaned much of the gear.  I hung the riding gear up to dry and laid out the tank bag and straps to dry off.  My boots were only thing very wet, but hopefully they will dry before I have to pack them up in the bag for my solo travels.

I Showered and dressed and then sorted things a bit so I could start repacking the bags now that the ride was over and I would be going back to 2 bags.

I then went down at 4:00pm to the little market they hold on the hotel grounds every day (weather permitting) where they prepare some local food dishes that are free to sample.

There were a few tables with some people cooking on simple stoves, so I took a few samples of some things I had not yet seen or tried before.

Then I sat at the little bar nearby, ordered a Coke, and had my snack, though it was enough food it could probably be a meal if you wanted it to be.  I talked with some of the others doing the same and took a few photos of the resort grounds.

View from the bar area, resort sits right on the river.

I then went down the street with Joe, Tammy, and Pierre to check out the street market that was getting setup a block away.

Each night they close the street and all the vendors setup shop selling pretty much anything you can think of.  Mostly mass-produced junk like other markets, but a few places with more local made items, and a handful of food stands as well.

Not much of interest, but saw a few things I might come back later tonight and check out more closely.

We then returned to the hotel so we could catch our 5:00pm boat ride on the river which was also offered by the hotel each night and we had all been signed up to participate.

Boat at the resort dock for our river cruise.

The boat ride was a slow ride down the river through the edge of the old quarter of Hoi An, then after a big bridge, we turned around and headed back up river.

We mostly just saw the backs of other hotels or residences, an amusement park on the island in the river, some bridges, and lots of other boats, especially around the main dock in town.

We did have the option to buy a little paper "boat" and candle to release on the river near the big bridge. This may have originally had some meaning to it, but was now just a tourist thing I feel.

Tammy did it, but I thought it was really not a good thing as the candle and paper were basically litter in the water now.

Tammy releasing her lighted candle raft.

We returned to the hotel dock and as we were getting off the boat, a long row boat with about a dozen guys rowing came by moving at quick pace as they were all chanting while they rowed.  Cool to see.

Rowers going at full speed.

We now had about 1.5 hours before our farewell dinner that night.

I walked back to the market and checked out those things I saw earlier, and bought a few more cat related things.

I then walked a bit farther to reach the canal which forms the center of the old quarter of the city, which is also a UNESCO site.

Hoi An canal in center of old quarter, bridge over canal.

I returned to the hotel and went to the lobby to book my excursion for the following day over to the ruins of My Son.

I had asked earlier in the day and had been provided with some brochures on that and a few other nearby places of interest.

The My Son tour sounded like a good option.  Mark had also talked about going out there after I had mentioned it, but he decided to just book a car and do the trip on his own instead.

His cost was nearly the same, but I got to make a few extra stops and do additional things that made it a bit better value, plus have the services of a guide while at My Son.

I then asked about where I could find a money exchange place, and the hotel said they could assist me with that.

I exchanged another $200, and was even able to acquire the 2000 Dong note that was the last denomination I was looking for. I had not seen one up to now, so had asked if they had one I could buy.

I now have a complete collection of all normally used denominations for both Vietnam and Laos for my currency collection.

All the denominations for Vietnam and Laos.

I then joined the group out at the bar for a while, and was even able to sell my remaining Laos money to Long, as he would use it on the next tour.  Was not a huge amount, about $15 worth, but saved me the effort of trying to exchange it later, if they even would such a small amount.

When the time came, we walked over to the old quarter to a large local restaurant that was actually several smaller places in one, kind of like a food court, only you still ordered from a menu at the table.

Our final dinner as a group. (Taken by our server on Tan's phone).

I ordered some spring rolls and a banh mi sandwich.

Then most of us walked up by the canal to see the boats and buildings with the lights illuminated.

There were also more vendors setup along the canal in the evening and things are just busier in general.

I made sure to walk by the 300+ year old bridge near the canal and get some photos, though to be honest it was not that impressive.

Old Bridge.  Think too many modern additions around it take away from it.

I then went over to check out a club I had saw online, but it was no longer in business, replaced by a bar that did not look interesting to me.

I walked a bit more to do some photos, then stopped to get some drinks and snacks and returned to the hotel and met up with the rest of the group at the bar.  But I did not stay long, returning to the room to write the journal and relax.

Detail around Hoi An sign.

Hoi An sign at night.

I said my goodbyes to Tan and Long at the bar as they both leave very early in the morning to fly back to Hanoi, so will not see them again.

Pierre, Tammy, Atti, and Jerry also leave tomorrow, but later in the afternoon, so may catch them at breakfast.

Joe and Mark are both staying another night as well, so will see them tomorrow and may bump into Mark at My Son since we both go at the same time, just by different routes.

I will spend the next evening wandering the city again, finding food and perhaps more stuff to buy.

On Saturday morning I will be up early to get the car I have booked to take me to the train station in Danang which is a 45-minute drive.  I will then take the train up the coast to Dong Hoi to continue my solo trip.

Goodnight.