Setting off from Ban Bac Ha I headed again towards Laos. This time to the Ba Ne Mae crossing where I knew a couple had got through just a few weeks before. It is about 60km and is again quite mountainous.
As I approached the border my stomach was doing loops with anticipation, but I need not have worried as I was there less than twenty minutes. Yes, another refusal. Apparently the only way to get in is with a letter of invite through a travel agent. How my research failed to pick that up, I have no clue.
So that was it, 60km back to the days starting point. However, it’s not all bad, as the Vietnamese make you feel welcome even if you are just passing through. People called out and waved, other riders waved and cheered. Its just a nice place to be, even if your visa is running out
I made it back through the mountains but now Lilly was having more problems. Firstly the clutch started slipping and then there was a ‘ping’. At first I wasn’t quite sure what it was but then I saw the speedo was no longer working.
The riding was good and all I knew was, that I needed to head South and make a decision on what next. At about 5.30pm the sun was setting and I found myself in Ngoc Khe, looking at a new hotel that was offering 60% off. That’ll do.
Earth, Wind and Tyres 