Heavenly Hana, from Aberdeen to Hanoi

Monday, 16th March, I finally roll into Hanoi City. The Vietnam guide book I found on the top a wardrobe in Xam Nua, Laos, with written on the cover, 'Good luck.....you'll need it' seems to have done the trick. It's maps lead my directly to the door of the Little Hanoi Hotel in Hang Ga street in the old quarter. This is where Dominque, a photojournalist from UK, was booked in for next day. We were put in touch by Jack working in the Frontline Club in London after a visit to it's AGM last year. She did a great job in getting sponsoship funding to get over here to cover the Cluster Bomb issue.

Parked the bike nearby and went to find Cuong Motorbike repair shop. Phuc, his brother, said to bring the bike along and it would be ready next day. Picking up the Minsk, 200 meters along Hang Bo Street, the clutch cable broke. Yep, Andy in Luang Prabang said sure the bike would make my Hanoi destination. It did, plus 200 meters. Had that cable given way up in them there Lao mountains, ahhhgggg. Pushing the bike the last few hundred meters I couldn't thank the owner of that guide book enough for their good luck wishes.

Later in the evening I met 'Hana', Hoa Anh Dao, and her friend, another Cuong. Hana I met in the snowdrifts of Aberdeen last year in a hostel, never seen snow before. Learning she came from Hanoi I quickly explained the project and to my amazement her Vietnamese friends were Minsk bikers and could help with everything. She is Media Marketing. And they have done. It is fantastic, opening the doors to alternative bike servicing and the local media. We worked out the project name together. Thanks Hana.

Visiting another Minsk repair shop, Trong's, Hana had arranged for other friends to meet there, having lunch in a 'Quan Bia', beer restaurant, with draught Hanoi beer, stir fried dog and pork shank, local clear corn liquor shots. Along came Dat, short name, short man, big heart, big contact. Dat is a Minsk biker having toured Vietnam extensively and reporter for a group of 4 magazines. Visit his ride report and meet the man. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=418961

Ben from Australia got in touch after meeting someone in a coffee shop in Bangkok. He came specially to Hanoi to be part of the ride. What a guy. He's an old bike racing hand with thirty two trophies to his name and a commitment to ridding the world of the Cluster Bombs. He emailed Steve, an Oz poiltician, to tell him about the project. Welcome to Project Pineapple, Ben.

A fellow guest at the Hotel, Aussie Luke, a computer engineer, got hold of my hand drawn logo and put some smart touches to it maintaining the initial concept. Thanks Luke, great job.

My Minsk sorted by first fix: fork seals, boots, chain guard, levers, cables, wheel bearings, brake light switches, air filter. Dat took us to Trong's for second fix: rubber seal for carb to filter, refit foot brake, adust speedo dial, grab spare headlight bulb and spark plug. Set.

Down to Lao Emabassy to submit visa application as returning to Vientiane Cluster Convention early April, Cambodia Embassy for eventual tour of NE Cambodia, end of Ho Chi Minh trail. Ha Trang, the street of bag and zip repair, saw my saddle bags clips and rucksack sorted.

19th March, 'official' start of Project Pineapple, saw a meeting in an Hang Trong Street coffee lounge with Dat's and Hana's friends who were interested in helping with the project's planning of places to visit around Hanoi and the route south.

It was decided to postpone the actual riding departure until the weekend when the local guys and gals have free time for a couple of days to visit relevent sites and start on the road of the Ho Chi Minh trail.