back from Canada!

I've been in Canada for work for the last two weeks, and relatively cut off from the world. I had five days off when I returned home, and as luck would have it, the weather in Chicago was unreal- 85 degrees and sunny for four out of the five. I spent the weekend catching up with friends and helping Serra, my future sister-in-law, prepare for her upcoming wedding. 

Energized by our standard Saturday breakfast trifecta of mimosas, chicory coffee, and banana pancakes, we cranked out Serra's remaining save the dates in no time.

Wedding anxiety struck as we were shopping for craft supplies, so I bought Serra a sequined bride crown which she rocked for the rest of the day. We also picked up a pair of retractable lightsabers to relieve any future wedding stress.

Adam whipped up some smoky mezcal margeritas for us, using our new favorite recipe from Rick Bayless. To make these at home, mix 1 ounce Mezcal, 1/2 ounce Don Pedro brandy, 1 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice, 3/4 ounce simple syrup, and 3 dashes Peychaud's Bitters. Rim the glass with some coarse sea salt, and get ready to make more. They go fast!

We spent the rest of the afternoon working on any motorcycles that weren't running after the winter. Jerry's Yamaha V-Star was first up.

My Triumph Scrambler, Adam's Ducati GT1000, and Mark's Triumph Speed Triple were running just fine!

This '73 Honda Scrambler was my first bike. Its a wee little 175, and I've had it for six years now. After a new front tire and a new battery, we were spinning around the block on it like it was new! 

I love this little bike like crazy, and its the only motorcycle I own that doesn't require standing on tiptoe!

riding above the clouds

 We started our morning with a muddy ride through a tea tree farm, and after a few minutes, we noticed a heroin needle on the ground. The more we looked around, the more we noticed- there were piles upon piles of needles stuck into the mud. The guide explained there was a huge heroin problem in this area, and the hilly trails provided heroin users with a secluded area to shoot up. 

 For the rest of the day, we rode up a series of mountains, never taking a single downhill path. For most of the time, we found ourselves riding through clouds.

 As we rounded a bend in the road, we broke above the clouds and felt the warmth of the sun for the first time in Vietnam. We then watched as the clouds rose further and enveloped the road we had just traveled.

 Even with limited visibility, the view was breathtaking.

 We soon reached Sa Pa, a large town nestled in the mountain and our stopping place for the evening. The clouds drifting through the town created an eerie atmosphere.

 The next morning, we went for a hike to the highest point of the mountain. The sun came out, the clouds settled below the town, and for the first time, we could see the entire landscape.

 Sunburned and relaxed, we drove down the mountain from Sa Pa to Lao Cai, where we boarded an overnight train back to Hanoi. We arrived in Hanoi at 5 am to find the station soaked from the evening's rain.

neon villages, fog forests

The neon accents of Vietnamese villagers provided a stunning contrast to the dirty streets and foggy atmosphere. We would follow the road through misty jungles for miles, and turn a corner to find ourselves in a vibrant, bustling village. The combination was completely surreal.

on the road

New Years in Hanoi, and our first day of riding

 Picking up gear at the Explore Indochina offices

New Years in Hanoi

Motorcycle part heaven

My Russian Minsk

Not a bad place for a lunch break, huh?

For our first night on the road, we stayed at with a Thai family in an amazing stilt house. Aside from getting bit by a dog, it was a great experience!

Fabric scrap balls in a local market

Stunning colors on some vietnamese embroidery