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[dapinky]

If I had a problem in my life, I'm pretty sure that many (if not most, or even all) on this site would hapily pay for a cup of coffee or a pint of beer whilst you hear my sob story.... after all, it's a natural human reaction.

Well, the good news is - I don't currently have such a problem - but others do....

I could give you the full story here, but if I do that, then there's no further incentive to click the link to my 'just giving' page, unless you are going to donate a pound or two to a great cause which many of us support....

....now, if you want to know the full story (and I'm hoping that natural curiosity will assist me here), click on www.justgiving.com/Dave-Pink# and read the story behind it all - and whilst you're there - pledge as much or as little as you wish.... after all, you'd probably have bought me that cup of coffee if it had been me........


...and if you want to blame anyone for all this - It's all Clemos' fault!!!!

[wayne]

Dave

Happy to make a donation for a worthy cause like this. I hope that you will be taking a camera along and we want to see you both
fit as many things on the back / front / hanging off the sides of the bike as the locals can

I'm afraid that I am not willing to sign up on the web site. But if you give me your bank details / PayPal address.
I will send something along for an offline donation. (prefer bank transfer but as usual I'm having a few problems with my bank
So may have to resort to PayPal.

[alan e]

42 of us are happy to pay £10 for something to save the hood stowage cover getting damage i know i was how about doing the same for something that may save your prostate or your life (men only).
Dave i will buy you that coffee or a beer when we meet but please no sop story the best of luck on 2 wheels.

Alan

PS money sent

[tigerdog]

It was crazy when the Top Gear guys did it. It's insane to do this without the knowledge that a helpful camera crew are following you in case you become truly whacked in some way. Stories must absolutely be shared when you return, sir!

[inkitin]

It was crazy when the Top Gear guys did it.

BBC Top Gear might just be interested in hearing about such a crazy "copycat" trip! with maybe a small mention about it in the next series?

[Jeemy]

Well it says I got 25% extra on out of my CG tax. But I don't show yet. Donation made, hopefully it will affect the total soon. Just a public thanks for all the help and patience.

As I said briefly on the donation, there is no other place I could have found a professional Lotus Elan expert to help me make my car. Before the internet, it wouldn't have been possible at all without some serious contacts. Dave's not the only one, the real world value of the advice I've had here is into 4 figures. A wee donation is nothing in the great scheme of things and I think I've taken it well over 50% when my payment registers; hopefully others will do the same.

The fact a complete amateur like me can actually work on a pro sports cars' suspension, brakes etc without killing myself is completely down to forums like LEC. And what if I actually contracted prostate cancer?!

Cheers Dave, I hope it helps.

Jx

[epipete]

Future 'Top Gear' transmissions will be caveated with the instruction 'Don't do this at home (or abroad)'; hitherto the producers thought their audience had more sense - this expedition proves them wrong; however, certainly in this instance, their audience is not short of any generosity of spirit!

Good luck Dave, I'll cede a small token from my meager pension soonest

[dapinky]

As this this time next week I'll be sipping a cheap beer in a roadside bar in downtown Saigon, contemplating the age-old question "Why did this seem like a good idea when Clemo first mentioned it?" whilst looking at my moped which will be my sole (hopefully!) means of transport for the next 2 weeks...

...it seems like a good time to bump this thread

For those with Faecesbook access, the whole trip can be followed (in real time) on this page.

...there will probably be numerous 'tweets' such as "I'm spluttering a bit on these hills!" "Which pub are you in?" & "How far is the next train station?", along with many pictures uploaded as we make our way upcountry.

It'd be great to get to Hanoi without the bike giving up, but my first aim is to beat the US army and get north of Nha Trang!

Due to the number of donations received, I am going to run a small competition with an even smaller prize (yet to be obtained, but will no doubt have a 'Made in Vietnam' label on it)....

...to enter, simply make a donation of any size.

I will divide the total trip milage by the 'pounds donated' and alocate a pro-rata portion of the trip to each 'sponsor' (decided by lucky dip with names drawn at random)...

...whoever 'owns' the portion of the trip where my bike blows up (irretrevably!) will win the prize - simples!

Should there be a situation where I actually arrive in Hanoi, then the prize will go to whoever owned the bit of road where:-

1) I first fell off
2) I first broke down
3) My bike gets resprayed from Yellow to Pink

The last one is a bit of a foregone conclusion really - I've asked for a bike in NMY (the supplier has sent us a selection of paint colours he can spray them for us!), but notice that there are a couple of nice shades of 'Pale red' on the list, and Mrs P has been in email conversations with Clemo (since we found out about this option of a colour choice) and won't tell me what it's about

So, for those who haven't yet done so, I commend the link in my signature which will take you to my just giving page...

...for those who have expressed a wish to donate other than on that site, then I will take money from you by PayPal (d4pinky - AT - gmail - DOT - com OR dapinky@ukonline.co.uk), or by Bank Transfer...

Lloyds Bank
Mr D A Pink
77-50-10
13580968

[dapinky]

Last 'bump' before i go tomorrow.....

...it's never too late to add a few quid.

(Rob, I got your donation to my bank account - thank you, I'll transfer it to the charity when i get back)

[inkitin]

Good luck Dave and keep safe.

[wayne]

payment sent

Enjoy the trip. Don't forget to send pics of what you can carry on the back of the bike.... 20 chickens and 8 pigs or the entire family seem to be normal.

Looking forward to your updates

Dave. If you make it to Hanoi. Make sure you take the time to do a cruise in Haylong Bay... It is wonderful...

[dapinky]

Thanks Wayne,

I found it in my PayPal account!

Ah, well - last cup of tea before heading to the airport.......

...this could get messy/interesting/fun (at various times through the trip) - but I don't expect it to be boring (well, maybe for those I tell all about it, but not for us!).

[HJ2]

Bon Voyage!

[Fredjohn]

Dave
Payment sent.
Hope everything goes well for you: keep us all informed and up to date if you can..........here or Facebook???

Have fun

John

[daveiow]

Dave
Donation sent-have a great time but remember the Hangover movies!
daveiow

[DaveB]

Best wishes... have a good journey





... oh you've gone!!

Best wishes... have a good journey

[dapinky]

Hot, sweatty and tired. Picked up our bikes yesterday........ To call it a shed is an injustice to sheds.pics to follow, but for now, everything is going on Facebook.

[dapinky]

Home again now...... some good bits, and some bad bits to report.....

Had a great time, the bike fell apart a few times (bits falling off, etc) but made it all the way.....

.....unfortunately, it arrived at Hanoi with a new custodian - i gave it to another guy whose bike had broken down irretrievably (within our timescale), as I was in no position to do any more riding.......


........ slight mishap on some loose gravel meant that my shoulder dislocated (it went back in after 12-15 minutes, is a fairly regular occurrance, and caused not too much inconvenience), but of a tad more concern was my right foot facing 90 degrees away from forward ... pulled it back to the right place with a bit of a crunchy noise....

Once we got to the next major town (it's all comparative!) for the night I took my boot off and decided i'd better call a doctor....

..... a few x-rays later and it confirmed what I thought at the time - broken tibia & fibula

Had to take train to Hoi An, then spend a week at the beach, then fly Danang to Hanoi to come home.

Got to see the Ortho Consultant on Friday to check that everything is properly alligned and get it properly cast (couldn't fly with a full cast so have had a posterior splint and bandages for the last 10 days - and a set of crutches designed for a Vietnamese giant, so are about a foot short for an average (6'+) Western guy!!!)

Apart from that, i returned unscathed!

...still, there's always next years' trip to look forward to - luckily for me, Angie said I could only go I there was a good doctor on hand, and Clemo has nearly convinced Doug to have a week on the Ho Chi Minh trail - so if he brings his 'toolkit' I'll be okay

Loads of pictures, but can't seem to upload any at the moment

[Fredjohn]

Dave
Very sorry to hear of your accident hope you recover quickly. But very glad it wasn't more serious. Having spent a fair amount of time in countries outside Europe I have seen how dodgy 2 wheel driving can be!

Mind you toe and heeling would have been easy!!

Well done anyway, even if you didn't quite make it.

Best regards
John

[dapinky]

John,

The riding wasn't the problem - it was when the road ended, we went for a walk and were on a steep gravel path looking at the scenery.....

...turned round and fell over!

I did make it (but not by bike all the way), so it's sort-off done