Tea + Gingernuts

2011-12-06T20:58:00.000+11:00

1 piece at a time...

2011-11-22T22:59:00.000+11:00

Having trouble with assembly order...

2011-11-08T15:31:00.000+11:00

I got sent this picture today! Frame and parts all blasted ready for paint! It's finally all coming together!

2011-10-26T21:50:00.000+11:00

The finished rotor! (After at least 2 hours behind the drill press!)
Pretty happy for a first try. You can see a few wobbles, but hey, it adds character! Ha

2011-10-26T21:49:00.001+11:00

I drilled my front rotor yesterday. A couple reasons behind that. 1 it helps with cooling. 2 it clears any debris from your break pads and 3 it looks cool haha!
It was as simple as downloading a template and jumping on a drill press!
Although the detail really is in taking your time, as I found out! Not a perfect attempt, but a first attempt!

2011-10-18T22:15:00.000+11:00

Found this dent after I bought the bike. A bit of a set back, but the frames been away this weekend getting straightened out! Getting a bit closer to paint...

2011-10-18T22:14:00.001+11:00

Test fitting my new front brake.

2011-10-18T22:13:00.001+11:00

Starting work on the new charging system...

2011-10-03T20:17:00.001+11:00

Got some mail today!
The first of a bunch off parts I've ordered.
I'm replacing the original single pot, twin caliper set up with a single 4 pot brembo caliper from a modern ducati. Should have ample braking power!
With any luck, I'll be able to send the frame off to paint this week! (Better cross my fingers and toes!)

2011-09-08T17:35:00.000+10:00

Did some tidying up today and organized a few things. Got the blackboard in place to keep check on what's happening (the blanks need to be filled in yet!)

Also sorted out everything that is going to paint! The frames is done, ready for some last min welding and the fork lowers have been pulled apart and cleaned. It felt like a productive day, but I'm still waiting on my electrics tray and seat pan to be finished so I can get the mounts welded and thus enabling everything to go to paint! Not too much longer (I hope...!).

2011-09-03T21:42:00.000+10:00

I took to the forks today. They need to come apart for a few reasons. Firstly the lowers are going to get powder coated black. The springs are going to be replaced with new ones. The seals are going to be replaced and new oil will top it all off.
It took me a few hours and quite a bit of blog reading to get them apart! In the end a simple tool was all that was required, a broomstick of all things! I won't bother explaining! I'm just happy they're apart!

Now to clean them up and get them ready for paint!

2011-09-03T21:37:00.000+10:00

This turned up while I was on holiday! Pretty stoked to have it in the shop. It's a media blasting cabinet if you weren't sure.
Looking forward to cleaning up some parts!

2011-09-03T21:35:00.000+10:00

If you look back a few posts, you'll see the new space I just moved into, empty, waiting to be filled.
Well filled it has been!

2011-08-29T21:52:00.000+10:00

We went to the reef on Thursday. I didn't take any pic with my iPhone, too nervy about dropping it off the boat or getting it salty!
Needless to say it was amazing!

Alas it all had to end and I'm now back in Melbs 'loving' my 9-5!

2011-08-24T18:23:00.000+10:00

Went to the Babinda boulders today. Every 5m was a sign saying not to jump the viewing platform fence as many people have died! The current was pretty swift and after jumping the fence, we could see exactly why it was soo dangerous. Boys will be boys!

2011-08-24T18:16:00.000+10:00

Another swimming hole. If you look closely, you can see a rope in the middle on the right hand side. Needless to say, we climbed it a few times! Pretty good fun!

2011-08-24T18:14:00.000+10:00

2011-08-22T19:39:00.000+10:00

Decided it was time to get out of the city and leave winter behind!
So off to Cairns for a week in the sun!
We went on a wee waterfall circuit today and got in a few swims!
Looking forward to snorkeling at the great barrier reef later this week!
More on that later.

2011-08-03T22:29:00.000+10:00

Got some garage time in today. Managed to get some more grinding done, the center stand mounts came off, as did a few other random smaller mounts. Frame is starting to look a bit tidier now! its just screaming out for some flat black powdercoat now!!

2011-07-27T20:25:00.000+10:00

2011-07-27T20:23:00.000+10:00

Sooo I made a bit of progress yesterday! After Finally moving into the new space I found the time to rip the wheels off! Fork and swing arm came off and last but not least... The engine came out!
I'm well past the point of No return, Which scares me a little! But I just gotta keep moving forward!
With any luck, annnd some hours from me! Ill be able to get the frame off next week to have some tubing bent back, something heavy was dropped on it in it's past life!! Then its off to be stripped and powdered coated flat black! Riiiiight after i finish the electrics tray and a new seat pan....

2011-07-24T21:49:00.001+10:00

Been thinking about paint...

2011-07-22T11:59:00.000+10:00

Going to be moving into a new workshop. Right now it's being cleared out, pretty excited though! It's going to be rad, fixed air lines for compressors and a new media blaster/cabinet thats on order!

2011-07-16T12:44:00.001+10:00

Arts and crafts Friday! Topher would be proud.
I mocked up the new electric tray today, had a quick meeting with my engineer guy and got it sorted pretty quick. Should be getting a stainless version in the coming weeks!
Also, I flagged the new seat. There wasn't a lot of thought put into that, and the result was an I'll fitting out of proportion seat. It'll be back on the bay soon enough! The new plan is a custom built seat. New stainless base with some ply for added strength and upholstered by old mate down the road! This could get spenny...

2011-07-11T20:54:00.000+10:00

Got most of the tabs ground off tonight. Still a few to go but looking a lot better already!

2011-07-11T19:31:00.000+10:00

Getting there... It's slow going!

2011-07-08T15:03:00.002+10:00

Mocking up the new seat i got. its going to need a bit of work and a lot of grinding. I tihnk i will need to cut the rear section of frame aswell...

2011-07-05T10:01:00.000+10:00

So clean...

2011-07-01T17:12:00.000+10:00

Carbs off, wiring harness torn out. Guards off.
I Need to start thinking about grinding off unnecessary tabs and mounts in preparation for a new seat and new paint!

2011-07-01T17:10:00.001+10:00

Instruments are gone!

2011-07-01T17:10:00.000+10:00

Wiring...

2011-06-30T22:20:00.001+10:00

2011-06-30T20:52:00.000+10:00

Started the tear down this week! Pretty exciting!
Im going to get stuck in tomorrow and hopefully get all the electrics out and controls off.
The biggest question now is to powdercoat or not to powdercoat?!

2011-06-20T20:42:00.000+10:00

Bit of planning...

2011-06-05T20:53:00.000+10:00

New winter project. And a new era for my blog!

Home sweet home.

2011-02-01T14:34:00.000+11:00

2011-02-01T14:31:00.000+11:00

Had a massive walk on the Tarmac on our way out of KL in the pouring rain. At least they had umbrellas!

2011-01-30T13:56:00.000+11:00

Juice

2011-01-30T13:54:00.000+11:00

2011-01-30T13:53:00.001+11:00

Did a bit of shopping...

2011-01-30T13:53:00.000+11:00

2011-01-28T12:21:00.000+11:00

Our last night in Vietnam. Meet my friend Carmel from nz who's teaching English there for dinner. She took us to chicken st... A place where as the name suggests every vendor sells chicken! All BBQ'd in honey soy! The best possible way to end such an amazing trip!

Off to kL tomorrow. Can't wait!

2011-01-28T12:17:00.000+11:00

Croc skin... Cheap cheap for you!

2011-01-28T12:16:00.002+11:00

2011-01-28T12:16:00.001+11:00

Last breakfast

2011-01-28T12:16:00.000+11:00

Straya day in nam...

2011-01-26T22:22:00.000+11:00

Trip from Cat Ba island to Ha long city.

2011-01-26T22:21:00.000+11:00

2011-01-26T22:20:00.000+11:00

We broke into a closed cave for a wee look-see! It was a lot of fun if not a bit nervy with no lights and a rubbish head lamp!

2011-01-26T22:17:00.000+11:00

2011-01-26T22:16:00.001+11:00

2011-01-26T22:16:00.000+11:00

Went on a hike around Cat ba island. It was one of my funnest days yet! Joined by an American called Gabe. Forget Ha Long bay, Cat Ba's where it's at!

2011-01-24T20:31:00.000+11:00

Our new home on Cat ba island! Our last stop in what has been an amazing trip!

2011-01-23T20:51:00.000+11:00

2011-01-23T20:49:00.000+11:00

Tam Coc national park again. This time going for a row. That's 'mama' and 'papa', 51 and 72 respectively! Rowing for 2 hours per trip takes it toll says papa. So he rows with his feet! As do all the other rowers, including old women. Mama hand rowed the whole trip also, pausing only to try and sell us souvenirs (which we did...).

2011-01-23T20:43:00.000+11:00

Another giant stair case today at Tam Coc national park. This time we had 550 stairs, so worth it though!

2011-01-21T23:24:00.000+11:00

Original hand rail...?

2011-01-21T23:23:00.000+11:00

The entrance to Tein Son cave. No one showed us around, we were just free to do what ever we wanted. The lights went out when we were about 400-500m inside the cave. We didn't have tourches! Luckily, they turned back on shortly after...

2011-01-21T23:21:00.000+11:00

That's our taxi driver struggling up the 330 steps. He did the whole trip with us, even had lunch with us. Didn't speak a word of English!

2011-01-21T23:19:00.000+11:00

The mouth of Phong Nga cave. The entrance is that tiny looking hole on the far right in the middle! Ducking was required!

2011-01-21T23:17:00.000+11:00

2011-01-21T23:15:00.000+11:00

Went caving today! In Phong Nga cave to be exact. Situated in the Phong Nha-ke bang national park, which is a unesco world heritage site.
It was the largest cave in Vietnam until April 09 when British researchers first mapped Son Doong cave, currently the largest cave in the world!
We also went to Tien Son cave, right next to Phong Nha cave, up a flight of 330 steps! Throughout the whole trip we were the only visitors!! The joys of the off season! (if only it wasn't raining, haha)

Easily my favorite part of Vietnam so far. It was, perhaps, the most amazing thing I have seen my whole life... (big call I know!)

2011-01-20T15:18:00.000+11:00

We went for a tour through the Dmz yesterday. Apart from being a long day, it was quite interesting to hear about the "American war". There's not a lot left in terms of debris or buildings. The locals collected all the scrap metal for money and the Americans bombed everything when they left.

We went to a tunnel system that the locals built over a space of 20 months. There was at least 5 km of tunnel. They lived there for 5 years, 17 babies where born under ground and families of 4-5 would live in a 2m square room, it sounds small and I can assure you they where tiny!

2011-01-19T01:35:00.000+11:00

Managed to find a couple locals (kiwis, not Vietnamese! Haha) to hang out with on me birthday. Had dinner, drinks and a few rounds of pool with them. It was quite a low key affair, but good all the same!

2011-01-19T01:31:00.000+11:00

Hue's been wet and cold! I finally warmed up today after buying a new jacket! (after loosing mine). We've seen some stunning scenery, but it's never quite the same when you damp and cold! Were off on a tour tomorrow to the DMZ (demilitarized zone), should be a blast! Ha

2011-01-17T22:57:00.000+11:00

We turned up to Hue today. Was nice to get out of Hoi An, as lovely as it was. Not sure how much we have to see here, but we've got two days for now. Were starting to run out of time, only 10 more days! I can't believe how fast it's gone!

2011-01-17T22:55:00.000+11:00

Our second bus ride... A sleeper bus. I didn't expect this when the bus pulled up! Was rather comfortable though! Took an amazing 4 hours to cover 100km!

2011-01-17T22:52:00.000+11:00

We went to My Son yesterday. It was our first bus trip in Vietnam and I'd say it was just as scary as riding! My Son is amazing. An old Cham city that was built about a 1000 years ago! Most of whats left was destroyed by the Americans though! Evidence of this was in the form of giant bomb craters! The weather wasn't amazing, but the pay off was less tourists!

2011-01-17T22:47:00.000+11:00

2011-01-15T19:31:00.000+11:00

So the mechanic finally made it back to town. The whole time he was gone he knew he couldn't fix the bike, but we only found out when he returned! Our only options at that point were to either wait for a new part or wait for a new bike, both options were going to take 2-4 days! We were left with a hard decision to make. We already had to book extra time in our current town because of the mechanical and any more days were going to cut into the rest of our trip... No one could guarantee that the part would fix our problem and no one could guarantee that another bike would be here faster then 4 days. So, we decided to pull the pin... We organized for both bikes to shipped back to Hanoi. It was quite sad to say goodbye, but I'd much rather finish our trip the way we had planned, even if that means traveling by bus!

Matt and I both looked at each other in amazement when the guys turned up to take the bikes on this!! I don't know why I was surprised, this is Vietnam after all!

2011-01-15T19:04:00.000+11:00

2011-01-15T19:02:00.000+11:00

The main cave in Marble mtn. Didn't expect this when we where walking around!

2011-01-15T19:01:00.000+11:00

It's hard to see but they are building an elevator to the top of Marble mtn. It's such a shame that tourism is destroying the authenticity of these amazing sites!

2011-01-15T18:59:00.000+11:00

We went to a place called Marble Mountain yesterday. It was pretty incredible. It was 122 odd steps to the top and once we were up there, there were temples, statues, caves and alters everywhere! It took us a good 2 hours to look around and explore. There was no path where I took this photo from, I just climbed out of the cave. It was great fun being a kid again!

2011-01-14T12:29:00.000+11:00

Be under no illusion, we are defiantly not slumming it here in Vietnam!

2011-01-13T18:58:00.000+11:00

Went and got sized up for some suits today. It became quite comical at times with certain measurements! Hahaha.

It was a lot of fun picking and choosing materials and design. Yet, it was quite hard to actually pick!

We have our first fitting tomorrow.

Still no word on Matts bike. Our mechanic left town and we only found out an hour ago that he's not back until tomorrow! Stink.

2011-01-13T01:30:00.000+11:00

Couldn't forget the Titanic now could I?! We asked if it came snapped in half as an option, I dont think they found it funny...

2011-01-13T01:28:00.000+11:00

The "HMB Endeavour". The detail is just amazing! You'll never guess how much...

2011-01-12T20:40:00.001+11:00

2011-01-12T20:40:00.000+11:00

2011-01-12T20:39:00.000+11:00

Yesterday was our biggest day yet, 300km! Took us 8 hours! 300m from our hotel matt stalled and not knowing what had happened I continued on and lost him! An hour later I got an email saying he had broken down and that he was 10 mins down the road... Much to my relief! We left his bike with a Mechanic and headed off to check in and then out for dinner.

Today the mechanics nephew invited us to his house for lunch while the bike was being worked on. It was an awesome chance to step into a locals house and see how things worked.

After lunch we learned that the bike couldn't be fixed because the mechanic didn't have the right parts, so we have to wait untill tomorrow to see if we can get some parts sent down from Hanoi. A bit of a delay, but we couldn't be stuck in a nicer town or hotel!

2011-01-10T00:55:00.000+11:00

Stumbled across an old development that must have run out of money. Quite a waste, it was in such a nice area that was totally secluded. Not the first development we've seen on our trip that has been abandoned... It's a shame really!

2011-01-10T00:46:00.001+11:00

2011-01-09T20:28:00.001+11:00

(i meant to say the Expat population is 50% kiwi)

Sent from my iPhone.
C.

2011-01-08T22:34:00.000+11:00

Interesting last couple of days. Spent 24 hours in bed with food poisoning and then got a flat tire today whilst out site seeing!

Off to a place called Quy Nhon tomorrow. A town that NZ based most of their aid efforts in during the war. Apparently the towns population at any one time is around 50% kiwis...

2011-01-07T00:11:00.000+11:00

Dinner for the last two nights has been here. Very hospitable if not a bit overly so! The restaurant was full when we turned up so they started a new dinning section for us, much to the local security guards dismay! Beers (tiger) were 60 cents each!!!

2011-01-07T00:07:00.000+11:00

Aquarium again. Apparently there are 60000 preserved specimen in here!

2011-01-07T00:05:00.000+11:00

Went to the aquarium. Was interesting...

2011-01-06T15:34:00.000+11:00

Decided to get get touristy for a couple of hours over lunch. Quite strange stepping out of the back streets and into a world full of westerners...

2011-01-06T11:05:00.001+11:00

Hotel in dalat

2011-01-04T18:55:00.000+11:00

This ones for you Chaz! Crazy house in Dalat.

2011-01-04T12:32:00.001+11:00

On our way to Dalat.

2011-01-04T12:32:00.000+11:00

you'll be amazed at what people carry on their scooters!

2011-01-04T01:05:00.000+11:00

Woke up to this today, sun was shinning and it was hot even tho it was 7 am! A much nicer way to start the day then the city!!

Today was a lot better then yesterday. We headed off much earlier knowing what we had ahead of us. The bikes don't cope with much over 50kph, so even a small trip like 200km is nothing like the western equivalent of 2 hours. Combine that with today's trip based in the hills and it took us around 6 hours from hotel to hotel.
The scenery was amazing to say the least! Coffee plantations everywhere and villages scattered around the hills.

I forgot to mention but our intercoms wernt working yesterday which added to the stress, always checking my mirrors looking for matt. We sorted that out last night and it was such a pleasure being able to speak to each other, even if we couldn't see each other! They really worked a treat!

Were going to stay here in Dalat for a couple nights and have a wee look around before heading to nha trang.
I'll post some pics of what we see...

2011-01-03T12:17:00.001+11:00

Picked up the bikes in Saigon yesterday. Turned out to be a very interesting day with a few flared tempers (mainly me, haha) a flat tire and not arriving to our hotel in the middle if no where under the cover of darkness!

But hey, that's what adventure is all about right...?

Today we are off to dalat. A mountain town at an altitude of around 1500m. Should be a looong windy ride, can't wait!

2011-01-01T10:43:00.002+11:00

Matt made a friend!

2011-01-01T10:43:00.001+11:00

Our home for the last 30 hours! Soo happy to be in a hotel today!

2010-12-30T20:26:00.000+11:00

Bored waiting for the train playing how many people can you fit on a scooter! Where up to 4!!

P.s saw a bentley in down town Hanoi! I'd hate to think how much they cost with 100% import tax!

2010-12-30T15:41:00.002+11:00

2010-12-30T15:41:00.001+11:00

Fridge!