Day 5 & 6

Day 5

After a surprisingly decent night’s sleep, in an equally decent hotel in the unknown village, we set off for what we had hoped would be a shorter day due to the distance we had cycled the previous day. It had originally been planned as a 115km day, however now was more 88km. The ride was tough along highways and into a strong head wind that made every turn of the pedal an almighty effort! After finally reaching our location of Ninm Binh (not before a big climb right at the end however, just Vietnams way of saying 'cyclists welcome') we set out in hunt for food. By our amazement we stumbled across our first supermarket!! Like locusts to a field, we pillaged the shop of all its biscuits and snacks. So hungry were we, that a debate was even raised over whether buying gigantic rice steamer was ‘worth it in the long run’. Bags bulging with goodies (minus rice steamer) we headed back to the hotel to gorge to our hearts content after a toilsome, but rewarding day.

Day 6

Day 6 is the day that will live long in our memories. Until this point in the trip, no day had gone exactly to how we had planned or foreseen. i.e. The distance we’d set ourselves was right, the finish location was correct or a fall or breakdown hadn't occurred. This trend was not about to buck. As us weary cyclists arose from our beds, what lay ahead for the day seemed reasonable with a 70km cycle on the cards. But the reality of this was so very, very different.....

The first part of the journey was through the centre of town and along busy up sloped highway kicking up dust left right and centre, as we all donned our bandanas over our faces like a group of bandits on the run we rode hard as 70km is all we had to achieve...surely.

The next stage of the journey was mountainous as several road closures meant that our route had to be altered. Fortunately the roads were quiet and picturesque. We racked up a good 70km and our driver said there was a place he had stayed the previous year that he said was a nicer place and was better to stay at. However, this was 20km further on.... Feeling okay we decided to go for it and cycle the extra 20km.  Later we were instructed to wait whilst the driver went ahead to find us a suitable hotel (as always happens). Half an hour went by, followed by an hour and then 2 hours.  Where was the driver?! By this point the village people (not the YMCA kind) had gathered in numbers to ogle at the strange foreign white men that come on such fascinating contraptions landed with flashing lights. They were very hospitable and kind offering us water, a seat in shade and even some ice cream which, due to the un-pasteurization of milk we had to dispose of tactically as to avoid potential upset stomachs and offended locals. They enjoyed taking our bikes for a spin around the village. However, always on the back of our mind was the whereabouts of our driver.

Finally he returned with the news that the place he had previously stayed at was shut and the nearest settlement was an extra 30km or so away!! Our faces fell, and our ice creams dropped out of our limp hands in shock (luckily). The heat had reached a new PB of 45 degrees by this point and we were all feeling the burn. However we soldiered on through the intense heat and finally reached the hotel (after a few wrong turns along the way) at 4.30pm without having had any lunch. This had been a 10 hour day on the bike, by far our longest yet. We were in need of some serious R&R. At this point spirits were low. But soon we found fortune and the 110km day in 45 degree heat would pay dividends.