We awoke with the prospect of 70 km of fairly straightforward riding with one large climb at the end of over 1000 metres. As we assembled in usual dazed fashion by the van in the morning, we attempted to explain to the driver where we wanted to stay. He did not agree with our suggestion as he pointed out that there was no civilization where we had proposed to stay which was a fair point!
What wasn’t fair enough was the fact that we had to now cycle 120 km....... including another 1200 metre climb. The previously lackadaisical stretching had turned into an intense session. No words were said..... the task that lay ahead of us would surely be our hardest day yet.
It begun.... the first stage of the ride started with undulating hills that had not appeared on our gradient map, which didn't bode well for us as if they hadn’t shown up on the map, the mountains to come must be gargantuan in scale. The hills, however,were enjoyable throwing up spectacular scenery at every turn.
After 20 km or so, we decided to take (in hindsight) a premature stop and sat in a road-side house, quenching our thirst. To our huge surprise, we saw our driver casually cruise past us without a backwards glance. Believing him to have seen us and our bikes, we thought he was pretending to have not seen us and would be waiting round the corner, so we thought nothing of it.
As we set off again worries grew into fears and fears then turned to reality as 30 km on from our stop, there was still no sign of our driver. He obviously had not seen us at all and was still expecting us to still be ahead of him!
Fast running out of water and food in the scorching 38 degree heat, we started to grow desperate and use our supplies sparingly, mentally preparing to ‘Bear Grylls’ the day through.
To our immense relief, we saw the comforting sight of our yellow DHL van heading towards us - we were saved..... and not a kilometer too soon. The climbing was about to begin.....
Before us lay a climb starting at 300 metres spanning the dizzy heights of 1200 metres, with gradients of well into double figures. As we fought our way up the mountain, our muscles started to rebel and we really felt the affects of the 20 days of cycling we had done so far. Still we battled on. Barely any motorists passed us, as this was even too great a challenge for them. The one of two that did, drove by in stunned silence or gave us the thumbs up - they must have all thought us to be totally mad!
We finally reached a plateau where we rested and replenished ourselves. Another climb loomed in the distance, its peaks covered in thick cloud. We climbed again, mist fogging up our glasses making it hard to see. We were running on reserve fuel now. Each turn of the pedal warranted a medal. After what seemed like a lifetime, we were greeted with the sight of the top. A lifeline of a downhill followed taking us into our stop of 'Lam Ha'. We had done it. By far the hardest day of the tour and another day closer to our finishing point of HCMC!!
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