Day 7

Temperature: 20 to 34ºC Humidity: 89%
Destination: Quang Ngai to Kon Tum

We apologise for the delay in posting this blog but we had a few bad internet links.

Breakfast was scheduled for 7.15am, as we were up and ready we went for breakfast 6.45am. Everything was organised for departure from the hotel at 8.15am. We boarded the bus for a 1 hour ride to Thach. We passed numerous rice fields and a number of sugar plantations while travelling along.

Arriving in Thach we were reacquainted with our bikes for the next part of the journey - into the Central Highlands. So we now move inland as we continue our journey southward. Hey - No headwind today, this is a major weather improvement over the previous 2 days. These roads are not flat, as there are many hills or inclines we have to cycle over. The temperature was heating up and so was the humidity. After cycling for about 20kms Christine was feeling the effects both the temperature and humidity and decided to get on the bus. A further 5kms on and I decided to get on the bus, I had nothing left in my legs and it was extremely warm – no I mean hot. The bus has an excellent air conditioner and it was working overtime. The rest of pack were way up ahead. As we move on to catch the pack we come to a long incline and we could see in the distance a lone rider making their way up this hill. (The bus and support vehicle are normally behind the last rider; which is usually me). As we approached we recognised Nahid, all by herself, cycling up this hill. She had obviously been separated from the others for some reason, but she was putting her gym training to good use. The bus crept forward and stayed a short distance behind Nahid as she kept pedalling up the hill. (As a rider, you quickly become aware when our bus or support vehicle is behind you – the constant sound of a diesel engine just keeping steady is a comforting sound when no one else is around.) Nahid is aware we are behind her. As she moves further up the hill, all other traffic is passing and sounding their horn at the slow moving convoy, unperturbed she keeps pedalling. As we near the crest, the driver pulls out and stops at the top allowing me to get out for a photo opportunity. I congratulate her and offer encouragement as nears the top. In laboured she says “Thanks Fred” and she is off down the other side of the hill. A short while later we arrive at our lunch stop. A great effort on your own Nadia.

Following lunch we are back on the bus for a 2 hour trip to the top of VIOLAK pass which is 1000m high, 46km long going up and 26km going down. Some great views as we slowly climb up the pass. Fortunately we do not meet too much traffic because the roads is narrow, however grazing and sleeping water buffalo can also be a hazard. Sitting in the front of the (I was) can be disturbing as we round sharp bends and meet the any oncoming traffic. We are driving on the other side of the road with and LHS driver position – often I was forcing my foot to the floor trying to press an imaginary break pedal.

We eventually get to the top of the pass and make our way down for a rendezvous with the support vehicle and our bikes. We are to ride down the rest of the pass (19 km) and onto the hotel a total distance 57km. There was a delay - the support vehicle was running late. So we get of the bus, and much to the amusement of the locals we form a ring and start massaging the person in front’s neck, turned around and then massaged that person’s neck. There were some Tai Chi moves and other demonstrations as we waited. To complete the picture, we were in out lycra riding gear and bike helmet which highly amuses the Vietnamese (They do not wear helmets).

The arrival of the support vehicle creates a furry of activity as it is getting late in the day. After checking our bikes brakes we are off down the 19km slope and quickly gather speed, braking and watching for traffic. It seems we are destined to be the back markers because Christine and I with Ngoc (spelt incorrectly in previous blog), support guide are last with the bus and support vehicle behind us. Ngoc took the lead, but Christine set the pace, she was a little nervous going down to fast because of all those sharp bends, narrow road, gravel edges, pot holes, cattle and of cause the traffic. There was traffic in both directions all honking their horns as our convoy moved down the pass. It is a fantastic ride down, although I’m not sure Christine enjoyed that much. The trip down seems to go on for ever, very little pedaling required – hey I like this. The traffic continues to pass us (bus and support vehicle behind us). Eventually we reach the bottom and continue on. After travelling about 27km we decide to board the bus, it was getting dark and we had no running lights. As the bus made its way to the hotel we picked up others along the route. About 10km from the hotel we reach the main group waiting for us, it was now very dark. We eventually arrived at the hotel at 6.40pm.


I can chalk up another day of over 50km – and it was very hot