A Gruelling but Rewarding Day

Phew! Am I ever glad the day is over. Leaving Hue after only one night, we were warned that it was going to be a long day.

On the road at 0730hrs and everyone groaned but complied! We were gathered at the front of the hotel and instead of a trip on the bus to get out of town we mounted our steeds right on the dot of 0730hrs –  no laggards suprisingly enough.

The day included cycling out of Hue, a cycle though the rice paddies then a 10 km ride around a lagoon followed by a 10km straight uphill section with no breaks and then 10km downhill where we would be picked up a dropped off at the hotel in Hoi Ann. All together at 90km cycle ride and an elevation gain of 500metres!

Oh god, are we all going to make it! Slow ride out of the city through the rice paddies and the shrimp farms

A stop at the market

Lunch and then a trip around the lagoon.

And then the gruelling 10km straight up hill – unfortunately no pictures of the group at the top. With 5 on ebikes and 7 on pedal bikes everyone made it. Everyone got cheered as they completed the uphill grind. I was too exhausted to get up off the ground but the thought of 10km downhill got me excited and up off  my ass.

Finally arrived at the hotel at 1900hrs with everyone stumbling off the bus and staggering up to their rooms to get ready for dinner and bed. Thank god we all chose a restaurant only 500 metres from the  hotel.

And here are a few odd pictures from around Vietnam