Marie in Vietnam!

todsy we did a mountain climb. 60km : 20km flat, 20km up and down and 20km 10% incline. Really tough!! Probably the hardest thing I have ever done!!! However, I got there! And the motivation in the group was such that we all got there! Feeling really exhausted now. Every part of my body hurts!!

Completed the 90 km ride which turned out to be 95km! It was an amazing ride taking us through villages and breathtaking sea views. We did 75km in the morning in 4 stages: 20, 20, 15 and 20km. Leaving only 20km for the afternoon when we raced each other. I am proud to say that my average speed for the last 10km was 32 km!!!! Admittedly it was on flat ground! Our guide took us to a local sea food restaurant that looked like a shack where we had small barbecues on our tables and BBQd tiger prawns, squid and sword fish. It was incredibly delicious. As we say in France: ‘Après l’effort, le réconfort !’ The photos are of the ride, the sea houses underneath which they breed lobsters, bamboo bikes and a taylor back in Hoi An (my new best friend!)

Arrived in Quy Nohn after a five hour coach journey and 60km bike  ride! The weather is warmer but  still quite wet. After a good night sleep we are now off to Abha Trang. I am dreading the 90km ride! It’s is going to be very up and down! Speak to you after the ride!

Made it to Hoi An!! Today was an 80km ride. Up a mountain and then ... down ... and on and on to Hoi An.  Up slopes between 5 and 10% for 10km, then down slopes for 10km and all the rest flat. It was hard going but I made it!!! Total distance so far is 310km ... virtually half way!!! Weather conditions are still pretty dreadful!! Rain and wind and fog. Our guide keeps telling us that these are the worst weather conditions he has ever had on a tour!! Thank you for your support everyone!

Now arrived in Hue. The weather conditions in Vietnam are exceptional. There has been a lot of rain and now there is a cold front from China. Even the mosquitos seem to suffer from frost bite. Tomorrow is a big ride 80km to Zho An

Hi

We are now in Ninh Binh. It is exceptionally cold in Vietnam at the moment. As there is an usual cold front coming over from Russia and China. Even our guide can see the funny side of it. He stopped the bus at a view point shrouded in freezing fog and described it as a ‘normally nice view’!!!! Last night was a ‘home stay’ in a house on stilts. We all slept in one room on a slatted bamboo floor with quite a few bits missing!! The cycle rides so far are in amazely beautiful surroundings: paddy fields , people working in them, sugar canes stalls on the road side and cattle(water buffalos and cows with babies). Lots of egrets in the paddy fields are the farmers’ best friends as they eat a type of snail that attacks the rice seedlings. I have now cycled 155 km as you can see on the photo ( it is the number at the bottom of the screen). Tomorrow will be another 50 km followed by a twelve hour trip on a night train to Hue. Next post in a couple of days from Hue.

Finally there! Weather not great, it’s rather mild and humid. Absolutely exhausted and I haven’t even started cycling yet!Having a rest and getting over jet lag until tomorrow when we get our bikes. Traffic is scary: never seen so many Vespas in my life! They are everywhere and never stop for pedestrians! Staying in the French quarter of Hanoi which seems very appropriate!

That’s it! On my way to meet Henrietta in London. Leaving France. There was a gale last night still windy today. Hopefully the flight will be ok! Someone asked me what the distance was between London and Hanoi. No idea.... need to work this one out. Fundraising has gone really well so far. Should give me that extra pedal power!!