To Oak Glu: Ho Chi Minh Trail

February 1, 2007

Today we felt deceived by a fellow cyclist...who described the route as leisurely and 60kms. It wasn't. We also wonder about tomorrow that he described as a steep climb, a false summit and difficult. Even still we are happy we changed our route from the coast and the wind.

We leave at 7am, later than usual. As we go through town on a corner a table of men on small stools drinking coffee and eating baguettes. Soon we are climbing, then a small descent and another climb; the last 15kms of the day, there were 20 rolling climbs, the granny gear type, short and steep. Yes, Rachel counted each one.

One stop, a woman wearing a red hat wanted to ride Patrick's bike. Rachel gave hers instead and Patrick helped her steady the bike. Every school we pass, children shouted "hello" and waved.

Finally reaching town, the first guesthouse we cycled past is not impressive and we cycle on to a second guesthouse. The woman is friendly and takes us across the street to another room. It's cleaner than last night's room. Next door, we have Bo Pho for dinner, then walk up the street to shop for tomorrow's ride, finding water and Choco pies in one shop and carrots in another and apples and coke in the third.

Today's ride was on the Ho Chi Minh trail through Truong Son Mountains, and we passed the 5000km mark for cycling.