Vietnam, Day 4, floating village, river village, banana plantation

Todays route on Garmin http://connect.garmin.com/activity/239964414

Day 4 of the cycling was always going to be a hard one, fairly big distance, mainly off road, forecast was very hot!!
The Discover Adventure team, have a system that the 'star rider' of the previous day, has to ride with a smiley face flag on his or her bike, its a special award, for working hard, being a team player or just helping out! Well that didn't last long and quickly became 'COCK OF THE DAY' the award went to someone who witnessed a chain brake in the team and rather than stop to help and use his chain splitter that he had in his pack, he decided to ride to the front to say slow down we have a bike down, yes you guessed it.......... I was cock of the day and not only did I get the flag, they decided that my crime was so severe, i needed something else, which was connected to my cycle helmet all day! The local kids, who run out from their houses, loved it and i was shouting "hello" to kids all day (i named it Gary) /a>

But this wasn't the start of the day, we started by walking to the local dock to get on a boat which would take us to the floating market

From the market we walked back in to town to find and collect our bikes and fill up our hydration packs

We then cycled off in to the local villages for a days excellent cycling, which would take us through, villages, plantations, busy streets and quiet tracks

Time to sign off again, so i can get ready for dinner locally............. 95K tomorrow!

Vietnam Day 3, Tra Vinh, Cau Ke, Can Tho

Longest day of cycling so far 82K, hot but amazing.


http://connect.garmin.com/activity/239624669

As always its an early start, breakfast of water, omelete and rice at 6am, out by 7:30, with a team briefing /a>

Ready to go, Hydration pack full with 3ltrs of water with High5 Extreme tablets for energy

We set out from Tra Vinh this morning and headed out of town, through the paddy fields and headed towards the first water point, which was at a temple

The kids in Vietnam are fantastic, love having their photos taken, especially if you show them their picture and as you cycle past house's, they shout "hello"

From the temple, we contiued along the country roads and single track and ended up at the ferry, which took us over to the island

Farmers working the land

Getting to and from the islands is quite a experience, but we were lucky with this crossing as it was quiet

The Island itself was amazing, great riding, some of which was single track

And the ferry on the way back was busy!!

Athough today was simply amazing, the best bit by a county mile, was riding in to the busy city of Can Tho in rush hour, with cars and scooters coming from all directions, including going down the wrong side of the road and even the path!! to get to our next hotel, for another well earned shower, meal, beer and sleep

And on that note, its 23:17 here, i have to be up at 5:45 for breakfast, so good night Vietnam :)

Day 2, Cu Chi Vietnam tunnels & cycling

Friday 2nd November 2012, photo blog

Up and out early, breakfast 6am, out at 7am

Ho Chi Minh City in the rush hour

Today we left Ho Chi Minh City on the coach and headed out in to Vietnam, where we visited the Cu Chi tunnels, before picking up our bikes for a gentle 45K

Lunch stop at Mekong Rest with elephant ear fish and the chefs making rice balls

And finally back to the Cuu Long Hotel, for a shower, meal and rice vodka