I knew I was visiting Vietnam in the wet season but I was not expecting to ride a bicyle through a river.
On Monday, the good people from Phat Tire in Dalat, Minh & Dung, took us on a moutian biking trip throught the beautfiful countryside around Dalat. Dalat is located in the central highlands and has a temperate climate allowing an array of vegetables and flowers to be grown that cannot be grown in other parts of the country. It has a naturally stunning landscape and we couldn't wait to get on the bikes and go exploring.
There had been torrential rain the night before and the trail we were meant to ride, known as Skidmarks, was 'too wet' so we took a different route which was 'dryer'. I have never seen so much mud in my life! The ride went for 4 hours through pine forest and farmland where they grow coffee, tapioca and flowers. It was pretty technical single track and involved riding (or attempting to ride) through a river (amusing photos to come), crossing several other smaller streams and riding across a suspension bridge which back home would have been neatly cordoned off with yellow tape having been deemed too dangerous to cross.
After a few gruelling hours climbing muddy slopes and crossing rivers we arrived at a waterfall where our guides seemed to miraculously produce a delicious spread of baguettes, cheese, pork, salad, sticky rice, fresh rice paper noodles (just for me) and loads of fresh fruit (including bananas).
Then came the news that we had to ride back! So, a few more hours of sliding around in the mud with farmers either laughing at us or looking very confused followed. Then, like a knight in shining armour the van that was to take us home appeared in the distance. What a relief!
