Following our day wallowing around in the mud we undertook a different kind of bicycle ride - a 70km ride from Dalat in the mountains to Nha Trang on the coast on a lovely new road. It was like our very own Tour De Vietnam and I'm pretty sure that at times our guide, Minh from Phat Tire, thought he was riding in the Tour.
The ride started with 20km of undulating terrain riding through minority villages and national park. Then we had a 3km climb to Lam Dong pass (elevation 1600m) where we recieved lots of encouragement and cheering from the bus loads of people that had stopped just before the pass to take in the view. Someone even ran alongside Chris to give him a bottle of water! Then came the descent. A 30km stretch of very steep, windy road with plenty of hair pin corners and hair raising moments. I have no idea how fast we were going but I would not be surprised if we reached speeds of up to 60 to 70km/h. Luckily we did stop occasionally to take photos and enjoy the view.
As we headed further down the hill we could feel it getting hotter and hotter. By the time we stopped for lunch it was 12 noon and nearing 35 degrees. After lunch we continued on for the last 20kms through lots of little villages where all the kids came running our onto the road shouting "hello, hello!" and all the adults lazed around in hammocks and looked at us as though we were crazy. The heat radiating off the road was intense and there was no shade just a hot breeze (just like home really). I thought the locals had the right idea with the hammocks and it was at this point I was wishing I had my bike from home with its nice comfy saddle.
Despite the heat (and the saddle) it was a great ride and it is nice to be able to cruise along and connect with the locals rather than watch everything wizz by through a bus window.
Big thanks to Phat Tire Ventures in Dalat for sorting out both rides for us!
Photos to come...
