The early cool and slightly misty start went well, Binh My were on sale nearby – french bread rolls with pork belly, processed meats chilly cucumber and goodness knows what else. Easy on a cyclist’s digestive system that;s for sure. Today would be a slog as the pm wind was due to come into force and when it did it was lowest gears on the flat for 30 miserable kms.
There were some high points including push no 1 out of charming old town Quy Nhon up the original narrow road (no trucks) to meet the highway. There was a tolerant space exploration centre with an odd trellis-work and a western funded place with beautiful gardens that did not allow anyone to photo their delightful gardens. Spoilsports
Once onto the brand new perfectly formed 4 lane plus 2 hard shoulder coastal road it was actually very scenic, space enough for the few trucks not to destroy you with 25 seconds of airhorn hell. It undulated like a sweaty switch back with great ocean views. Absolute fun.
Sadly the coast road met up with a hot and hilly QL1a road with the mindless and moronic airhorns. By 12 noon my back was so hot I stopped at a roadside cafe and had a wonderful noodle salad lunch in the shade. As I left a man on an overladen mbike pulled in for a takeaway, sadly his electric starter did not work and he was unable to locate the kickstarter under the boxes and cabbages. Great fun the locals enjoy a good laugh.
I made the mistake of pulling in for some cakes and coffee pulling off the main highway. Push was really steep and much longer and, annoyingly, went way above the new highway. The two elephants photo gave me a much needed breather, heat is getting up as I go south mid 30’s and no shade.
I was despairing in the wind for the last 25 featureless scrubland to the truly awful Donh Hoa. Effing dogs and a sandy road made me drop the bike on the way to the very nice friendly Nha Nghi. My ninja stick did send the vermin back into their property. Returning from Fish Bun my extra bright lamp and shouts of come and make my day you effing fleabags kept them at bay. They were not around when I left in the morning – sadly as I would have enjoyed making one or two available for the dog meat market.
A potato hoeing machine overtook me on push number 3 It was transporting a tightly tied bull no doubt off to impregnate some local ladies – lucky fellow. I screamed past them on the downhill, took a shady breather and one of the few pees of the day to video the man and beast as they went their ways – the farmer to riches and the bull for a shag or two.