Rode 65km
Our 8am departure was delayed this morning due to Kev being in a large queue at the hospital. He woke feeling very ordinary indeed and requested to see a doctor. Unfortunately I suspect he has COVID, which means we all have a chance of having it too due to the nature of our close contact over many days. I’ve been wearing a mask for a few days while on the bus but then we all sit in restaurants etc and eat/drink without any.
Kev came back from the hospital and said he has a fever. When asked if it was COVID, he said they never tested him, just asked if he had it. Left the hotel about 40 minutes late which is ok.
Crossed the second longest bridge in the country then drove through a huge area of failed resort and residential development. Apparently the developers “got into trouble” and it all ground to a sudden halt. Like many places around the world COVID has impacted on lots of aspects of the economy.
Having cleared the busy roads we stopped and offloaded the bikes. Initially the road was amazing, divided highway with just a few motorcycles and us. More aquaculture farms, lots of rice paddies and plenty of peanut plantations. We like it when Trong heads off down back lanes or tracks as we know we’re going to see the real Vietnam. We did that a lot today. Some of the areas were nothing more than rubbish tips, acres and acres of it just dumped in the bush. So sad, I can’t work out why they do it.
Lunch was brilliant, in the middle of nowhere, just looked like a normal house. We had omelettes, fish, lovely pork & veggie stir fry, beef soup and greens, finished off with some sweet pineapple and bananas. Luckily we didn’t have far to ride after that lot, we were all full.
The transfer to the hotel was listed as two hours but it was closer to three. These minibuses are made for locals not 6 foot 2 Aussies or Englishmen, so it’s not really comfortable, in fact it’s agony after an hour or so. We all made it ok though.
The problem with getting to the hotel after dark is that it is not easy to get a look at the place. By the time I showered, unpacked and did some washing it was nearly time for my bedtime. I did duck out for a quick walk but the surrounding area was full of local food stalls and it started to rain so I gave it a miss.
John & Shaun at breakfast
