The rest day in Buon Ma Thuot came just at the right time,
as legs and minds were growing weary from the hills and the heat since Hue . The novelty of a KFC
gave our pallets a welcome rest from rice and meat, and we spent the day by a
swimming pool at a nearby hotel. Some sunbathed, some swam, some played cards, and
some replicated well-known wrestling moves with surprising accuracy and
finesse:
The sun may have affected my judgment as I allowed Danny M
to take his clippers to my head, the result of which polarized opinion (for the
record, I think he did a good job), although a shorter barnet is definitely a
practical move in the intense heat.
The day served as a perfect remedy for our struggles on the
saddle – comfort both physically and gastronomically, and a pleasant example of
how well all team members get along, despite spending twenty-four grueling days
in close quarters cycling long distances.
The following morning was a comfortably late start, as we
only faced 50km of relatively flat roads to Lien Son. Danny McCance led the
now-familiar stretch routine, and we were on the road around 10ish. A swift
exit from Buon Ma Thuot via a cashpoint and we were again in the countryside.
A significant portion of the group decided to take the ride
at a leisurely pace, stopping for the odd nuoc mia, photographing their
surroundings, and generally making the most of a day on which no 10% incline
signs were to be seen.
At one stop, a local lady insisted on passing her baby
around the group, which mainly resulted in tears (from the infant). Alex,
however, managed to keep the little fellow smiling.
At the same location, we noticed a
large sack of freshly-picked cashews. The origin of said crop had been the
topic of previous conversation on the ride. Natasha was particularly impressed
with the produce, going ‘nuts’ with excitement (it wouldn’t be right to
document the day without including some bad puns).
Shortly after the stop, a barely
noticeable incline provoked an outburst of faked-struggle; riders mocking the
terrain’s attempt to challenge us after what we had experienced in previous
days. Bizarre...
As the day progressed, the scenery
became prettier, prompting a few more stops for photographs and general
appreciation. We rode through unavoidable swarms of butterflies, the likes of
which I’d never seen before the ride. I’ve lost count of the amount of
butterflies that I’ve ridden face first into.
Despite it being a short day, we
encountered many of the elements that have defined H2H. Rice paddies stretching
as far as the eye can see, luscious green hills, groups of enthusiastic school
children screaming their hellos, a vast spectrum of flora and fauna, and lots
of cow feces. Stopping to take it in without looming inclines and baking heat
made the day a lot easier.
I think that these kind of moments
have become an important part of our journey – it’s often therapeutic both
physically and mentally to rest the legs for five minutes and acknowledge the
incredible backdrop that often surrounds us. Particularly on days when you’re
battling against degrees of incline and centigrade, it can be easy to forget
what a stunning part of the world you are in. Thankfully, today wasn’t one of
those days. To our ever-strengthening thighs the ride felt more like a relaxed excursion,
and the team was able to make the most of it.
We rolled into Lien Son around
lunchtime, had a little cool down, and consumed the C2 and 333 that have become
staples of the team’s liquid diet over the past month.
When asked to sum up the rest day
and the following ride each in three words, one rider chose, respectively:
‘Absolutely bloody marvelous’ and
‘a leisurely affair’.
I’d have to agree.
Post ride, the day ended with a
fantastic culture night from Jacqui, which involved everybody attaching a
balloon to one foot and attempting to pop each others’ balloons, with the last
team standing claiming victory. It was, without a doubt, the most fiercely competitive
moment of the entire trip.
A nice early night to get ready for the next day, and we were done.
In the immortal words of Ice Cube:
“It was a good day”.
Words/videos by Matt
Photos by Luke Chest-hairs
Photos by Luke Chest-hairs
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