We were up at the crack
of dawn and raring to go, one last time. We had a long day ahead of us, but we
were spurred on by the fact that we’d be crossing the finish line, seeing
friends and enjoying celebrations by the time the sun had set. It wasn’t without
its challenges. Logistics faltered at times, and resulted in some riders
taking different routes back into the city. Bikes let us down too, and there
were a series of punctures.
The scenery surrounding
us on our way back to Saigon was unfortunately uninspiring. The roads taking us
into our final destination were littered with lorries, fumes and dust. However,
it was comforting to recognise our surroundings during the last 30km into the
city. After a month of rice, tofu and vegetables, clothing saturated in sweat,
a sore behind and numerous hours in the saddle, I was overcome with emotion
upon seeing Saigon’s skyline. I never thought I’d consider the city as ‘home’
but it was my fort of familiarity within Vietnam, and I was glad to return.
We regrouped at The
Boathouse in Thao Dien for a quick drink and bite to eat, and then peddled on to
the Notre Dame Cathedral to be met by our friends, family and supporters.
And what a welcoming
committee we had to greet us! The British Consul, charity representatives,
sponsors, various media outlets and our band of fans! Admittedly, we were a bit
late in making our grand arrival. But, hopefully that added to the dramatic
build-up… luckily the people who’d turned out to meet us were very patient, and
they came bearing smiles, flowers, prosecco and beer. The perfect gift for 10
weary and thirsty cyclists.
That evening we had a
night of revelry, without the worry of a 6AM start and a stretch of many
kilometres to conquer. It was a strange feeling waking up the morning (more
like afternoon) after in the knowledge that it was finished. Over 2,000km done,
and we all made it back safe, and relatively sane!
Over the course of a
month, our motley crew of riders covered an average daily distance of 80km and
rested our legs in 24 different towns. And, as you can imagine, covering a
distance of such great proportions on a bicycle gave rise to both triumphs and
tribulations. Knowing that the mammoth bike ride we embarked on was raising
funds to build schools, provide shelter and give disadvantaged children
opportunities for happiness, gave the trip a real sense of purpose.
H2H 2016 was an
incredible experience. I feel blessed to have had the chance to contribute to
this wonderful country and raise awareness about young people in need. I hope
the legacy will last, and people will continue cycling to break the cycle of
poverty. Here’s to H2H 2017!
-Kate Grigg
Cycle smart coaching offers cycling smart coaching in NZ with the best possible guidance to the bike riders on how to achieve their fitness goals and provides them feedback on their progress. Our cycle smart coaching Service helps individuals with the best training program that fits their unique needs.
ReplyDelete