Day 7 Huong Khe to Quy Dat

Ernest Hemingway said, “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.” I agree
When you take to your bike on the H2H ride you not only get the opportunity to experience every rise and fall of the road, but you also get to see the beautiful countryside, hear the sound of a 100 children each day shouting “hello” and meet some of the friendliest people in the world. Real Vietnam.

And so today, 19 souls woke up early and began making their way to Quy Dat, a mere 70 kilometers away! The 19 riders have been together for just over a week, but even in that short time friendships have begun to forge. Now, the early morning warm-up is no longer a dreary slog, but a fun time punctuated with giggles and laughter. The warm up is followed by the customary rush to the nearest food stall to eat banh mi or Phở before buying water and anything else you might fancy. No need to feel guilty...eat what you want...because you know it’s going to be a long hard day

Today I rode with Craig, our group leader. He usually rides much faster than me, but today he was content to sit towards the back of the group and talk rubbish with me for 4 hours...another friend made.

The weather forecast promised rain so we were eager to get a few miles under our belts before it arrived. No one wants to be cycling in the mountains when it rains!

At 22 kilometers out we passed a dam under construction. Fantastic to see how the engineers had used the natural landscape to help harness the water. The dam is due to open in 2020.

At about 30k, the road takes a sharp left onto a much smaller track which runs through a national park. All was good and i was enjoying the ride until we reached the first of three hard climbs...a thigh burning, heart stopping, 10 degrees. After just 10 mins of cycling up this impossible gradient, it took all my will power and determination not to stop and walk, or quit altogether and jump into the support vehicle. But, somehow, I managed to keep moving, albeit at a snails pace, to the top of each hill. Before I joined H2H 2018 a few riders from previous years told me how difficult it was to climb these hills and know I know exactly what they meant. It’s tough man!

Later, I rode my bike into Quy Dat filled with a tremendous sense of accomplishment. Then the thought crossed my mind...we’ve got to do it all again tomorrow !

-Moe

Pasteur Street Brewing Co is a long-time sponsor and supporter of the ride. We greatly appreciate their ongoing contribution to this event. Check them out in Hanoi or Saigon for some of the best craft beer in Vietnam.
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