Day 3: A Day of Climbing: Exhausting, Invigorating

From Phuoc Binh (elevation 530 ft above sea level) to Kien Duc (2300 ft asl); 56 mi /90.7 km.
Conditions: sunny with a constant headwind; by mid-afternoon, temps were well above 90 degrees F.

We just put in one of the hardest days of cycling most of us have experienced. Ten major climbs, one at 14 percent grade, took us from 530 feet above sea level to over 2300 feet asl.  This was a day to remember, one we will all likely look back on and tell stories about.

These were long, grinding climbs--not the kind adventure cyclists would typically jostle with each other to make to the top first. These were climbs on which you talk to yourself.  A lot.  You try to stay focused.  You count revolutions up to 100 and start over. You sing songs. You do whatever's necessary to keep your head down and your feet cranking.  Remember, we range in age from 45 to 67, but we all made it to the hilltop town of Kien Duc.  Exhausted, but we made it.

You never know what a day holds when you begin in the morning. On this day, after a 6:00 am breakfast, we headed out and one of our riders punctured a tire within 100 feet of the little hotel in Phuoc Binh (btw, the hotel cost $6 per room).  Within 20 minutes, we were on our first climb.  Before 8 am we had climbed to over 800 ft asl (both Daniel Shinkle and John Hay, Jr. have GPS units mounted on their handlebars as a fun way to track the trek in a variety of ways).  Less than an hour later we were over 1000 ft asl.  How high would we go?  We weren't sure.  By the time we crested hill on which Kien Duc sits after 4:00 pm, we were too exhausted to celebrate the accomplishment...or hardly notice.  But no one needed to tell us that we'd done some very serious cycling--cycling that's not for the faint of heart.

Though the climbs were difficult, the tops of these hills have provided us with some breathtaking vistas of this hill country (called the Central Highlands).  We anticipate more.

We are now on Highway 14, which is the main interior road running south to north through Vietnam. Unlike Highway 1, which runs south to north along Vietnam's coastal areas, Highway 14 is more lightly traveled, which means it's safer for cyclists.  However, it is not in good condition, is narrow in places, and is under construction for upgrade along the way.  And, of course, it is quite hilly.  It is also the route on which some of the friends we are riding to support live.

In one bustling town along the way on Tuesday (Jan 4), we helped one of our Vietnamese hosts traveling with us to purchase a bicycle and helmet (in foreground in the photo).  He wanted to ride some with us, to share the experience.  It was fun supporting him in this.  He and our other host have ridden portions of these two days.  When not riding, they put the bike on the mini-bus that serves as a support vehicle that's going along with us to Da Nang.  They have helped us immensely, including finding rest areas, refreshments, lodging, a places to take lunch and dinner.

As with the previous days, we are grateful for good, Vietnamese food.  We really did not know what to expect.  But we're trying a variety of food our hosts recommend.  We ate something like squid today at lunch.  We're not really sure what we're eating some of the time.  Whatever it is, it is usually served with either rice or rice noodles in a soup.  We're eating lots of bananas and oranges.  Also tried: dragon fruit, jack fruit, rambutan, papaya, etc.

You are welcome to leave comments.  We will share them with the team.  Our Internet time is usually very limited, so we are only able to capture a few highlights and photos.  Some days we may not be able to post at all.  But we're grateful for your interest and support.

And now, a night's rest and another day in the saddle.  Who knows what adventure it will bring?