Deutsch
Vietnam/Diện Biên Phủ Round the world trip 2008
3/25
At dinner last night we met two gal cyclists: one English and working in Switzerland; the other, a Texan American newly released from an overseas work assignment. They were traveling independently, met up, decided to travel together and bought bikes in Bangkok and are now riding back to Hanoi. Good story swapping over our fried rice dinner. Breakfast was a different story as the English gal’s grandfather has just died and they will be busing today to Hanoi so she can catch a quick flight out to the funeral. We invited the American to join us if she wished since she had shared some concerns last night about biking on her own.
We were on the road by 7:15am. Overcast and cool. It had rained last night. The road was wonderful, six untraffiked lanes out of Son La for 13ks, then a good two lanes down, gently through the mountain villages all planted in bright kelly green rice paddies. We were cruising and feeling free, happy to be on Bici and not slowly, slowly climbing mountain passes. Blew into Yen Chau at 11:30am full of vim and vigor. Ate at a 'com pho' restaurant and decided to knock off another 55ks for at total of 120ks for the day.
Three kilometers down the road our ride came to an end. The front bottom bracket seems to have gone out! Back to town to find a bike repair person and a room for the night. Found a Nah Nghi or guest house for $7.00US with Ac/fan and hot water, which had a leak and sprayed the whole room requiring a plumber to fix the fixture.
Across the street to the bike repair man??? He had no idea what to do to get to our front bottom bracket – no tools, either. I (Art) removed the left front crank and chain ring and tried to push/pull the elliptical through the bottom bracket shell but it would not come all the way out. Oh Well – Hell!! Many expletives to myself – No bottom bracket removal tool and no replacement cartridge. So we give up our ride and bus to Hanoi tomorrow to get Bici back on the road. To say this is trying and stressful is to put it mildly! We are or were both so excited about being healthy and riding with strength and now are in the pits! Tears, anger and frustration. These will pass, but it just emphasizes how difficult life is and can be on the road!
March 28 Vietnam/Hà Noi Weltreise 2008 >
<
March 22-24 Vietnam/Son La Weltreise 2008
At dinner last night we met two gal cyclists: one English and working in Switzerland; the other, a Texan American newly released from an overseas work assignment. They were traveling independently, met up, decided to travel together and bought bikes in Bangkok and are now riding back to Hanoi. Good story swapping over our fried rice dinner. Breakfast was a different story as the English gal’s grandfather has just died and they will be busing today to Hanoi so she can catch a quick flight out to the funeral. We invited the American to join us if she wished since she had shared some concerns last night about biking on her own.
We were on the road by 7:15am. Overcast and cool. It had rained last night. The road was wonderful, six untraffiked lanes out of Son La for 13ks, then a good two lanes down, gently through the mountain villages all planted in bright kelly green rice paddies. We were cruising and feeling free, happy to be on Bici and not slowly, slowly climbing mountain passes. Blew into Yen Chau at 11:30am full of vim and vigor. Ate at a 'com pho' restaurant and decided to knock off another 55ks for at total of 120ks for the day.
Three kilometers down the road our ride came to an end. The front bottom bracket seems to have gone out! Back to town to find a bike repair person and a room for the night. Found a Nah Nghi or guest house for $7.00US with Ac/fan and hot water, which had a leak and sprayed the whole room requiring a plumber to fix the fixture.
Across the street to the bike repair man??? He had no idea what to do to get to our front bottom bracket – no tools, either. I (Art) removed the left front crank and chain ring and tried to push/pull the elliptical through the bottom bracket shell but it would not come all the way out. Oh Well – Hell!! Many expletives to myself – No bottom bracket removal tool and no replacement cartridge. So we give up our ride and bus to Hanoi tomorrow to get Bici back on the road. To say this is trying and stressful is to put it mildly! We are or were both so excited about being healthy and riding with strength and now are in the pits! Tears, anger and frustration. These will pass, but it just emphasizes how difficult life is and can be on the road!
