28 Dec - Hai Van Pass cycling 90km

7.30am start for a gentle flat ride along China beach. Started at a marble factory and showroom with sales ladies persistently asking us to buy at every glance. Very grey skies and couldn't see the white Buddha statue in the distance. A few old US vets were visiting where they had landed for the war. Through Da Nang then an energy top up for the big 10km assent. It was a steady pace with really only a numb bum to complain about. Everyone made it but were welcomed by the most pushy-ist bracelet sales women ever. An iced coffee and a lot of peanuts later we rode downhill for another 10km enjoying the speed.

Another 10ish km through some really idyllic fishing areas then on the bus for about 30mins through some tight back roads to our lunch destination. More baguettes and Laughing Cow cheese accompanied by a very noisy cat. The family house we stopped at had loads of pretty butterflies and some sort of bee/humming bird insect sucking out nectar.

The lunch didn't really fuel me that well so struggled a bit for the rest of the 40km. We passed through the first village with propaganda tannoys throughout, another with every house having a straw-based shed identical to its neighbour then before entering Hue, we cycled through about 2 km of tomb country, further than the eye could see.

Our back road route to Hue changed to rich red muddy trails with a lorry breaking down and blocking the traffic. We cycled around the stationery vehicles through the puddles ahead. Maybe not the best idea as our bikes and clothes got very muddy. By the end at the hotel we'd done 105km which would have been a fitting end for the cycling but Long decided to do another 20km for the next day.

The hotel was ok but just over the road was the Imperial hotel, a 5 star offering a $11 buffet and a 16th floor bar with amazing views of the Perfume river. Before this I had to sort out some more money as the ATM refused me. Just a call to Halifax bank which I'm not looking forward to the bill.

The cocktails were about the same price as at home but the views worth it. My alcoholic strawberry milkshake was delicious. The buffet was great too with ostrich meat, Williams potatoes with sesame seeds, holiday favourite spring rolls and some tasty mini tarts for desserts. Tried the local beer of Festival and Huda, with Festival being the better.

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