Good bye Ho Chi Minh (Siagon) and the few days that followed.

25 March. HCMC (Ho Chi Minh City) to Johns Hotel.

John is a Vietnamese guy who had lived in the US for a while. Interesting guy. Kept telling me not to trust anyone. Always ask price before you agree to buy anything. Don’t camp alone. Etc. I showed him my bike lock and the first thing he said was “very nice. It could also be used as a weapon”. Maybe he spent a little too much time in the US?

So….

Xa Phuoc Hoa to near Binh Chau. Johns hotel.

Took a bit of a ‘getting going’ today. Late start as I was up late. Did 50 miles. Steady. Took some pissing about getting out of HCMC. Knee was ok as its been feeling a little tight. Could feel it a bit to start then got better the more I rode. Seems fine now. Getting windy. Typically a bloody head wind! Got a puncture. Probably due to all the nuts, bolts and screws on the side of road that seem to drop off the lorries, mopeds and home made trailers. Ripped tyre. Had to patch tyre and put tube in. Worked out fine. Got dark by then so booked hotel. No point in putting hammock up in woods at night, as that was the plan. Hotel only 7 dollars. Not worth getting hammock out for that. Was pleased to come across Johns hotel as it was fully dark and I seemed to be getting further out of town.

Road side repair.
Great name for the hotel I thought at the time. Thank Phuc for Dat.

Washed clothes in shower. Like a proper traveler.

Should get back into it tomorrow. Felt good last hour.

26 March.

Rode to Xa Phuoc Hoa to Binh Thuan, Rock Water Bay Resort

Super windy. Average dropped to 11mph for 4 hours. Frustrating. To add to this I was riding through the salt plains which gave no protection against wind at all. Had enough after 50 miles. Booked into a resort hotel called Bau Mai Resort. It was ok. Looked better in pictures I have than it was.

Salt plains.
Thought I would have the following day off to sunbathe by pool. Beach was just far too windy. The guy at hotel said windy for 2 days.

The following day was even worse wind so good decision I had also woken up and been sick 4-5 times and was having even more issues the other end ????????????

Didn’t eat all day. Then risked dinner thinking I would need it for the riding the following day. All went well. That night though had a fever and soaked the bed and the towels from room. Which reminds me. Great name for men’s shower gel !

27 March.

Woke feeling much better. Didn’t rush out. Planed an easier day to Mui Ne, Phan Thiet district.

A nice steady day of 24 miles. Wind dropped and felt good. Worth looking at wind direction when touring. The last few days was a storm. No rain just high winds. If it had stayed like that for a week it would have really ruined the ride.

Stopped for breakfast and a little miss understanding led to me getting this for breakfast after a day of sickness. Went down well. I’m definitely better ????.

Met these fishermen who insisted I had a drink with them. Again. Great bunch.

Arrived in Mui Ne which is so much more lively and a few more tourists which I was actually pleased to see. After 2 almost 3 weeks of not much talk it was very nice. The plan was to camp but with all the events the past few nights I didn’t make it and today was the same. The reason for today was that camp was about 10 miles further out of town. It looked fun here so another hotel. The Nam Hai Hotel. Not too much. £14.

Sexy Russian girl (Julie) checked me in. I asked where was good and a little lively for food and drink and the next thing I knew I was going for dinner with her and the boss. I need to be careful of these secretary types. ????

Went for Mexican. Then Joe’s Bar. Live music lots of beer all paid for by Chris the hotel manager!! A little weird but all good. I did trie to offer some money.

Chris, Julie and I left about 3am for a 5min drive back to hotel that turned into a good half hour driving the wrong way. I became a little concerned as no one had mentioned anything about a drive etc. Turned out they wanted to show me around. All there was to see was pitch black dessert. Then there was a castle. Very nice. Got back about 3:45. Good night but definitely odd.
28-31 March.
Decided to stay another few nights as it was a lovely beach resort and I realised I had not even swam in the sea yet! Plus Julie knew some cool spots to show me so i decided not to rush things ????

I got to get that I should chill a little more into my head. I was Pissed off I only managed two 50 mile days in that wind. Feel like I need to knock some 80s out. Need to chill. Hard for me but getting there. Beach days have helped.