Hard climb and hairpin bends
Recovering from my second day of cycling yesterday. According to the Lonely Planet Cycling Vietnam guide, I did 2 days of cycling in one – from Lang Co to Danang to Hoi An. The real beast of the day was getting over Hai Van Pass – a straight vertical 500m ascent from sea level. Quoted in the book as’9.8 km hard climb and 2 km of hairpin bends.’ It was up and up and up for quite awhile but the scenery was stunning with mountains to my right and ocean to my left. It felt like it was never going to end but eventually I got to the top where there is an old American bunker and a few shops. I thoroughly enjoyed the 10 km descent! Then the road flattened out a bit until I reached Danang where I stopped for some well-needed lunch and energy resupply.
So I could have stayed in Danang for the night but it was still early (2pm) and only another 32 km to Hoi An so I thought well let me just take my time and continue on. The route from Danang took me straight to the sea at China Beach (My Khe), the former R&R spot for many American GI’s during the war. Not much there besides 2 hotels but the beach was nice…
Then I continued south on a somewhat smaller road than the main Highway 1A – still a lot of traffic but not nearly as bad as the highway. I have discovered a new weapon in my defense against the raging horns blaring everywhere: THE EARPLUG. I’ve been wearing one in my left ear now as I ride (they drive on the right-hand side here just like home) and it definitely has helped me retain a bit of sanity during the actual pedaling. God they really do love their horns here. I don’t know how they’d mangane without them.
So it’s a rest day (or 2) in Hoi An before heading south again.
Miles biked: 46.56
Time: 4 hr 43 minutes
The evil mountain climb lurks ahead – Hai Van Pass
She makes it to the top!
Quick break at China Beach
Add comment February 5th, 2002