Bad guidebooks really suck

February 10th, 2002 at 12:00am

LONG day. Two things helped me get through the day –
1) getting up early (5:30am) to be on the road at 7am, and
2) intermittent clouds providing an occasional break from the heat.

I was feeling good energy-wise all day but when I got into town at 2pm I got really annoyed because I couldn’t find any of the stupid hotels in the guidebook and I was so ready to be done and get a shower but instead I spent 45 minutes looking for a place to stay. I’ve been using the Lonely Planet’s Cycling Vietnam guidebook and every day I have gotten lost trying to get into town. I am absolutely convinced that the guys who wrote it did not even actually cycle in the country. Personally I think they rented motorbikes and did a quick 3-week tour while they told their publishers they were push-pedal cycling. The information they give is either incorrect, not detailed enough, or completely left out. They write things like’Turn left just before getting into town.’ Well, where the hell is THAT? It could be anywhere. Ugghhh.

Anyway it’s good to be here and showered again. There is so much exhaust from the trucks and buses and dirt on the road that I am COVERED in black soot at the end of each day. Good news is that I’m closing in on Nha Trang which is where I hope to be in two day’s time for Tet (Lunar New Year). I’ve gotta push out 2 big days to do it though – 113 km tomorrow and then 126 km the next day.

As for the Unfriendly Duo, well I didn’t see them all day but I’m sure they must have been behind me because their stuff was still hanging outside their room when I left this morning. No loss there of course – ha. Mission now is to find some grub then rest…

Early morning start to Qui Nhon

Rice fields of Vietnam

View of the rice fields from the road to Qui Nhon

Entry Filed under: Cycling,Qui Nhon,Vietnam