In total GPS was saying 200km. So six hours should be ample allowing for traffic in HCMC. I had planned the route so all that was left to do was pack the bike and set off.
Riding out of HCMC wasn’t too bad really. You soon realise it’s like being a fish in a shoal. You are all basically going the same way so ride close and you get through, just watch that others know when you go to join another shoal at a junction. Once you are into it, it just flows…..mostly. There’s always a rogue fish swimming against the flow.
Having got out into the smaller villages the traffic eased loads and I was happily buzzing along. I’d chosen a twisty looking road that looked great fun. As I got closer the road got narrower and less tarmac. Until eventually it became a very twisty, rutted dusty path that went on for 20km. The sun was now being brutally hot. There was a small water crossing and a near miss with a chicken.
Eventually back on the hard top I found a really cool cafe with hammocks as well as seats.
It was a great rest and before I knew it Id been there over an hour. I kitted up and headed off. I was approaching a steep climb that was visible for miles in stark contrast to what had been flat. There were some dark clouds about but surely its not going to rain. It was, and quite hard. I thought it would pass quickly and it was quite refreshing. It did stop momentarily, but then it started again and proper this time. Luckily I dived into a roadside stop and took cover.
After 40 minutes of unabated rain, I decided I needed to push on, it was not only dark from the rain clouds but daylight was also gone and I had 35km to go. I unpacked the bike to get waterproof gear out. Re packed and covered the rucksacks with their covers. Set up the 360 camera and sorted the mapping. Clambered on the bike and by pressing the start button I switched off the rain. It was not a fun ride. Instantly the 360 stopped working as the battery had died. It was pitch black and the roads gave no clue of the direction or unmarked edges. For a while there was a huge tail back and I was grateful for tail lights to follow, although overtaking was perilous and very necessary. At one point I was headed towards a scooter which was on the wrong side of the road headed straight for me, nothing unusual in that but then there was a slow moving lorry on the left coming towards me and the lorry behind him went for an overtake. It was so dangerous. I decided that if I couldn’t see a way through I’d just crash into the scooter, my best option. Anyway it all worked out. There are so many scooters with no lights on unlit roads, I don’t get it.
After a terrifying hour I found the hotel I’d booked yesterday. I wasn’t expecting much for £9
Earth, Wind and Tyres 