Day 6: Quy Nhon to Tuy Hoa
Miles: 60
Elevation gain: 100 meters, and many rolling hills
Headwind: Too much
Weather: HOT.
I have to be honest, I'm exhausted. This post is going to be a quick re-cap of today because it is nearing bed-time and we have our final (and longest) ride tomorrow!
We set out from Quy Nhon around 5:30 am in the company of many other cyclists, walkers, joggers and morning exercisers. Ryan's knee responded quite well to the rest and relaxation, and both of us felt fresh when we hopped back on the bikes - good thing too because the first few miles proved to be steep! We only gained about 100 meters of elevation, but when you're riding a heavy, non-aerodynamic, non-ergonomic bicycle, saddled with about 30lbs of extra weight, 100 meters feels like much, much more. Fortunately, by the time we crested over the top of hill number one, we were just in time for a blood-red sunrise, with hills, fields and the South China Sea in the foreground.
The sun rose and rose, and heated up the earth below to a blazing 90 degrees, coupled with oceanic trade-winds which I normally love, but based on the direction we were riding today the otherwise breeze became bothersome headwinds. The ride was hilly and winding, but we made good time, and took plenty of water, electrolyte drink, salty snack, and sunscreen breaks. During our lunch break, a very kind woman invited us to sit under her umbrella and we delighted in cheese sandwiches and the banana fritters she sold. Yup, I said it, "WE" ate banana fritters. I ate banana today, and I liked it!
Anyway, around two pm we wearily rolled into Tuy Hoa. Now, it is time for bed. We have a long, 80-ish miles to Nha Trang tomorrow, and the final stop of our Tour de Vietnam!
Lessons learned from day 6:
1. Bananas taste great when they're battered and deep-fried to perfection
2. Keep applying sunscreen!
3. Ryan never knew he could be this tan, Cristina had a hunch that she could be ;-)