Monday 30 December 2013

'Tour of Beauty 1' - Cycling Vietnam

 Saigon to Nha Trang, Via Da Lat. 
December 21 - 26, 2013

    Riders diary:
    141.1 km  / 7:27:20 / 3,139 m. 
    Thursday, December 26, 2013; Final day including 4 hours to lunch from Dalat to Ngoan Muc pass.  Once over the pass the rest of the journey is downhill. Only issue of the day was the regular road re-surfacing all the way down. Otherwise it's a riders paradise.
    Rest Day. Around Da Lat area...
    108.0 km / 8:32:30 / 3,102 m
    Tuesday, December 24, 2013. Expecting the worst made for this day to be very enjoyable. After the first relatively flat 60kms from Phan Rang, the climb begins and goes on and on for at least 30km. However its ride-able even with a load and there was some water and services along the way. Biggest issue of the day was again the poor road surface condition. Much of the climb was on gravel.
    163.0 km / 9:58:19 / 841 m 
    Monday, December 23, 2013. Expecting a relatively simple day I was surprised and challenged by the difficulty of this leg. Long remote section after Mui Ne then a tough push into a very strong head wind for the final 80kms to Phan Rang. This was a real killer and in future probably split the ride into two. 
    162.9 km / 8:06:46 / 551 m. 
    Sunday, December 22, 2013; The slightly easier, less complicated and more protected route is back to Ba Ria then north to Lagi. After that to coast road is a pleasant conclusion to a fairly long day into Phan Thiet.
    112.7 km / 13:42 / 152 m 
    Saturday, December 21, 2013. This is a surprising interesting ride leaving the big city, crossing at the Cat lai ferry and taking the main highway which is now complete with a wide shoulder and low traffic on weekends. 
  • Stats...Dist: 688km. Climb: 7,784m (total). This cycling journey began in Saigon (HCMC) and finished a week later in the central coastal city of Nha Trang...Passing through Vung Tau, Ba Ria, Phan Thiet, Mui Ne, the mountain city of Da Lat, and finally Nha Trang. The return trip is an overnight train from Nha Trang back to Saigon.I carried or bought everything I needed. No support vehicle. Just my own navigation, medical and tool kit and maybe a back up credit card.
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"'Tour of beauty concentrates on week long sections of cycling routes in Vietnam to make accessibility easier for people with limited time and limited -but adequate stamina"
Tour of Beauty Facebook Page..

(TOB 1 - Profile) 

Related Links to sections of the ride:

Saigon Sporting Life: Cycling Vietnam - Mui Ne to Vung Tau...Not much change out of 10 hours in this one..

Friday 27 December 2013

Tour of Beauty 0.1 - Cycling Vietnam


Also see 'Tour of Beauty' Facebook Page...

 Meekong Delta - Saigon to Chao Duc, Cambodia and Phnom Penh
2014

The planned route will take 5 days starting again Saigon, passing through My Tho, Ben Tre, Canh Tho, crosing the Cambodian Border at Chao Duc and on to Phnom Penh! 



Saturday 28 September 2013

Aussie Rules with the Dingoes in the PAFLRacked up

Racked up a few games with the Dingoes in the PAFL in 2013 and 2014

Also got to meet and get coached by Peter Matera - Sep 2013 Grand Final Eve.

Levi played in ISM tournaments. This day beating arch enemies the Brits at BSM.

Skippys


Wednesday 10 July 2013

Bicol

What an amazing region and an amazing holiday! Once you discover the Philippines there is no going back. Mount Mayon blew me away! I don't know why - It just completely inspired me.  Riding the ATV's around the base was great fun too! And the kids tried out the biggest zip line I've ever seen!