Still Hanoi

Hanoi

Back home and freezing...

We had an uneventful but long trip home, over 5 flights. Arrived to zero degrees, some change from 32 degrees!
We intend continuing blog with snippets from the whole trip as we were always time pressured when writing 'en route'. Also can now upload some photos.

All in all it was an amazing experience, and without the help and support of all friends and family we would not have been able to fundraise the required amount to go. So THANK YOU, once more!

Homeward bound

Made it to Bangkok which seems to be back to normal. No signs of last weeks disruption. Last night at the night market in Saigon - quite a shopping experience, but very cheap if nothing authentic. Today War Museum- quite a different experience - more later as away to get plane to Heathrow.

Phu Quoc to Saigon

We should fly back to Saigon tomorrow. Interesting airport here as the road runs across the runway so as we landed there were motorbikes crossing the runway and driving up and down it! Security???
Very hot here now and strangely all the bars, cafes etc have their Xmas decorations and trees up. Also in stalls are little Santa suits as the kids here dress up on Xmas Eve in Santa suits and are driven around on motorbikes by their parents! Very odd in a Buddhist country! We have photos of Xmas trees/palm trees and Xmas wreaths all together...

Rucksacks to pack.... more tomorrow from Saigon hopefully..

Island Life

Spending time relaxing(?) here after cycle. Relaxing ? as we hired a motorbike to see the island, as only transport available. Cars are too expensive. Motorbike sounds easy but the roads have no tarmac only red dust and grit, so we arrived back covered in dust head to toe and the driving was not easy either. However the beaches are beautiful, the people delighted to see us and all call out hello as you pass. The sunsets over Cambodia are incredible, with all the little fishing boats highlighted against the setting sun. And the food....wonderful seafood and fish. This island is famous for black pepper and fish sauce. They cant grow much else here.

At the Pearl Factory where they harvest pearls for jewellry we encountered a monkey trying desperately to get its Barbie's through the fence to play with...

Back to crazy Saigon on Sat, flight home Sun (we hope)...more later...

Phu Quoc

Now the group has fragmented and off doing our'own thing' before flight home. Got our trophies for completing cycle so R and R now!
We are on an island 15km off Cambodian coast, but Viet. owned. Fabulous undeveloped place, but not for long I fear. Full meal around 3 pounds and so, so good. Especially seafood and fish.
Beach miles long, water warm, palm trees.......
So good after mucky cycling!
Had an hour long massage on beach yesterday for 2 pounds 50 each and wonderful! Just walked over an hour into town to find internet, but reckon hiring a moped tomorrow might be good, but untarred red dust roads. However if we can cycle in mayhem of Saigon and Hanoi this is childs play!

Vietnam truly is a wonderful destination with fabulous people, food and scenery and STILL very cheap by our standards. Visit now before it becomes 'Thailand'!

Cu Chi tunnels

Today we cycled to the Cu Chi tunnel system on outskirts of Saigon and had tour there with our guide. Amazing! What a smart bunch of people who actually had the US troops playing into their hands as well as using all that nature could provide to help them, eg as the US burned the undergrowth to 'see' the tunnels it 'cooked' the clay soil and made the tunnels stronger. Just one example of many. The US even had a base built completely on top of the 200km tunnel system without knowing! Glad to say women played a HUGE part in the success of the Vietnamese in all the roles the had from providers to fighters.
Today the Vietnamese are so keen to shrug off the war heritage and show off this wonderful country and people who live in it.

Afternoon dodging traffic in Saigon - 8 million people, 4 million motorbikes! Very few can afford cars even now. MAYHEM!

Off to eat now and have we been eating well...the food is wonderful, the beer around 40p a glass - HEAVEN!

Goodnight Saigon!

Arrived in Saigon tonight after 2 days of hard cycling. Yesterday was long and hard. We had 40 km of good interesting cycling through Vietnamese countryside on the relative flat. We had to be bussed around a landslide which meant time was short so we drove up the first hill climb to start cycling again in another tropical downpour. To be followed by 10 km of up and very up, up through cloud and rain but through a lovely coffee and tea growing area. Then a dash of 24 km to Dalat arriving there just after dark which made negotiating the rush hour traffic very interesting.

Today was a cycling of 80 km towards Saigon from Dalat. We started with a tour around central Dalat before heading off. Once out of the town we had a long fast downhill which almost made up for yesterday. Then some undulating countryside through tea and coffee growing areas. There were some significant ups but was mainly good and fast and in good weather - broken cloud and almost sunshine until the last 10 km when we got soaked again. It would not be Vietnam without getting wet. The guides tell us this is very unusual for the time of year.

Tomorrow cycle to the Chu Chi tunnels, home of Viet Cong operations.

Keeping eye on Thai 'problem' as supposed to fly back through Bangkok.....we'll see.

Nha Trang

At last internet once more....

We left Hue and cycled along amazing villages with every sight imaginable once more. Boys riding water buffalo, kids screaming hello from every house, corner, bike etc so eager to talk English to these strangers heading through their village. They never see foreigners and were delighted. Weather was sunny and hot. After lunch we headed to a beach and swam in the sea fora quick break. HUGE surf as a typhoon was brewing...more on that later. A few of us swam but had to be really careful as big rips.
Then the climb...over Hai Van Pass. Big gradient and 11km of up, up, up.. It was hot and steamy, but at the pass the RAIN came down in torrents! Roads became rivers and we cycled through it and on to Danang where we transferred to Hoi An ABSOLUTELY SOAKED TO SKIN! 101km, but tough. Whole day through the landscape was like being on a set for ALL the Vietnam war films you've ever seen! Incredible, you could almost hear the B52's.
Hoi An hotel was fabulous and there for two nights, but typhoon struck and we were rained on over and over as we headed to My Son ancient temples. Another great cycle with time to shop in the old town later that day. Hoi An place of silk making and suits etc run up for little cost in a few hours!

Today we flew on Vietnam airlines through the typhoon, to Nha Trang Airport and cycled a lovely, but hilly coastal road to Nha Trang where we visited Cham Towers and orphanage.
Tonight cyclo ride to eating place and then a huge day tomorrow 100km with 60 km of UP to Dalat.

Hue today....gone tomorrow...

Hue today! pronounced whey!

Rainy, but warm. Cycled over 45 km to pagodas and temples. Wonderful sights and sounds and smells.We went along perfumed river which comes from China and called perfumed due to cinnamon fields it comes through...and finished where the tigers annd elephants used to fight,like in a bullring.

We got here by overnight train amongst some very friendly mice!!!!! Good journey but slow.

100km of UP tomorrow! Hope for no rain and strong legs.

Heading out for food in traditional Hue eating place....more after....

Hanoi calling....

Hi there all
Got here safely after a long, but great trip....big plane half empty and wonderful food. Hanoi is chaotic, bustling and full of every sight imaginable...millions of motorbikes, women in coolie hats carrying two baskets on one pole, bikes with cages of live rabbits on the back and motorbike with three 'de-furred' dead dogs on the back...Just a taste of the sights!
Visited Ho Chi Minh's palace and houses yesterday and had a fantastic cyclo ride in convoy around the Old Quarter for an hour.

Today did a 35 km cycle around the city, along the Red River and through the streets. If we thought Italy was driving nightmare, try Hanoi!!!! Cars, buses, trucks, bikes, motorbikes, all tooting, all going where-ever, whenever but all avoiding each other! We had a great time especially at junctions..very exciting.

Now have afternoon to shop in Old Quarter, then overnight train to Hue with the bikes for next part of cycle tomorrow.

Weather - not too hot, but perfect for cycling. Food - wonderful so far!

Ally and Irene

Not long now.....

Leaving Orkney on the 16th November to fly to London then out to Vietnam on the 19th.....its been an eventful and busy time over the last 12 months or so.
We hope to update the blog as we cycle through Vietnam as apparently (!) internet access is easy to find. We'll see!
Hope you all log in to see our progress and comment as we go. Thanks to all for your support and generosity.

Outer Hebridies

Great week of wonderful weather, people, scenery, and food! From Barra to the 'Butt' was a thoroughly enjoyable cycle training trip, with changing views around every bend and variety of island scenery quite amazing.

We achieved our goal in good time and even managed to drop in on schools on the way to promote BSES (our new Adventura venture - marketing co-ordinators). British Schools Exploring Society to give it , its full name - expeditions to wilderness areas for young people.

Spent last couple of nights with Kenny and Maggie and family in Tong, near Stornoway, which was a great end to the trip. Thanks to them for their hospitality, and Maggie for the fantastic food!

Final run-up to Vietnam now, visas applied for, injections in process....ouch.....

Freezing in Segovia/Warming up leaving Arevalo

What now...one year on....

From the idea of a cycle challenge being muted virtually a year ago, we have well exceeded our expectations of 'getting there' funds-wise before the date we leave. Not without a huge thank you to all who have supported us along the way. We're not stopping here though as we want to continue until the event and then afterwards until the start of 2009 to round off.

As for the actual training, we had a weeks cycling in Spain while attending the EEE conference. This was NOT what we expected as cold weather and rain followed our route! In fact -1 degree and sleet at the Pass of Navacerrada, we thought somewhat unusual in May!! However we battled through and were happy with our fitness overall.

Now the Outer Hebridies beckon and no doubt after packing for cold and rain we will be faced with blistering (we wish!) weather. PS - Thanks Alex of Cycle Orkney for renovating Irene's bike for the trip!

Then the run down to Vietnam...numerous vaccinations and careful packing of essentials to make the cycling more enjoyable.

As my mum's illness deteriorates even further there are 'positive' signs regarding possible cures and steps forward in Alzheimer's disease, and therefore the need to raise funds is even more paramount. As was mentioned to me last week by a nursing home manager 'this is a terminal illness that families are expected to deal with alone and at home.'

Joanne and Ben were married last week amongst family and friends and it was a wonderful day, but without Maureen there. Breast cancer is a devastating disease which touches so many people, and through support and efforts from those we know a small step has be taken to help fund research in this area.

We will update as we run down to the big event and whenever we can en route in Vietnam.

With the final total of over £800 from Lynnfield Hotel we reached our targets once Gift Aid is added on and any further monies raised which is directly with our charities. HOWEVER we want to continue fundraising until after the 'event' itself....so please continue supporting us!

The Lynnfield Hotel De-luxe Charity Wine and Dine

The Lynnfield Hotel hosted a charity wine and dine on Friday 18th April for our Vietnamese cycle fundraising appeal.

An excellent menu with a tremendous wine selection was served to the diners present. Duncan McLean's 'taste' notes on wines and the fabulous food made for a great evening. Throughout the night there were prizes on offer too from a variety of sponsors - Highland Park, Goodyear, Lynnfield, etc and thanks to the generosity of diners more money was raised for breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

The American themed evening finished with the Lone Star Swing Band playing some super music and was greatly appreciated by

Once again we are touched by the support we are receiving for our charities, and thank Malcolm and Lorna at the Lynnfield for hosting such an event.

Total raised still to be finalised.

Merkister Hotel - Snail Race Night

Sat 15th March saw a great turn out at the Merkister for our charity Snail Race night....Great prizes had been donated for each race from sponsors Highland Park, Scapa Whisky, Pam Farmer, Ortak, Fluke, Orkneyinga Silver, Sheila Fleet, Jane Glue, Davy Harrold, Headwest, Fusion and more...... with star prize being donated by the Merkister themselves.

Under the slick management of John and Lorna the 'race goers' were persuaded to part with a great deal of cash and we raised approx £750 in total to be split between both charities.

Thanks to all who supported the night, especially the Merkister for hosting the event and providing a great fun night out, super prizes and tasty supper halfway through.

To all concerned - THANK YOU!

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR THE NEXT EVENT......... Pub Quiz - West End Hotel for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, March 23rd.

WESTRAY CHARITY DANCE!

Brilliant night oot!

To the people of Westray who supported, donated raffles, helped and attended our Charity Dance on Saturday night heartfelt thanks from us both. It was a fabulous night and we raised £1100 for both charities.
A very special mention to Saltfishforty for coming out from the Mainland with their families to play at the dance; the Westray Band for providing the music and getting everyone on the floor; the Pierowall Hotel for running the bar so efficiently; the Harcus’s for the accommodation for guests and the Westray Rugby Club for their help in making sure the raffles etc. went smoothly.

A great night was had by all and both charities will benefit from your generosity,
Thank you,
Ally and Irene.