devoncycling's Journal

More from Vietnam
17th March - in between power cuts............
Hi everyone
We are in the north of Vietnam on the delightful island of Cat Ba. Lovely cycling,no traffic,hardly any litter, SUNNY AT LAST,and food available. Life is looking up.
(Would someone tell Pete Lewis we lost his e-mail so cant include him inthe updates,please)
Tomorrow we are going on a 2 day cruise. I have a sneaking suspicion that 'cruise' May be a bit grandiose a term for the unseaworthy junk we are going on but hopefully we will be pleasantly surprised.After that it's Hanoi.
On balance, although we have done some fantastic cycling the overall reality is that Vietnam doesnt figure on the cyclist's must do list of cycling countries. The pollution, litter,noise and traffic on the roads where there are hotels and food make it unpleasant and where its beautiful and unspoilt there's nowhere to stay and nothing to eat unless you co camping and cook your own food.
We have had a lot of laughs and its an eye opener everyday but give me the good old Newton Road every time!
Thanks to all who have answered us by the way, we really appreciate it
Love, Ursula and Derek

14th March - ........foot rot setting in.
hello there again
We are in north Vietnam about 60 miles short of Haiphong (where U.S. troops used to go to for hospitalization). We have been cycling round godforsaken paddyfields and also on motorbikes over so many potholes and disintegrating roads (roads?) admiring mountain after mountain of filthy plastic bags and rotting rubbish. We had one dry day but then the rain came back and the water and mud threw itself at us and our poor little tootsies stink to high heaven with foot rot or fungal infections. Everyone looks round and sniffs when we appear and we do our best to look uninvolved. Been on boat trips. I told Derek that people row with their feet. Oh, Pedalos, says Derek. No, they actually lean back on their hands and row with the side of their feet and their little toes. They dont have foot rot. Cant imagine why not as they are always knee deep in water either sowing rice or digging mud or washing the dishes or worse.
Anyway, off cycling to Haiphong tomorrow and hoping for dry.
Love, Ursula and Derek