Day 1 solo cycle tour! Roo and I had to part company- I have to head to Laos and Roo is heading off to central Vietnam. We stayed last night in Ninh Binh, which due to Tet was a ghost town. We found a hostel for very cheap and that was pretty much the only thing open! On arrival at the guest house was a couple if chinese chaps who were also cycle touring- they were heading south but seemed keen to come towards Laos with me. I was really happy about the prospect of having some company on the ride. We were just setting off I'd said my goodbye's to Roo, when the Chinese started having a bit of an argument. One of them was not able to speak English- the one that could then just said his mate has changed his mind and they are going south instead- I was going it alone after all!

Mixed emotions as I first set out, sad to be leaving Roo, excited about my adventure to come, slightly pissed off at the Chinese as I had waited around for 2 hrs for them, and a little scared! I had already established there are no reliable maps for Vietnam and road signs do no exist. Unsure of the road quality and the navigation, I had planned my route a rather ambitious 80k for my first day. Off I set it was over cast and about 18o- perfect cycling weather. I soon got into my stride, the roads started out really good but busy with traffic, once I'd found the road I was after I was well away. The scenary was totally spectacular. I was cycling through the Cuc Phuong nathonal park- called the Halong bay through rice paddies. That it was- huge granite kaske(?) mountains towering up out of the rice fields. The locals were really friendly, almost everyone I passed waved and said hello- nice to begin with but exhausting as the day went on! A few people on scooters rode along side me which was quite good fun. One fella even tried to push me along- this was not a nice experience, he quickly stopped!!

The terrain was flat and easy for the first 60k, then just as i was starting to feel my legs, the hills and headwind started! It was a killer! The last 15k took me about 45 mins it was a bit tough! I made it to my destination without major problems in 4 hrs. Not too bad for day 1- although about 10k in to the ride this morning I developed a slightly concerning tapping coming from the pedal/ bottom bracket ( not really sure if that's what it's called), suggestions welcome on how to tackle this one- please bear in mind my bike repair skills are slim to none, and the tools/ parts out here are even slimmer!