While our mapping app takes care of making routes on small roads between two points, sometimes we decide that we want to go another way. The original way the mapping app suggested we go from Duc Pho to Phu My was up in the hills (the blue line) on small track, but it really looked like either a hiking track or a dirt road and we decided that we were not quite up for it that day. So we took the coast route.
We’ve been getting up around 6:30. The sun is up and people are out so we’ve been trying to get out on our bikes, fully caffeinated, by 8:00AM to try to beat some of the heat. By 7:00AM, the temperature is already 88F, so there’s not that much advantage!
Today, we had a minimum goal (40 miles) and a stretch goal (60 miles). We made our 40 mile destination before 1PM and decided to keep going. We stopped somewhere along the way to have a snack next to someone’s house, and someone walked through the gate carrying a gift of a watermelon for us. It was super nice and generous, but jeez…we are on bikes! But, we thanked them profusely and packed it into my handlebar bag and off we went. Seems everywhere we stop someone pops some food over the wall to give to us. It’s honestly so touching and generous and often we are hungry so it works out perfectly. Vietnamese people are very gracious and kind!
We rolled into Pho My about 5:00 and scouted for dinner before returning to the place closest to our hotel that Chris had noticed as we turned out of the driveway. We ordered a hot pot with baby mushrooms wrapped in beef, not really knowing what we would get. The surly but sweet guy that helped us park our bikes showed us how to cook and eat everything.
As we were eating, kids started arriving to our table to ask us questions in their halting English. What is our name, now long are we in Vietnam, what is our favorite country, etc? Eventually, we probably had about 15-20 kids from grades 2-5, all curious and wanting to connect with us. Very sweet! We used Google Translate copiously, and it was a fun evening. Some parents tried to whoosh the kids away, but eventually we had them all again, which was fine with us. The entire affair lasted about 1.5 hours!
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