We set off on the road to Da Lat at 7.30am this morning. In the distance we could see the first climb ahead. Pipes from a hydro electric power station run down the face of the mountain, and we would zig-zag under and over the pipes all the way to the top of the first climb.
(Looking back down the winding road of the first climb)
(A temple near the top of the first climb)
The gradient was nice and gradual and with a newly laid road surface for most of the way, the first 30km wasn't too difficult. As we approached the top of the climb, Paul noticed the bike started feeling a lot heavier and realised he had a puncture! Fortunately we were only about 5km from the town of Dram where we hoped to find somewhere to take the bike apart and check the tyre thoroughly for damage.
After lunch, we pulled in to a mechanic who found a piece of wire in the tyre which he promptly repaired. No matter how we insisted, he wouldn't accept any money for the work and just kept saying "souvenir, souvenir". Still, we were a little uneasy about the thoroughness of the job so we decided to stay out of the hottest part of the day and find a cafe to sit in for a while. We rode through the town and 1km down the road, Paul's back tyre had deflated dramatically. We found a cafe down a side street where we could unload his bike and take the wheel off. Paul found a piece of glass embedded in the tyre. With the tyre and tube hanging on her handlebars, Nicky cycled back to the mechanic. This time, it was only his young apprentice and son, neither of whom would have been older than 14, who were there. After patching the tube, they checked for any more holes but again would not accept any payment.
(First puncture repair)
(Looking back to the plateau where the town of Dram is located)
After a two hour break in Dram, we felt pretty refreshed and ready for the final 37km to Da Lat. The first 10km was one long climb and from there the road wound over the mountains, through small towns where coffee and tea plantations appeared to provide plenty of work for people. It was much cooler at our new height. Now we were surrounded by spruce trees and cherry blossom trees.
(Coffee beans drying on the ground outside this house)
(A mix of different houses)
(An old French building with coffee beans drying outside)
(On the outskirts of Da Lat, coffee and tea plantations, and perhaps strawberry farms)
We arrived into Da Lat just before dark and made our way to the hotel we had made a reservation at. We passed a few beautiful old colonial buildings, built during the French occupation of Vietnam, when Da Lat was a holiday retreat. Paul navigated us to the hotel and we were delighted to get off the bikes knowing we wouldn't be tackling any more hills for a while. As we headed out for dinner, the hotel owner warned us about bringing valuables out with us, explaining that as the year is nearly over, the "bad guys" will be out in force now so as to avoid doing anything that might bring them bad luck in the new year! Strange to think a new year could wipe the karmic slate clean but perhaps that's what we're hoping for in some way when we make new years resolutions. Thankfully, we had an uneventful but delicious dinner and arrived back at the hotel without any problems.
We'll be spending the next three days here in Da Lat, exploring and resting. Looking forward to it.
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