Tân Hưng

It was a chilly night, even dressed as we were with an extra blanket, and no additional heat... Sleep was fitul, and the roosters were excited to call out the new day. We stayed in bed much longer than usual to prolong the warm feeling.

Once up, we packed and got ready for the day. Our host provided a delicious and simple European style breakfast; the bread was fresh and warm, and the fried banana pancake was heavenly!

Our guide, S, took us on a little tour through the villages, and up though a narrow concrete road into the mountains, passing through many little villages. Eventually we came to a fork in the road, and took the dirt path. We crossed multiple RICKETY bridges, and a number of very muddy and slick sections or path. Our first time offroad riding so some minor tumbles for the bikes, but we were safe! We definitely worked up a sweat with all the hard and precarious riding. Thankfully we found a highway again that took us higher into the mountains, and cloud. A quick lunch stop for bowls of hot noodle soup, and we were on our way again.

Not too far later we stopped for a coffee break. J noticed his motorcycle was having issues, and keep stalling. After we went off road again through some spectacular valleys lines with flowering plum trees. We came to the conclusion the clutch was finished after stalling out trying a few steep climbs. Our guide managed to limp us back to the main road, and finally to the evening's accommodations, Homestay A Của
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bDHyJUSDiSdMDiDV6

We settled into our new bungalow while our guide took the motorcycle to a mechanical shop for a repair. Our host sat us near the corn cob fire with a hot cup of fresh ginger tea, perfect for warming up! Though our room had a fireplace, no one offered to light it 🔥😔

Dinner was scrumptious, though we ate alone as S was away until 10pm trying to fix the broken motorcycle. We enjoyed the fire's warmth until retiring to our cold room, and the forecasted 5C night 🥶. Our breath was visible. Crawling under the double stacked blankets we instantly realize our sleep wasn't going to be very good: mattress the firmness of wood 🪵😔

Today's ride was 5.5 hours.
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