From Đồng Hới to Phong Nha

After opening the doors at the dorm of the Ocean View Homestay in Đồng Hới it was clear – another hazy day in Vietnam. Had breakfast with the little ones for the last time. Got everything on the bike and drove back up the mountain to the Ho Chi Minh Road and on towards Phong Nha.
The clock: 61263 km.

Another day with blue sky at the beach – here comes the morning flight.

Cutting down more trees – not sure if they make way for agriculture or just sell the wood. Today I did pass a lot of big old cut down trees.

This way please

More and more agriculture cuts into the forest

Another clear stream somewhere down the mountain

Green as far as you can see

Not too much traffic – in fact – no traffic at all

Driving this road was like a dream again. Left – right – left – right again. You do look for obstacles on the road. Go slow most of the times and look over the forest. Uphill and downhill. Apart from a few locals on their bikes and 2 wood trucks with a few workers the road was empty the whole day. And great views even with the haze – can you imagine how it would be with blue sky? Jungle as far as one can see. That can only mean one thing – I have to do the whole road again – with blue sky!
From this point of the road on it is all downhill to Phong Nha

Haze over the river. Took this picture from the last bridge before you turn right down the last few kilometres to Phong Nha

And haze over the rice fields down in the valley

And it was hot and stick

Interesting way of reuse the cans

Heavy rain for a few hours just minutes after I got to the hostel

My bunk bed at Thien Phu Hostel. Another night for 5 US $ and for a night it is quite OK. 6 bunk beds do share one bathroom and it comes with a simple breakfast. Took this picture in the morning. The sky was the usual gray but at last – no rain!
The clock: 61390: 127 kilometres yesterday.