From Khe Sanh to Phong Nha – The best Part of the HCM Highway
A beautiful blue morning sky over the city – the roads are dry, and it is a pleasant 22 degrees. What a nice day to ride to Phong Nha on the best part of the Ho Chi Minh Highway.
Monument in Khe Sanh – the first time I see it with blue sky
A big lake a few kilometers after Khe Sanh – would make for a nice mountain get away on the other side of the lake.
Nice lake view but if you look down – trash – everywhere
No more forest left.
Empty roads – for most of the day.
You can see how the street cuts into the green mountains.
Looking down at Hương Hóa in the Quảng Trị Province
Farmland takes over the mountains
Left – right – left – HCM Meditation
This way to the border – Laos on the other side
More curves up to the next mountain range
Small village next to the street
Less and less farming along the road and more natural forest
Last year there were only the power poles but no power line. Next, every small village along the road will have power. Next – they will have satellite dishes and TV sets. Next – they “know” what to consume. Sad world!
Magic mountain wonderland
The road cuts into the mountains
When the street workers go they leave all the rubbish next to the road. Lots of plastic, cloths, and everything else.
More curves and more forest – with a banana plantation on the left
Suddenly a lot of traffic on the road
Which is a sure sign of a little village after a few more curves
For a while the road follows the river towards the next mountain range
Not too much original forest left here
More traffic
Still a few tall trees left
They repaired the shoulder of the road. And used a lot of small stones that are now everywhere. Not really save in the curves.
Nothing – as far as one can see
Straight – left – right – left – straight – right – and so on…
And after every corner there are more great views
Slowly the sun sets
Mountains and mountains
Did turn the bike for this picture – Phong Nha is towards the right!
The last picture for today – time to hit the road before the sun is gone
Todays Drive
189 km in 8 hours and 44 minutes including lunch, photo stops as well as a Gas stop
