Lime stone mountains of Vietnam
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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 was 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
Monument in Khe Sanh – the first time I see it with blue sky

Lake a few kilometres after Khe Sanh
A big lake a few kilometres 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
Nice lake view but if you look down – trash – everywhere

No more forest left
No more forest left.

Empty roads
Empty roads – for most of the day.

You can see how the street cuts into the green mountains
You can see how the street cuts into the green mountains.

Looking down at Hương Hóa in the Quảng Trị Province
Looking down at Hương Hóa in the Quảng Trị Province

Farmland takes over the mountains
Farmland takes over the mountains

Left - right - left - HCM Meditation
Left – right – left – HCM Meditation

This way to the border - Laos on the other side
This way to the border – Laos on the other side

More curves up to the next mountain range
More curves up to the next mountain range

Small village next to the street
Small village next to the street

Less and less farming along the road and more natural forest
Less and less farming along the road and more natural forest

Last year there where only the power poles but no power line
Last year there where 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
Magic mountain wonderland

The road cuts into the mountains
The road cuts into the mountains

When the street workers go they leave all the rubbish next to the road
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
More curves and more forest – with a banana plantation on the left

Suddenly a lot of traffic on the road
Suddenly a lot of traffic on the road

Which is a sure sign of a little villages after a few more corners
Which is a sure sign of a little villages after a few more curves

For a while the road follows the river towards the next mountain range
For a while the road follows the river towards the next mountain range

Not to much original forest left here
Not to much original forest left here

More traffic
More traffic

Still a few tall trees left
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.
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
Nothing – as far as one can see

Straight - left - right - left - straight - right - and so on...
Straight – left – right – left – straight – right – and so on…

And after every corner there are more great views
And after every corner there are more great views

Slowly the sun sets
Slowly the sun sets

Mountains and mountains
Mountains and mountains

Did turn the bike for this shoot
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
The last picture for today – time to hit the road bevore the sun is gone

Todays Drive

189 km in 8 hours and 44 minutes including lunch, photo stops as well as a Gas stop

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