The Old Legs Tour 2026 – Vietnam to Vic Falls – 31 October – from Cat Tien to Thon Phu Hanh.
Dist – 93 km
Climb – 745 m
Time – 7 hr 59 min
Av Heart Rate – 121 bpm
Max Heart Rate – 174 bpm
Max Humidity – 95 percent
Apparently the human body contained up to 45 liters of water, past tense. Mine is now running on empty, because I sweated it all out, before 9 o’clock. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it previously, but it is bloody hot and humid in Vietnam.
Because it is so bloody hot and humid, we reworked our route majorly, routing inland along the coast, instead of inland along the Laos border, to avoid the mountains, and to avoid dying upon them.
But the road surveyors and engineers in Vietnam haven’t quite got the memo about sticking to sea level, and we somehow managed to climb almost 800 meters yesterday, and almost died in the process.
Although the view from our lunch stop looking out over the sea and a fleet of fishing boats was beyond beautiful and one that I will remember for ever.
In the support van, Jenny, Hanny and Vicky found a Catholic Church one thousand years old, also on top of a hill, and also beyond beautiful.
Because he has never heard of preventative maintenance, Jonno busted the bottom bracket on his bike, rendering it unrideable. But he found a roadside bike mechanic who was able to fix the bike good like new.
To get to our lodgings, also beyond beautiful and also on top of a bloody hill, the riders took a shortcut over a 2 kilometer-long wooden toll bridge. It was a toll bridge. We had to pay the equivalent of a dollar each to cross the bridge. I can confirm none of the toll money raised has been spent on maintenance. The bridge was beyond rickety and terrifying, especially when you bumped into traffic coming full pelt the other way. Evasive action was almost called for , but you don’t really want to be swimming in dirty water rivers if you can help it.
We are riding from Vietnam to Vic Falls to raise money and awareness for Zimbabwe’s pensioners, and for the Friendship Bench. There are many contrasts between Vietnam and Zimbabwe. In Vietnam, road works are completed within your lifetime, and old age pensioners get state pensions and free medical. In Zimbabwe, they don’t.
Please help us help them by following the donate prompts below.
For the pensioners- https://www.gofundme.com/f/old-legs-tour-2026-vietnam-to-victoria-falls
And in support of the Friendship Bench- www.friendshipbench.org/donate
Have Fun, Do Good, Do Epic – Eric Chicken Legs de Jong
#oldlegstour #Have Fun Do Good Do Epic #mountainbiking
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Please donate to support pensioners struggling to survive in Zimbabwe
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