We climbed quickly out of Meo Vac just after noodle breakfast. I hav now successfully learned to identify the fermented chili sauce. It is to be avoided at all costs! Once we dropped down into a river valley, the rest of the day was unusually easy! And looks like we may be done with the rain!!!! For a change…

A picnic lunch break for French bread, tomato, cucumber, onions, cheese, oil tuna sandwiches. Pretty darn good! A reasonable day, but will vent a bit on the food provided… A few cans of oil tuna, bread, cucumbers, tomatoes is Dermot’s idea of a picnic lunch. We’ve had this at least four times now, and it is a great lunch in moderation, and when adequate quantities are provided. Truly, restaurants are not a viable option for this huge group except in the hotel towns, so road food is necessary. However, there are consistently half as many cans of tuna as needed. Tomorrow is our last picnic and ample tuna is promised. Also, remind me why people like pork liver pâté? All I can think of is cat food when a can of that appears…😜😜😝😝

Paul left the lunch break early heading up the road but took a wrong and was not seen again for hours. He eventually showed up in town after we figured what he must’ve done and let Phong know so the van could go find him. He was chipper on arrival, but is holding the story of his day for a later time, he said.

Dinner was unremarkable with a beef/onion dish, eggs, morning glory greens, steam rice, pork egg rolls, and chopped red chilis.

Bao Lac is a similar small town with a market that seems indistinguishable from the last town we were in. Can you tell it feels like I’ve been on the bike too long; this being our fourth of five consecutive days?

At dinner, Mike saw his long lost twin…