Lost gprs connectivity in the evening before leaving Can Tho.
The ride today was mostly on QL -91 a main road without a real shoulder. Lots of trucks, buses, and other conveyences. Noisiest day so far. Hot of course but seem to be getting somewhat used to is as the heat was not nearly as debilitating as earlier in the trip.
About 15-20 km before Long Xuyen (a working city, not tourist and not a commerical center just a local or regional important city) we stopped to go the the bird sanctuary.
The road we were told is too hard to bike. Only one km by road but for some reason we took a boat rather than walked. Small sampan with a long tail, Thailand style or maybe Thais got it from the Vietnamese. Very versitile boats.
About a 25 minute ride on the very muddy household water supply Mekong. Families live on the water, in houses on stilts, and drink, bathe, defecate, wash and of course fish in this water supply.
Fishing is often of the basket on the end of a long pole type. Dip it in, wait a short bit and drag it out. Hard work. Then shake the basket the way one pans for gold.
Many catfish farms and duck herding on the river.
We get to the 'sanctuary' and like much of this interesting country it is not what it sounds like. Turns out to be a farmers home, albeit a home with extra land that is forrested with bamboo, an extra muddy tributary, and lots of birds.
We pay the farmer and climb to an observation tower. Children climb up with us – very happy giggly children. Left my pens at the other end of the boat ride as I did not understand we would have farmers offspring as additional guests.
White birds of the tree nesting type, mostly egrets I am guessing. Various types of egrets that have found this particular plot of land good to come to each year. Lower and higher dwellilng and nesting birds. Bigger black birds looked like storks.
Hard to know as no literature to identify the birds. Just a farmer's property and no government support or, I am guessing, way for him to put a brochure together.
Back on the sampan and ride to Long Xuyen. Long very straight road with continuous commerce. One of the few roads in the area.
At lunch met a South African couple that have been touring Thailand, Cambodia and now Vietnam for 3-4 months. Real adventure. Discussed some of what I will see in the North. Fewer people on the roads but even noiser drivers, love to use the horns for some reason. I am buildiing up a distaste for the noise.
The air quality is terrible by our local standards. When I discussed this at lunch with Scott, one of the two other riders, he thought better than Los Angeles area. Yikes! We would call this a spare the air alert for sure. Scott thought it was a clear nice day for riding.
Evening capped by a nice dinner, again too much food, but included claypot stew with various meats (did not eat them as just too much other stuff) catfish, squid, fried rice, what might have been pike. Mostly seafood and a lot of it, not all, deep fired. All with many dipping sauces.
The staff tried to show us how hot the local peppers are and burned their lips. I took their word for it.
Beer and then dark Vietnamese coffee for desért. Expresso strengh. Most added rice milk or soy, sweetened of course. I liked it black.
Hotel is a 3 star that we would call a 1-2 star. Best place in town. Large clean room just without any charm and few ammenities. Got spoiled by the Victoria.
Picture is the hotel in Long Xuygen
Boog's Blog 