Krysten Basso and Lisa Sharpe successfully completed their 500km bike ride in Vietnam and reached their target of $10,000 for the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation. Words and pics by Lisa Sharpe.
It was challenging, sometimes gruelling, exciting, scary in parts but mostly very empowering. Cycling through remote areas of Vietnam and coastal villages that hardly see westerners was a big highlight for me. The Vietnamese are truly wonderful people – always smiling and they make such healthy, fresh food that we were lucky enough to enjoy. They are also very welcoming and generous with what they have, even allowing us to use their toilets along the way.
As for the cycling, it was the biggest physical challenge I have faced in my life, but I surprised myself with how fit I felt (thanks to all those spin classes at the Bangalow Gym). Mostly it was determination and encouragement from the others that got me through parts such as cycling for 10km over a mountain pass that took two hours. The 10km down hill was such a relief that I think I rode with a smile from ear to ear and a sense of achievement and pride in myself. Krysten and I were amongst the least experienced cyclists in the group, so we were so pleased when we made it every day.
We experienced varied weather conditions from extreme heat to torrential rain. In the rain, one guy in our group unfortunately slipped on a bridge and had to be flown to Bangkok hospital with a fractured pelvis. Cycling through cities was equally scary but, once we had mastered the art of weaving in and out through chaotic traffic with no rules, it was more exhilarating than any ride in a theme park.
On my 40th birthday we rode our longest day of 116km, and I could feel it in every part of my body (mostly my backside). I had to be peeled off my bike by our leader and then I burst into tears and couldn’t stop crying. It was a good cry though, 40 years of stuff I guess, that comes out when you are pushed further than your limits and all your defences have no other option but to come down.
That night we celebrated my birthday in a tiny village and it was the best birthday I have ever had (I don’t get out much). They found me an elaborate and beautiful cake, flowers and someone wrote a song for me. We also had a professional magician in our group so he performed his magic. What more could a girl want?
We had planned to visit the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation in Saigon but, because we missed a plane and had to endure a 15hr gruelling bus trip, it was closed when we got there. Next visit!
On a very sad note, Krysten rang me in tears on Boxing Day. She had received an email letting us know that our beautiful Cambodian guide Buntheon (pronounced Boon Toon) was killed in Phnom Penh when his motorbike was hit by a bus. He was the person on our trip that rode at the back to make sure we were always safe. He was 27 and the main income earner for his family. So tragic, but it makes me more determined to get the most out of this life and those you meet along the way. I feel blessed to have met Buntheon.
There are so many people to thank in this community for their generosity and allowing us to have this incredible experience. I would also like to thank Krysten Basso for coming with me and showing me her strengths and friendship over the past year. Although this journey is over, it will always be in our hearts and our lives are enriched and changed forever. Thank you, people of Bangalow for being a part of that.