Author Archives: Inspired Adventures

Day 8: Our Final Cycle is HOT HOT HOT (and so are we)

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DAY 8: SBS RACE FOR REFUGEES 2012 (Mekong Delta; 55kms)

Today we had only one objective: pound through the 50 kilometres and finish the challenge before literally melting into the road. We had a brilliant early morning boat ride to visit the floating markets where an 8-year-old kid taught us all a thing or two about sales, nearly managing to up-sell Lizzie from 20 bananas to 40 using the cunning tactic of grinning big while withholding change. He almost had us!

After a 30-minute transfer on the bus we saddled-up to conquer our final ride of the trip: 50 kilometres, taking us to 420 kilometres total!!! It was hot and getting hotter so we powered through the first 25 kilometres in one go, stopping for a quick drink and cool down before hitting the road again to bang out another 15.

It comes easy to us at this point, zipping down country roads as motorbikes zoom past us. The rice paddies extend as far as the eye can see in every direction, criss-crossed by irrigation channels bringing water and, in turn, life to the vibrant Mekong Delta. Every few kilometres we would head up a little bridge where the waterways converge, pumping hard on the steep incline then enjoying the burst of speed on the way down the other end. Today was certainly “undulating!”

We stopped again 1 kilometre from the finish to regroup and finish how we started: together.

It’s amazing to think you can take three competing media agencies and one brilliant television station, unite them behind a common cause and raise over $50,000 for Australia for UNHCR then cycle across Cambodia and Vietnam as a team getting along every step of the way. Talk about an Inspired Adventure!

After snapping nine million photos in the 37-degree heat we hopped on the vans then hopped on a boat and cruised to an island in the Mekong Delta for a seafood feast of a lunch. Now it’s onward to Saigon to party “media style!” Watch out big city. We’re a comin’!

For the final time, GO TEAM!

Kyle
Inspired Adventures Tour Escort

More from the Australia for UNHCR SBS Race for Refugees 2012

Australia for UNHCR is the fundraising arm of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Australia. Our aim is to help Australians change the lives of refugees and displaced people around the world.

As well as providing emergency relief like shelter, food, water, and medical care, our generous supporters improve refugees’ future opportunities, providing infrastructure, schools, and income generating projects. Our monthly donors also provide vital funding for UNHCR’s Emergency Response Teams who are on the ground saving lives within 72 hours, whenever and wherever crisis strikes. Find out more about Australia for UNHCR.

Read more trip stories from or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.

Day 7: Tyre Poppin’ Fun!

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DAY 7: SBS RACE FOR REFUGEES 2012 (Mekong Delta; 50kms)

It was all blood, sweat, and tears (minus the blood and tears) today as we hunkered down and did what we came here to do: cycle! It was up at 6am, eating by 7am, and on the bikes by 8am today as we ere seventeen people on a mission: complete the cycle BEFORE it gets dehabilitatingly hot.

While we weren’t entirely successful, we certainly powered through the majority of the day before the sun seeped through and reached melting levels. Have I mentioned that it is unseasonably hot here at the minute?

There’s actually not a whole lot to report here. We did 55km in under three hours, we had three flat tires, said farewell to Anj who heads back to Austalia for a wedding, we sat in hammocks when we finished, and we ate an incredible amount of lucky cow cheese. By my count, Claire and Laura were leading at six triangles each today. That’s almost an entire wheel and its only 3pm!

Now it’s such much needed R&R before dinner, bed, and one final day on the bikes. Is it really coming to an end?!?!

GO TEAM!

Kyle
Inspired Adventures Tour Escort

More from the Australia for UNHCR SBS Race for Refugees 2012

Australia for UNHCR is the fundraising arm of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Australia. Our aim is to help Australians change the lives of refugees and displaced people around the world.

As well as providing emergency relief like shelter, food, water, and medical care, our generous supporters improve refugees’ future opportunities, providing infrastructure, schools, and income generating projects. Our monthly donors also provide vital funding for UNHCR’s Emergency Response Teams who are on the ground saving lives within 72 hours, whenever and wherever crisis strikes. Find out more about Australia for UNHCR.

 

Read more trip stories from Vietnam or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.

Day 6: A Comedy of Errors

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DAY 6: SBS RACE FOR REFUGEES 2012 (Cambodia-Vietnam; 65kms)

We have had such a clean run thus far so a morning where everything doesn’t go perfectly well was not only expected but almost appreciated. Almost. Today we made the move from Cambodia to Vietnam which meant, devastatingly, having to say goodbye to Vutthu, our absolutely incredible local guide in Cambodia.

The border was, as you’d expect, a paved road that becomes a dirt road that becomes ‘no man’s’ land as you drift between the two nations in a brilliant dance of changing states. Getting out of Cambodia was easy enough: passport, big stamp, big stamp, thump thump thump, grumpy look, grunt, intense eye contact with immigration official, done.

Entering Vietnam, however, was a bit more tricky. The Embassy in Australia misdated Dan’s visa, which meant a last-minute wham-bam emergency version so he could enter. Vi had an e-visa which, while valid, could not be used at this land border crossing for no reason in particular. Just a “special” one. We begged and pleaded and sat and waited as our new local guide “made a call”. Somehow, miraculously, after a little official money for a new visa and quite a bit of unofficial money for the privilege, Vi too made it in! It’s was great news, as we had been planning her return to Pnomh Penh (5 hours away) to get a new visa using the public bus then returning to the border and re-entering Vietnam only to join us at our hotel another 3 hours beyond the border. Thankfully, she and I didn’t have to do that!

Because of the delay we had to modify our cycling distance a bit (though we will still pass 400km in total). I gave a rousing speech about how our luck would change only to have it start pouring with rain before Kate and a moped got a little too close for comfort.

Thankfully, there were hammocks and laughing cow cheese waiting for us at lunch and we devoured every last bite! It’s onward to the hotel now for some MUCH NEEDED rest and relaxation. Tomorrow is a new day and a fresh start in our new host country. Can’t wait!

GO TEAM!

Kyle
Inspired Adventures Tour Escort

More from the Australia for UNHCR SBS Race for Refugees 2012

Australia for UNHCR is the fundraising arm of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Australia. Our aim is to help Australians change the lives of refugees and displaced people around the world.

As well as providing emergency relief like shelter, food, water, and medical care, our generous supporters improve refugees’ future opportunities, providing infrastructure, schools, and income generating projects. Our monthly donors also provide vital funding for UNHCR’s Emergency Response Teams who are on the ground saving lives within 72 hours, whenever and wherever crisis strikes. Find out more about Australia for UNHCR.

 

Read more trip stories from Vietnam or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.