Day 4 (04-Sep-2010) Can Tho - Chau Doc

Following a most sumptuous breakfast we headed off by boat at 07:30hrs to visit the floating market. The torrential downpour meant nobody, not even the skipper, could tell which direction we were headed. Thankfully, the rain stopped before colliding into any boats. Unlike the floating market in Bangkok, which has morphed over the years to sell trinkets to legions of tourists, this particular floating market is a hive of agricultural commerce, with all manner of fruits and vegetables being battered and exchanged. Astrid did a great job with her Canon D5 capturing the essence of this local gem. And thence to the day’s bike ride.

Not satisfied with the spoils of yesterday’s victory, Simon yearned for immortality among the Pantheon of cycling legends from days of yore. To be revered in equal measure with the likes of Eddy Merckx, Robbie McEwen & Sir Chris Hoyle was simply too irresistible. And so it was, after just 15 seconds in the saddle, perhaps 20 at most, Simon feigned a tricky hand break turn on the bridge leaving the Floating Market. The result was magnificent – a deep gouge in his right shin. While some like myself were content to give him a standing ovation, others rushed to stem the massive loss of blood.

And the carnage only got worse, far eclipsing the great Precambrian mass extinction event. Bryan The Invincible decided he needed a facial mud pack rather than sun cream to protect his youthful looks and Astrid was not convinced by Donna’s performance the day before, and decided to test for herself the very slippery conditions. A close inspection of the ensuing blooded right knee, plethora of bruises to her right arm, and the massive grazing of her left hamstring was sufficient to convince her that indeed concrete can be slippery.

And then the heavens opened once again, with the next hour pitted against all that nature and lore could arraign against us, with the Four Horses of the Apocalypse chasing us along a giant BMX obstacle course towards the Gates of Armageddon. Finally we took shelter in the entrance to a small factory, with next half hour spent embalming Simon’s shin in plastic bags and self-adhesive tape.

With no signs of the rain abating we decided to continue on to out morning coffee break, miraculously avoiding further incident. The 2nd stage to lunch was also very pleasant, with the countryside revealing its stunning beauty as the sun slowly emerged from behind the clouds. In order to make up for lost time we took to the bus for the first 30km after lunch before then completing the day on bikes. This last stage took us along the open expanse of rice paddy fields in the Mekong delta stretching to the horizon in all directions. With Barry now at the front he found himself the focus of unfettered adulation by the local children, who rushed out from their homes for a ‘High-Five’ as we hurtled along the narrow dykes. The rest of us huddled under Ponchos to avoid being drenched by the splashback from his Fountain of Sweat.

And so finally, after brief stop at an Egret bird sanctuary , we were finally able to put up our spurs for the final bus ride to our Hotel for the night, arriving 19:30hrs.