Yesterday we went out on a boat but today we wanted something different. Our explicit goal was to look at the ferries and their schedules as well as checking out possibilities to hire kajaks outside our harbor, closer to the Halong Bay peninsula. So we decided to use our bikes again, a rather easy decision.
Driving on Cat Ba is excellent as the island is very hilly. The roads passes the beautiful landscape with a lot of turns and a lot of downhills and uphills. Most of the roads are covered by tarmac and if not, then it's most likely a road improvement going on. Becky and Gretchen were more than willing to bring us from Cat Ba town at the south coast to the other on the west. And then we drove to a third one on the north side of the island where we plan to make our departure.
As Nisse always wants to climb mountains, and as Cat Ba island has a natural peak in the middle, I had a rather hard hour to follow him doing so. But we both managed and it paid off with a magnificent view. We met a colourful spider on our way down and we managed to have it on photo. But to our sadness and relief (strange feeling indeed) we were told that the spider was harmless. I will send the photo to Reine T. I think he likes spiders.
A fourth harbor nearby was paid a visit and then we were in full control of where, when and to what cost tomorrow's kajak will be rented. The afternoon ended by providing support to a german couple who were 3 km off uphill and looked a little bit tired.
Now Gretchen is maintained (new motor oil, breaking light in order, correct air pressure in the tires, a full tank and a greased chain). We are ready for a final day full of kajaking in Cat Ba and then we are heading towards Hanoi. The big typhon that presently threatens the Philippines will probably pass Vietnam below us although some heavy rain is anticipated. We definitively do not want to be in the typhons path more than necessary.
//Stefan
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