Day 10 | The Big Climb to Sa Pa

Jan 8, Tuesday
Binh Lu - Sa Pa
Kilometers Traveled: 44

The last stretch! This was also the day of the big climb - 30 km straight with elevations of 600m-2000m+. 

The weather was not the friendliest today.  We again said hello to our friends, fog and mud, but it was not as nasty as the one going to Tu Le. But it was cold, cold, cold!

The route starts flat and somewhat clear, but the mountains tell a different tale.

 

Hello mud and mist, we meet again.

Snack break.

 

Cattle in a cloud.

What do we have here? A hole!

Biker in the hole!

Somewhere along the way, the mist clears.

And then, there it is again!

 

Finally, the 15 km mark!

This sign says it's all downhill from here!

Weeeee!

Finally, we arrive at our ultimate destination, Sa Pa. Honestly, it felt a little anti-climactic because of the weather conditions.  Ideally, the last stop would have to be the prettiest one. But the beauty of Sa Pa was blanketed in freezing cold fog. The sun, that warm heavenly orb, that makes the mountains glow was nowhere to be found. Nonetheless, this weekend warrior/newbie cycle tourist was absolutely glowing inside.

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Next : Day 11 Sa Pa