Team Elwood's Vietnam Challenge

The Reunification Party

teamelwood — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:13:37 +0000

Ian and his new bird. Little Ian Junior

We all got together again on Friday night for the reunification party and a great time was had by all. Everybody brought a Vietnamese dish, including pho, rice paper rolls, curries and lots more, all washed down with a big jug of mojitos!! There was of course anti-bacterial handwash and some dettol available for the hygiene conscious, and to complete the atmosphere Mike even arrived on a rickshaw. We saw everyone’s photos and the video, but the highlight of the evening had to be the arrival of Little Ian the 2nd complete with Vietnamese birdcage! Apparently he is settling well into his new home and we are hoping that next time we see him he will be able to ‘hello, what your name?’

The true crazies amongst us have just sigend up for the whole of Around the Bay in Day so it seems that the madness continues…….

Posted in Uncategorized

Home sweet home

teamelwood — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:20:58 +0000

Well we are all home safe and sound. It was an amazing trip – all we had hoped it would be and more. Cycling was a great way to see Vietnam which is a spectacular country. The people were warm and friendly and we are all exceptionally proud of our achievements. I think it’s fair to say that we all felt challenged to the maximum of our abilities and have come back loving ourselves sick – helped by the fact that we have all lost a few kilos and have leg muscles where previously I for 1 only had cellulite!
It was an emotional end to the trip – we were all very excited to see our families but sad that our adventure was over. It was great to see everyone at the airport and true team elwood style we all had to go straight out for coffee to fill all our partners, kids and friends in on our adventures. Settling back in to work can only be described as depressing but we are so keen to get back on our bikes that it’s Mordialloc this morning and Mount Macedon on Friday (while we still can).
So well done to everyone, thanks to all our friends and families for your support and encouraging comments along the way and here’s to new friends and future adventures!
Jo x

Posted in Uncategorized

Saigon..Meekong Delta and homeward Bound

teamelwood — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 00:44:17 +0000

Arrived to a bustling crazy city of saigon and a bit of a shock after our country backroads on the bike. The traffic entertained us some hired motorbikes to experience the motorbike melody as it is called and see the sites, 2 days was enough and we headed off to the Meekong Delta for a relax and last look around before the long trip home.

We had a fantastic boat trip to the floating markets ( Fiona and then Gordan sick this time) and then finished with 3 hours of massage and manicures and some had facials as a treat and help for our tired little muscles.

Our group all stayed together for these last days , even Deb and Gordan stayed on which was fantastic and we are already planning our next ride and re- union in Melbourne.

Sad to leAVE BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING ALL THE FAMILIES ON OUR RETURN, SEE YOU SOON

Posted in Uncategorized

We made it!!!

teamelwood — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:01:29 +0000

We cant believe it after 6 months of hard training and even harder fundraising and today completing the 550 km from North to South Vietnam.A hot final day saw us with tears of Joy on our arrival into Pleiku an emotional moment and thanks to Adam our leader for allowing us and encouraging to push orselves to our boundaries and thankyou to all for supporting us in this amazing and memorable journey.

We are continuing to celebrate with Ian and all for his birthday and fly in to Saigon tomorrow for our final night.

We sadlly have said goodbye to ou bikes and are evan contemplating hiring some in Saigon…Im sure that madness will stop on or arrival.

We admire the people of Vietnam and the physical work and lives they have and proud to have pushed ourselves to our limits and helped some of these lovely people.

Next entry Saigon…

Posted in Uncategorized

WE MADE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

teamelwood — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:11:29 +0000

Posted in Uncategorized

Happy Birthday Ian

teamelwood — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:09:48 +0000

Posted in Uncategorized

Kon Tum

teamelwood — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 04:25:55 +0000

Arrived after a long hard mountain stage of the Tour De Vietnam as it felt yesterday, climbing 30km uphill to the top of the first mountain through thick Jungle and every stage a hill of 10% gradient ( we learnt to hate these signs) Our legs screaming we continued along the road in the humidity and much to our excitement the lunch stop got closer. The last 10 km was the hardest cycling or physical and mental challenge we had ever encountered and with the support of our team and camera crew we were cheered in 6 hours after we began. A feast for lunch and muscles ceasing up we rode on( with 10km ddescent) andther 5okm and arrived full of emotion and adrenalin. To finish off our day we cycled in a huge monsoonal downpour and had trouble seeing with the rain hitting our faces and avoiding the potholes, but the rain had a great cooling effect on all our muscles.Kon Tum is a lovely place and we again had a great day with teamwork from all and support from all we have made new friends who are now very much a part of our team . Our last day of pedaling is not the easy day we thought 20km this morning and the heat and humidity is high, another 47km this afternoon and sadly we dismantle the bikes and head to Saigon tomorrow for our last night, ( our legs are quite pleased about that.

Posted in Uncategorized

Hoi an, Tam Ky Quang Ngang…4am

teamelwood — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:58:45 +0000

Hi all a few days have passed since last update computers getting less available, shopped til we dropped in Hoi An, had fun at Taylors and went on a fishing boat so a paced time there, on from there we had a look at a local farm and a feast for lunch before setting off from there. While in Hoi An we visited the Lifestart projects and saw some some poor living and their school as well as womens workshop all very humbling and made us all the more happy and pleased about our efforts for Lifestart. We will update a more detailed visit as a seperate post.

It is now 4.30am and thats pretty hard wake up call after a 9okm ride in heat and dust yesterday. However we did stop at the Mei Lei memorial a village that was dessimated during the war and this was another visit that again made us so aware of wars in general and the things people endure, very sad.

We finished our day with beers by a huge river with a sandy bank and then quick to bed as 5 of us are ririding 110km through, up and over mountains to the Central Highlands today. We will meet the others aty th lst 60km and more hills await.Another huge day and challenge ahead.Bek is just getting over her second bout of tummy bug but is giving the hills ( 22km of climbing) a go.

Thanks again for all the comments so take care and look forward to hearing from you all

Team Elwood

Posted in Uncategorized

Hai Van Pass and Hoi An

teamelwood — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:06:53 +0000

Hello to all

we certainly did make it a fantastic experience and an emotional one as we saw each other achieve so much, each person working hard and getting up that pass. It was a spectacular ride, barely any traffic and views of distant beaches, mist and boats and jungle. We stopped every couple of kilometres to regroup and cheer each other on and give the legs a quick rest before going up again and finally reached the top finishing all together,and true syle with a small costume on over the top in true super hero style.If you are wondering what the print is on our knickers it reads Hai Van Pass Kiss My ….
After celebrating with delicious iced coffee and a few trinketts purchased as momentos of the ride we had a great freewheel down the other side and onto China Beach for lunch. Jo and Fiona even squeezed a surf in at China Beach during the lunch stop.

We then had a bit of a Mordy headwind as we rode the last 20km into Hoi An which is a stunning ancient city bustling with tourists shops and beautiful buildings,rice paddies and river.

This afternoon we are visiting the Lifestart Projects and seing Karen as we cycle to the projects around the town.

Luv to you all and please feel free to post comments as we love hearing from you.

Team Elwood

Posted in Uncategorized

Day 3 – The Pass!!!!

teamelwood — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:24:33 +0000

Well, they did it! Team Elwood has survived the Hai Van Pass. All present and correct and rode like the wind for the 11kms up hill climb.

Posted in Uncategorized