Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where over the next month, I will be bicycling from mid-Patagonia down to the southern tip of the island of Tierra del Fuego. At the commencement of 2019’s “53 Across Vietnam, the 6th Annual Carolyn Held Bike Ride”, the $50,000 mark was met for total funds raised for a cure …
Today was my 25th day of riding for a cure across Vietnam. I also cruised past the 2,000km mark today as well (around 1300 miles). *We’ve also raised $4565 of my $5,000 goal! YES! 1 day of riding left, tomorrow. Help me raise the remaining $435!! During that time frame, I’ve witnessed a million things …
To bicycle solo, even for one day, in Vietnam is to be a participant on a journey of contrasts. In the midst of my sunny, hectic morning commute out of yet another Vietnamese city (this time, Nha Trang), my attention was drawn to a street brawl that had suddenly erupted on a sidewalk to my …
Today I had to stop and get my tire fixed. Normally this is a job I do myself, but I had already changed one flat this morning and my second tube was starting to leak later on in the morning. I was trying to make good time to get to my destination before the storms …
Several times a day (even when I’m not riding my bike), I get random flash-backs from previous rides. Anything can set it off; a bridge I crossed yesterday on my way headed up into the mountains reminded me, of all things, of a bridge in the interior of Iceland. A particular bird call I’ve been …
There’s a pattern to what appears at first glance to be mayhem encountered when riding a bicycle in city traffic in Vietnam. That goes the same for when trying to cross the street on foot, too. The trick is to just…step off the curb, and slowly move forward towards the other side, keeping a trusting …
I had a great evening in Hanoi last night, gaining new perspectives. After spending the afternoon building the bike (look, ma, no leftover bike parts!), I headed to a Vietnamese restaurant to meet Tung Nguyen, an oncologist, cancer researcher, long distance runner, and translator of art and architecture. The conversation was quite amazing, covering everything from …
I woke up at the crack of dawn this morning and for a brief moment, thought I was back in my home on Nicollet Island in Minneapolis. It was the roosters crowing that threw me off. We have roosters on the island, too, but the city-dwelling roosters of Hanoi were bold and proud. 5:30am proud, …
I have to say that the 16 hours I spent on layover in Seoul on my way to Hanoi, Vietnam were worth it (including the 13 hours it took to fly there). Incheon Airport is AMAZING! So is Central Seoul. I took the express train into the city center, and once found my way out …
Greetings from MSP airport! I’m in! The bike is hopefully headed on a conveyor belt towards the right plane, and meanwhile, I’m in Delta sky lounge getting last minute things finished on my “”to do” list. I want to thank all of you who have gotten me and my bike this far. We are all …