Jason Smart

Mission Accomplished

2008-10-26T06:43:00.000-07:00

At last the challenge is over. Can't help thinking of it as a race though!

The stats are, including the warm up ride and the optional warm down ride (race!), 445k covered in 23.45hrs saddle time. The Garmin says 15,000 calories burnt but the amount consumed makes this irrelevant.

The finish was an extremely emotional moment. I was tough though and only had a tears in my eyes as I think I must of got grit in them.

After climbing several hills and mountains on a mountain bike in the rain and scorching sun the little medal we were given was such a major trophy. Better still is the fact that we have raised money to help scope and the many who benefit from their fantastic work.

We had a celebratory dinner and the speeches were so amazing.

I am so exhausted I could cry but the sense of achievement for me personally is superb.

Next year the challenge I will do will be harder and I hope that some of you will join me on a life changing adventure where you will meet people who become so close to you so quickly you can't believe it. Rather than sit and say "yeah well let somebody else do it" join me and I promise you will look at life differently.

Imagine you are on a Trek mountain bike that cost around £300 to £400. Then ride that bike past excitedly screaming women and children and realise that that bike costs more than their father or husband earns in a year. The average salary for a man in Vietnam is $500 per year. To put things into perspective petrol is around 50p per litre.

Now will you join me?

Then realise that some of the basic computers Scope use for their pupils and clients costs around £6000 or £7000 each!

Now that I have convinced you let me have your email address and I will add you to the list.

Jason.

Last Few Days

2008-10-23T03:31:00.001-07:00

Christ! What have I let myself in for......

Last 3 days we have done 65k, 75k and 61k's today. Most of the last few days have been hills. God my legs are like rocks and my arse is like I've been bu**ered by a gorilla. No Andrew, you can't see it when I get back!

We have seen some awesome sites. Poverty to affluence in 3 days.

Every single person here smiles. They scream with laughter when you say hello and they want to high five you when you cycle past. In some villages you say hello and high five so many times you begin to take it for granted. I can't wait to get back to the misery of western culture.

Everyone on this trip is fabulous. They are all fun, motivated and bloody determined.

Yesterday was carnage day. Hugh went over his handle bars, Ling crashed into Stella and even Neil came off. Dr Dave, (who reckons he's 41 but I reckon is 16. He hasn't even got pubes! (I'm told)) has been a busy little boy.

Today Brian came off down a hill and went into a bus. It's okay though the bus wasn't damaged.

On a serious note we have been told we have raised over £80,000 on this trip which is brilliant. When you are climbing a massive hill in 35 degree heat and even you hair hurts you just think how lucky you are that you are fit and healthy and the good we are doing keeps you going.

We are now 4500 feet up and I am finding it hard to breath when I cycle. The Ventolin's been handy. Not sure if it is asthma or just exhaustion though.

Gutted though as I've not lost any weight!

We were supposed to do 80k today but a storm stopped us. I have never seen rain like they get here.

Not sure if I've eaten dog yet. We had something today and when it was served this puppy came over and looked mighty upset. It was probably his mother but I'm not sure. A lot of households have puppies but you don't see many adult dogs.

So far this has been a major life experience and I would recommend this to everyone. That said, you really do need to be fit as...........a butcher's dog to do this and have utter determination. I can't tell you how hard it is. I have never done anything this hard and I really mean that. To make you feel humbled there is one guy on this trip who is 67 and he is generally up the front with the rest of us. 67! He does a "little" bit of cycling and once cycled 90 miles in one day! So you fatties get off your arses and get training.

Anyway going for a massage now and it's costing an extortionate £9 for an hour!

Jason.

2008-10-23T03:03:00.000-07:00

2008-10-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

2008-10-22T04:44:00.000-07:00

Day 3

2008-10-21T16:51:00.000-07:00

Short one today. Only 50k and one hill.

Viitited a monastery and then My Lai where the Americans massacred 504 people in 1968. They raped and murdered men, women and children. Still at least they've learnt not to do that sort of thing again. Oh forgot they killed 90 peole in Pakistan the other week! God bless America and all who die by her. Anyway enough of the politics.

Ankle was agony and got a bollocking of the Dr and the team leader. (It's like being at home!.....only joking Sue!!!!!) Anyway it's strapped up now so got to just get on with it.

Still can't upload the videos but will soon.

Jason.

Day Two

2008-10-19T05:34:00.000-07:00

Blimey, what have I let myself in for! I'm knackered.

Did 72+km today. 12km of which was up the side of a mountain. I have never worked so hard in my life. (Apart from when I am in the office of course Paul!)

The ride down the mountain was awesome. 10km full on at an average speed of 58kmh! Only fell off once as well (on the gravel)!

I feel very humbled though. Not because there is so much poverty and yet the people are so friendly, but because the oldest memeber of the ride is 70! This means I can't possibly whinge.

I've got loads of pics and video (sorry Andrew, nothing like the videos you like) but I haven't been able to get wifi yet so I can't upload them.

Anyway, off to ice the ankle and try this new medicine the Dr has advised me to take. Whisky!

Jason.

Day One

2008-10-19T05:24:00.000-07:00

.... was an easy ride around Hue. Just 25km as a warm up.

(To get to Hue took 2 days of travelling. The first night on a plane and the second on a 4 birth sleeper train. 4 lads and lots of farting!)

Visited an awseome temple of the former Emperor. I'll upload pics later.

Everybody on the ride is really friendly.

Let's hope I don't embarass myself!

Jason.

Nearly Off

2008-10-15T12:26:00.000-07:00

Vietnam Trek

2008-10-10T07:13:00.001-07:00

This blog has been created to allow Jason to update his family, friends, colleagues & sponsors with his daily progress whilst taking part in a charity bike ride through Vietnam...

To help raise money for SCOPE, Elite Insurance Co Limited is sponsoring Jason Smart to cycle 470 km through Vietnam, starting on the 19th October through to the 24th October.

For those of you who don't know about SCOPE, it is a charity which supports sufferers from cerebral palsy, a crippling condition which is often the result of medical negligence.