With our crazy night of drinking with locals the night before, we got a late start on our bike trip. We sent our bags in a van and hoped on our motor bike to head down the coast to Hoi An. Through towns, gravel roads, dirt roads, potholes, and pavement, we zipped down some of the most scenic roads imaginable. After several hours on the road we made a pit stop at Elephant Falls. Fifty cents gave us access to a clear, cool, blue-river that tumbles down a valley with large natural pools along its path. Lining the waterway was thatched roofs, mats and hammocks for lounging, and food vendors. It was a very local place as we only saw two other westerners there. It’s a strange feeling having everyone’s eyes on you. We definitely stood out, but in a good way. Everyone was eager to say hi and practice a little English. I climbed a rock to jump into the pool below and saw a group of 10 or so early twenty year olds. They invited me over and immediately gave me a beer and offered me a full meal. I looked over at Marge across the pool to invite her over and noticed she was already had a beer in her hand and was chatting with someone. I had a fun talk with the group even thought it was a lot of broken English. They sure laughed at me a lot. I’m sure they were making fun of me, but I know it was all in good fun. I wish people back home were this friendly. If I just walked up to strangers like I do when I’m on the road, I know it wouldn’t be the same. After visiting with the group for a little bit, it was time to hit the road again.

It was getting dark and we still weren’t to Hoi An yet. The last big city on our route was the town of DaNang. It was a large city with a stunning night skyline that glowed neon from every bridge, building, and tower. Even though it was such a beautiful city, my family has a sad history with DaNang. In 1970 my uncle, Thomas Walter Goszewski passed away at a hospital in DaNang as a result of the injuries he sustained during the Vietnam War. If you couldn’t guess, that’s who I am named after. I couldn’t help but to get a little emotional on the back of the scooter as we cruised through the city thinking how opposite uncle Tommy and my experiences were in Vietnam. I am falling in love with a beautiful country full of some of the most accommodating and friendly people I have met on my trip, and it is also the place my uncle lost his life fighting for our country. It is truly amazing how time fixes things and how fortunate I am to be visiting Vietnam for fun rather than for war.

Before uncle Tommy left for the war he left Dad a gas powered plane and said “You fly this plane before I come home from Vietnam and I’m gonna kick your ass”. Dad never flew the plane and to this day it still sits on a shelf in our basement. I have no idea if it will still fly, or if it can be tuned up to fly again. But I thought since little Tommy is coming home from Vietnam, it’s time for Dad to finally fly the plane. Instead of Dad flying the plane with his brother Tommy, he can fly it with his son Tommy 45 years later.

We finally arrived in Hoi An around 9 pm and checked into our hotel. After our long day on the bike we had a little rest and relaxation the next day. Our German friends, Katie and Alex, were also in town so we decided to do a beach day for out last day in Hoi An. It was a gorgeous day for the beach, just warm enough, but with a nice breeze. After relaxing on the beach all day we grabbed some dinner. I’m not sure if I mentioned “Pho” before, but it is amazing. It’s a noodle soup with veggies and pork that is to die for. We ate it nearly every day in Vietnam. Its pronounced “Fah” so we make a lot of jokes of how “Pho”cking good it is and how we could get “Pho”ed up on it. Following some Pho, we walked around the town and got pulled into a bar by a worker. I don’t know how they make any money because I got a mojito, a beer, and a hookah for $1. ONE DOLLAR, that’s how cheap things can be in Vietnam. It’s a backpacker’s dreamland. After the dollar bar, everything started to close up so we had to part ways with the Germans and say goodbye once again.

Time for a 17 hour bus ride to Hanoi in the North!