We spent the day enjoying a quintessential northern Vietnam experience: riding a junk through the karst gum drops protruding from Ha Long Bay. We’ve been on Cat Ba Island off the port of Haiphong for three days appreciating the off season in a place that apparently is a tourist hot spot when it’s warm and dry. Our first two days were overcast and rainy, so we spent them doing homework and hiking through the national park. Today’s forecast called for temps in the high 70s (the warmest we’ve seen so far) and a low chance of precipitation. The weather did not disappoint. We booked a day-long boat ride that included scenery, kayaking, a seafood lunch cooked aboard, and some swimming.
AsianSpring 
Sweet 3-man leap photo!
I am enjoying your trip through your writings! Please keep these wonderful posts and pictures coming. The gang gets together tomorrow for the Super Bowl and I anticipate much conversation about your trip and how you all are doing. While you all are in 70 degree plus weather, it was 19 degrees in Asheville with snow in the forecast for this evening. Thank you for sharing your trip with us.
Thank you for sharing the link to your travel blog. The boys are so lucky to have this opportunity. Please let them know that their Claxton family says, “Hello and safe travels.”
Excellent! Drew, of course, noticed the guys haircuts.