October 28th: Hepu 合浦 to Qinzhou 钦州 – 48.05 miles
Day 15
After our longest distance that we covered the previous day, we set out for Quinzhou, and the distance would make it our new longest day. Upon leaving the city, we were once again surrounded by lush fields. Cher, stopping to buy watermelon from a street stale, was told that land is cheap here and that each household owns at least a dozen acres. No wonder they shunned modern groceries, evident from the lack of garbage we saw, when they have an abundance of fresh local produce the year round.
The road was smooth with little construction with the exception of a inexplicably muddy rutted section about 100 yards long. Hills have become more pronounced, but with long sweeping descents. Passing through yet another dusty roadside town we saw a truck stopped in front of some shops with what looked like a man either napping or examining the underside of a truck. This was the same type of large truck that passes us regularly. I felt that something wasn’t quite right. I surveyed the scene without stopping and saw everything and wished that I had not.
He was not napping. Just under the front of the truck lay a crushed motorcycle and the man’s legs. I immediately understood what didn’t seem right. There was no crowd. Everyone in the vicinity stood at a distance. I guessed that they did so out of helplessness, horror, or respect. As we pedaled away I said a quick prayer thinking of this man’s family.
Reflecting on our own position, we have done our best to remain alert and to make ourselves visible, but all that it takes is one moment of lost attention by either party and their intersection. We all know that these accidents happen but nonetheless we step out of our houses and kiss our loved ones goodbye. Apart from living a bubble wrapped existence what can we do but remember to let the ones we love know that we do?