Day 43
We were kept awake all last night by a violent rain storm and high winds. Every time the winds picked up the local dogs would howl and bark. Despite only a few hours of sleep we woke up at 5:30am and got our day started. Early on dark clouds threatened but in the end nothing became of it and fortunately we stayed dry today. However, the roads were muddy anyway and where they weren’t muddy, they were dusty.
The most trying element was not the weather nor the roads, but the people. In the countryside people are more reserved and usually yell a simple hello or wave. In big cities, most people are too busy to pay much attention to you, but in the middle grounds in between countryside and cities, you’re fair game.
Almost every mile several people were either tailing us by only a foot, yelling, barking, or honking. A woman followed us so closely on a scooter that when Cher stopped she didn’t have room to go around her. It’s extremely draining to drown out the wild yells and to keep an eye in our mirrors and the road ahead because drivers are passing head on into traffic or forcing traffic onto the shoulder.
Not only did everyone think it’s ok to take a seat on our trikes without asking, but they also appeared to be confused when we tell them to get off. While guarding the trikes at a gas station as Cher answered natures call, I removed a man from my trike. He assumed it was because they are expensive and began asking me how much, the only Vietnamese phrase I know, and I played dumb and shrugged my shoulders. He then pantomimed opening a wallet taking out money and began pointing at the trike. I shrugged again and he was astonished at my lack of comprehension. He must of thought I was the thickest person in the world.
Tomorrow we are heading for Vinh and we have decided to then go west to cross into Laos through Cau Treo boarder crossing, even though the road looks like coiled intestine as it head over the mountains. On the plus side, hopefully we can escape the insane motorists and bystanders that have been harassing us.