Bussing it

The noise curfew in Vietnam I’d 10pm so the karaoke stopped at 10 on the dot, such a relief.

I woke early feeling good packed, paid and out the door by just before 8. I liking getting going early in the morning. It brings me back to an accustomed rhythm.

The weather went pretty overcast then a down drizzle which was pretty unpleasant. Fortunately the temperature is warm enough.

I saw a bus stopped at a petrol station. I went in, fired up my Google translate: Are you the driver? Are you going to Hue? The first of these 2 questions was affirmative but the second he just looked blank. And as many times as I rephrased he still looked blank. Eventually I just rode off. Got to say I was a little frustrated.

Then after 46kms and was just sitting by the road and a person waved down a bus. I ran to talk to the driver, he was keen, he was going to Hue. But the bike just would not fit into the hold full of what looked like oranges.

I waited and tried to flag down some other busses but to no avail. Then as I said to myself, just one more bus then I’m cycling. A bus came and stopped. We negotiated that they were going to Hue. Flipped open the hatch and slid the bike in. I had to take off my shoes and socks and put them into a bag provided. I was shown bunk and looked down the bus, only one other bunk was occupied. And I was told all busses were full. Its comfortable so I’m happy. They stung me for 800,000vnd (about £25) little do they know I would have paid nearly anything.

The busses (and or any vehicle big or driver arrogant enough) style os to find the middle of the road and hoon it down as fast as desirable and anyone in the way or any junction is to hoot the horn with various aggressiveness blasts to make sure everyone gets out the way. It seems to workout is not particularly conducive to me sleeping.