Day 11
Hue – Long Son
305 km
..as Hue didn’t manage to impress me at all, then early start was just what doctor prescribed.. I set off just before 8 am as I have a long mountain road ahead of me.. just 305 km to cover today.. first part is more like a driving challenge as I was maneuvering to avoid the always present cow manure, but, of course, it doesn’t change the amazing scenery around..
..one thing I understood today while driving through the scarce mountain villages with humble wooden board houses, they don’t have much to do here as there are so many kids in each of them, and all of them wave when you drive pass.. did lots of “smile and wave” today..
..but then the last 100 km of Ho Chi Minh Trail today are as a prize.. the road goes on the ridge of the mountain, then down, then up again, never-ending serpentine through luscious jungle with ferns of prehistoric size and mist that gives me chills.. I am serious, this trail was pretty intimidating as I was driving for an hour or maybe even more and didn’t meet a single person and obviously there was no cell reception.. but then the civilization returned and now I am in the only hotel in 100 km radius, I am serious, last hotel was 133 km backwards, and the next is 100 km away.. oh, and by the way, I have already covered 1500km, unbelievable..
