. Between a Bus and a Hard Place
Dave here. We are in Munnar now (just 30km from where we spent the night last night). It is really high in the Western Ghats of Southern India. Do a Google search...'cuz there are no USB ports at this Internet Point to post a picture.
We were involved in an accident this morning. The roads are extremely twisty, sometimes turning 270 degrees to double-back and continue climbing or to get around a particularly narrow ridge. The busses are huge and are in a hurry so they are are passing us on the curves. Hasn't be a problem until one decided to cut in quickly and I couldn't find the brake in time (not sure it would have helped). Ack. The bus squished us on the right and a stone wall was on the left. We were pinched, hit and rolled onto our left side. We untagled ourselves and we found we were both okay, mostly. I had a tiny scratch on my shin and Susan's knee is bruised. The bus that crushed us stopped, the driver came back to us (we are still laying on our side, mind you) and starts demanding we pay him for scratching his bus!! Many of the passengers got off to gawk and enjoy the dispute. After some intense moments the mood of the crowd swung slightly in our favor and he climbed on the bus and left.
We righted the rickshaw, pulled a dented front fender free of the wheel and drove 2 lopsided kilometers to Munnar. The Rickshaw is in a shop getting "squared up." I'm impressed with the work they are doing with very simple tools.
It should be ready to go in a couple hours and we'll head out again. We hope to make Salem by tonight.
We really are okay; we will certainly check in at a hospital if anything develops.
Thanks for your prayers.
Dave and Susan
6 comments:
Such encounters with buses must be avoided; it is generally known that buses win in these situations. This fan likely to have a stroke if either Sorted is wounded. Urge caution and teamwork. Keep your angels handy!
...think RED is the right color for your r'shaw. ~z
I'm so relieved that you are both OK. If it doesn't feel safe out there, please seriously think about returning to base and enjoying some safer and more conventional sightseeing. Your safety is the most important thing to all of us back home who love you both! You're both in our hearts. Love, Doug
Ach! Fastener! Take good care! I'm counting on your bright and smiling face returning to 560A to liven up Winter Quarter.
I guess, though, this is the "adventure" part of the adventure...
Take good care and return safely.
-karen
Ach! Fastener! Take good care! I'm counting on your bright and smiling face returning to 560A to liven up Winter Quarter.
I guess, though, this is the "adventure" part of the adventure...
Take good care and return safely.
-karen
another day for you
two to be alive!
(the phone rings)
my sister's voice
is full of a ferocious joy.
as we speak
they barrel down
the open road
between dindigul & trichy
with a double-size
marigold garland
draped over the hood
for extra blessings.
there is a pothole ahead.
i demand that my sister
give my dad a big kiss
on the cheek for me
and he toots the horn
gleefully in response.
they watch a flock
of white egrets
rise out of a rice patty.
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