I rode through this mess, Tuesday, from Macara, Ecuador to Piura, Peru.
At the each barricade there was usually an angry mob of campensinos. Each time I stopped I was swarmed and had to explain myself. I often had 50 odd people seize hold of the bike and start trying the locks on the luggage. Normally there was a way around the barricade. Typically a very muddy steep dangerous way around. They liked to throw nails and tacks in the road as well.
In every crowd there was a hothead. I usually could persuade the folks in my immediate vicinity to let me through but then some fellow would scream out ¨Rich Gringo¨ or on one occasion a guy ran up and started making slashing movements across my front tire.
After working my way through 20 or so of these blockades I encountered a military convoy obviously en route to kick some ass and take names. Never have I been so happy to see jack booted thugs. Today´s paper indicates 4 dead.
Last edited by Laser Jock; 20 Feb 2008 at 15:49.
Reason: misspelling
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