By the missus’ extremely good graces, i was allowed to gallivant across a fair old stretch of south India last week, notching up about 1,000 kilometers of bone-jarring goodness on a bike that is, miraculously, still intact (apart from four snapped spokes, some minor welding and much tightening of nuts). Being of a fairly nerdy persuasion, i took the laptop and diddled away whenever anything struck me as odd, amusing or noteworthy. This turned out to be fairly often, and if nothing else, it fostered some fairly ridiculous scenes where whole crowds were jostling behind me to catch a glimpse over my shoulder of this wondrous device.
So, if you will indulge this experiment in serial posting, i’m going to try chucking that material up here at a rate of one day’s driving for each day of reality. I am a lazy sod after all, and this beats having to think up something new to say about it.
Those of you with only lukewarm enthusiasm for this plan need not worry, i am going to turn off the email notifications for this batch, which means you can enjoy the run up to Christmas without getting spammed into 2011.
So saddle up, y’all. Tomorrow we ride!
View South India Road Epic in a larger map
ive already got a sore arce,
Hi Jay,
I remember when we set out from Goa and Looking back I’m amazed I survived. How’s riding a bike in India now?
Danny boy! i was haunted the whole trip by a lilting welsh voice (and cackle) that sounded remarkably like yours! it’s been great fella, although not a touch on the intrepid crew that set off from Goa to Hampi in 1994. That time I remember getting totally lost at Ponda (looking for the elusive highway 4a), and getting rained on in the evening. I think your bike also chose to stage the first of its many breakdowns on that leg as well.
Differences? Well, the main roads are, for the most part better, you’ve got a mobile phone to keep you feeling connected, and people are less shell shocked by your appearance than they used to be. The bike still makes an agreeable sound, though, and you end up feeling road-rattled quite quickly. I even did a chai/beedie combo, since that was our chosen antidote. Good, but the advent of old age has led me to conclude that beedies smell better than they taste.
Now, if only i could find someone to tie me to my bed….
🙂
all good with you? are you still in Cardiff? let me know if Dan tours is any closer to launch and i’ll send you some itineraries.
Jay-son – what an epic… sounds like you’re having a cracker of a time. I can’t believe it was 8 years ago we were wandering around Karnataka on bike heading to the ruins of Hampi to eat dosa’s and drink chai at the Mango Tree. Then there was the swimming in croc infested dams and sunset attempts on holy sumits inhabited by monkeys. Enjoy yourself big fella.
Jules, i will always have fondest memories of falling down in Hampi with you, mate. If you ever decide to call time on the vines, you know where I am. Reckon Hampi’s about halfway to Tassie, so meet you there.
happy chrimble, my friend.
xx