Day 14 Kozikode to Guruvayur (110 Kilometres)

In Dreamland....
6 January 2016

Today I started at 06:15. As soon as I began riding I had to face a steep climb to reach the main road. After cycling 3 kms I reached the highway.

Since morning there was continuous headwind and the route was full of ups and downs. This was tiring.. After spending long time yesterday to repair the brakes even today the rear brake was malfunctioning. I stopped twice to tighten it but all in vain.

I had my lunch at Tirur. On enquiring in cycle shops it came to my notice that no one had experience in disk brake repairs and thus I had to take time to do it myself. I started from Tirur at 01:00pm. I had to travel 50 more kms now, but the road was plane with patches of sun and shade.

In the afternoon I met many school kids going back home on their cycles. they all must have felt something different about me and so they accompanied me for a while. We also tried to communicate using broken English and hand gestures. All I could convey perfectly to them was that I was riding solo from Mumbai to Kanyakumari. On my way I was blessed with chilled watermelon juice. what more could I want.

Now I am staying in Guruvayoor with Mrs. Bindu.. She served me with bananas, chips and tea on reaching her place. Being in the banana states for so many days today for the first time I had so many at a time..

Day 13 Thalessery to Kozhikode (80 Kilometres)

Last 500 to go

5 January 2016

Today I started at 06:30

I was carrying my packed breakfast made by Mrs. Balan. I had my breakfast at around 08:30

Today the rear wheel brake of my bicycle was not functioning normally but I had no time to spend in repairing it, so I decided to repair it after completion of today's ride in the evening. So the entire day I had to ride with the use of only front brake.

Today I got a chance to visit Kappad beach on my way. Vasco da Gama had arrived in India at this place for the first time through a sea route. It was a beautiful beach. I sat for a while on the beach and then left for Kozhikode. Today I was going to stay at Mrs. Reena Thomas' home. She was going to meet me near Kozhikode Medical college. So it was my task to find this place now. I tried asking 2-3 people but language acted as a big barrier. 

Finally I saw a young guy who I felt could converse in English but that too in vain. He then called over few friends n finally after a big discussion with hand gestures and broken English I finally got an idea of the way. After going ahead there were 2 ways to reach the place. People advised ne to take a short cut. But it was completely uphill.. Finally I reached Mrs. Reena's place at about 2:30 pm. I had lunch and took a nap in the afternoon. The family served me with hot coffee and snacks and to add to it yummy cupcakes.. I tasted boiled banana today. I never knew it could taste so good.

In the evening I had to get my cycle repaired. It was so full in dust that I had to actually bathe it.. While repairing the breaks the assembly had jammed and I had to use all my strength to loosen it. It took me around 20 mins to do that. Now I had to check all well and tighten the breaks. I was getting frustrated while doing all this but I managed to somehow complete the task.

Today I learned that patience is very important while doing any kind of work. Now my cycle was ready for the final stretch of 500 Kms

Day 12 Payyanur to Thalessery ( 70 kilometres)

Birthday Celebrations 
4 January 2016

I started at 06:40 am
Today's morning gave me a nice birthday gift. I got along a bit on a wrong way.
I got away from NH17 onto a small road. This road was in a bad state and thus I took more time. But on the other hand because of this I could get a glimpse of the village sides of Kerala. The smaller inner roads are always more fascinating than the highways..
As I moved ahead the road got better with ample shade and huge houses alongside the curvy road. Sometimes getting lost a bit like this is fun.
While reaching Thalassery I got to visit The Thalassery Municipal Stadium. The first match in India was played here..

I reached Thalasseryat 01:45 pm.
Now am staying at Mr. A Balan's home. Again a nice house with sweet people and greenery all around.This family got a surprise cake for my birthday and gifts too.
I became very emotional seeing the love they gave me. I was speechless.

Waking up early morning on my birthday, riding alone on my bicycle watching the Sun rise, celebrating my birthday alone on the route, doing something different out of my routine, meeting new people on my Birthday and staying with them.. All this was altogether a new experience.

I will also thank all of you because of whom I have gained the strength to do all this. And a sorry to all those whose phone calls I couldn't attend..

Be with me just as you all are..
Thanks for all your blessings..

Day 11 Gorigudda to Payyanur (104 kilometres )

Cycling in God's Own Country
3 January 2016

Kerala

 I started at 6.30 am today. I managed to cover major distance before the sun came out hard at me. I had covered 60 kms by 12 pm and I had reached Bekal fort.

Bekal Fort

 The Fort had parking provision for cars and bikes. To avoid removing my bags from bicycle, I thought that I shall park it close to ticket window so that security would be able to keep an eye on it for me. But the guy at the ticket counter was unhelpful. Not only did he refuse to keep an eye on my bicycle, but also asked me to take a tour of the fort if I wanted to or else to leave! But many people were listening in to our conversation. One of them( Santosh with his family) asked me where I had come from. And it turned out that we both were from Mumbai! Needless to say that we immediately started chatting and had a nice conversation!

Santosh's lil girl

Santosh's wife hails from Mengaluru. So she spoke to the parking guys and made arrangements for my bicycle to be secure as I took a tour of the fort. When I returned from my Fort tour, I saw that my bags on the bicycle were covered by a blanket. Kamaludheen and Puspha, two people who worked in the parking lot had done it so that my bags would be shielded from the heat of the sun! It was a wonderful gesture and I was touched by it. I left after thanking them.

Pushpa

I rode to Konhagad after that and had lunch at Shalimar hotel. The Banana juice here was delicious.

Today's target for me was Kanhagad. But since I reached there before time, I decided to ride ahead. Next stop for me was Payyanur, for which I had to cover a distance of 34 kms. I met Police Inspector Mr. Melvin Jose on my way to Payyanur. He assured me that if I faced any problem in Kerala, any nearby police station would be available for help.

Kamaludheen

 I reached Payyanur at 6.30 pm. The condition of the road wasn't great. I was not able to get through to the person who had arranged my accommodation for the night. So I prepared myself to spend the night in a hotel. But then it stuck me that I had contact number of Mr. Sudharshanji from RSS. I called him and asked him if he could help me to find accommodation. He promptly gave me address of Mr. V. K. Janardanji. It was pretty dark by then and the house of Mr. Janardanji was pretty far, in the heart of Payyanur. Also, I had met a guy who was going to help me to find a hotel. Since I had already asked Sudarshanji, it would have been wrong on my part to stay at a hotel and not going to Janardanji's place. The unknown guy who was going to help me to find hotel came all the way till Janardanji's place to escort me. It was totally dark and the entire stretch of 4 kms was remote. He drove his Activa while I rode on my bicycle. I have to admit that I was apprehensive about this stranger accompanying me till Janardanji's place and was worried about his intentions. But he took me to my destination in time, without any hassles. I felt guilty about having negative thoughts about such person in my mind. I realized that though there are some bad people in this world, there are equal number of good people, like the one I had just met!

I will be spending the night at Mr. V. K. Janardanji's place.

Day 10 Mullikatte to Gorigudda (110 kilometres )

Last Day in Karnataka
2 January 2016

Today started as early as 6:15 am.
The route I took was Kundapura, Udupi, Padubiri, Mengaluru and Gorigudda... 

sweet couple 

Just before Mengaluru at Padubori, while I was talking with a juice vendor, I met a couple.

They offered me juice. Had a nice chat with them. The name of the guy was Farukh.

I reached my destination for today, Gorigudda at 3:30 pm.

poojari family

Today I am staying with sharmila poojari.

I got her reference from jaykumar, a friend of my father. 

After freshening up, I washed my clothes.

After that, I ate delicious Fish curry and brown rice. Unlike in Maharashtra, majority of people eat brown rice here in Karnataka.

I ate it for the first time and loved it.

For dessert, I had ice cream.

Then we went to the beach of Mangalore. I have been riding alone for past 10 days. So it was a welcome change to be among a lot of people. Today I saw sunrise and sunset from beach. I was feeling extremely happy at the beach. Just as dusk approached, the crowd slowly dispersed. I have always loved sitting alone on the beach and was able to enjoy that feeling as the evening approached. Just the sea and I.. there still are few people on the beach but they are slightly far from where I am sitting.

Today the Poojari family and I shall be dining outside.

Poojari family is very enthusiastic.

I am feeling blissful.. 

wink emoticon

Day 9 ( Kumta to Mullikatte ) 102 kilometres

Welcome 2016

1 January 2016

Resided in the Kumta Railway Quarters yesterday
But was alone -just the house and me -as the lady master had night duty.
Got up at 4:45 am rounded up my stuff freshened up shared a cup of chai with Mr Ganesh Rao and left exactly at 6:15 am
Being the night after 31st I was scared of the traffic on the road for obvious reasons
But then I thought about my cycle me and the journey ahead and realized there could be no better way to start a new year !
As always covered a greater distance smoothly in the morning hours
There was no tree to rest under on the road so continued to ride in the sun with hourly breaks unfortunately on an empty stomach.
1-2 truckwalas managed to put me off course and into the small roadside ditch another came at me like a raging bull and blew the horn loud enough to startle me! But I was very much aware and alert (as one has to be at such times) so it was ok
Today's rasta was mostly straight thus could complete the ride early
The last few kms had a stretch of small ghats ..didn't feel like tackling these after a spending most of the day riding a flat track but the next moment I saw a bluish hope lingering on the horizon and on taking a closer look it hit me that it was the sea !
Bas..a fire ignited in me ..intensity increased ...without a second thought I pedalled with all my might towards my hope the sea shore 

Was extremely tired on reaching but the serenity of the sea soothed me ..there itself I sat in the sand for a long time taking in the tranquillity... After awhile my attention wandered and my sight fell on an ice creamwala who apparently had been observing my antics since the time I arrived - me suddenly getting off the cycle and sitting in the sand, laughing alone (creepy)clicking pictures - 

He finally came and asked what I was up to ..... In Kannada ..yet we managed to converse somehow ! He offered me ice cream and refused to take a penny for it ..a deaf ear to my requests as he ultimately kept the money on my bag and left happily
Spent some more time on the beach ( who in the right mind wouldn't?! ) and then Left to reach Mullikatte.
Today my energy boosters were the numerous school kids I met along the way whose zeal and excitement pepped me up
I am now staying with Mr Bhaskar Shetty and his family at their house
Its an interesting situation I am in because the couple knows only Kannada whereas mera toh door door tak rishta nahi hai !...now it feels like I m in South
Yet somehow with gestures and selective words we are managing to have great conversations ..
If thoughts connect you need not know a different language to express them !
The Shettys live in a beautiful house ..one with a nice garden abundant in coconut trees
After a long day on the road this is the type of house you wish to come back to= #happiness
Had a great first day of 2016 !

Day 8 ( Sadashivgad to Kumta ) 77 kilometres

Celebrating New year's eve ..!
31 December 2015

Early morning start

Left quite early today at 6:20 itself .. It was dark..yet I left beacause today being the last day of the year most people are in the mood to revel . To avoid this 'traffic' decided to reach my destination early !
Don't know about others but im ecstatic today simply because I'm ending this year and about to start the new year with my beloved cycle
Yayyy...!-carried on the tradition in fact of last year as on this same date in 2014 I was out riding on the roads of Telangana

seashore 

Soon on leaving Sadashivgad i could see the coastline 

Couldn't resist the urge of going and just staring at that vast sea for some moments ( who can?)

Went on further ,had breakfast and in one go crossed Ankola

It was 10:00 am and I still had 40kms to complete.

NHAI work in progress

These 40kms were riddled with diversions and traffic ...

roadwork woes ...
Finally after 3 long hours in a vehicular dust storm- i reached Kumta at 1:00 pm

Currently I am staying with Soumya Joshi at Kumta, to whom I was referred by Ganesh Rao, who is a railways station master at Kumta

Both these contacts are courtsey of Kanitkar Kaka - thank you!

Currently I am staying with Soumya Joshi at Kumta, to whom I was referred by Ganesh Rao, who is a railways station master at Kumta
Both these contacts are courtsey of Kanitkar Kaka - thank you!
The family I'm staying with is very nice
They have a small son
Which means - masti time
The last day of the year has been fantastic for me .. Ending on a high note ...

Amogh n me

Mr. n Mrs. Kadam (Sadashivgad)