CLOSER TO HYDERABAD

POST #15

AN 80-MILE THURSDAY. We rode 80 miles to get to a busy little town that puts us about 150 kilometers from Hyderabad--the major Indian city that is our destination for the weekend. We started at 6:30 am, got in 50 miles before noon, had a leisurely lunch around 1:00 pm, and thought we would finish the ride shortly. But it was one of those days when the town we were looking for was really much further than expected. It’s when "only 20 kilometers to go" really is 40 k down the road in the sun, heat, dust, and honking trucks. We were over six hours in the saddle. But we all arrived safely and will look forward to a restful evening.

GADGETS FOR THE JOURNEY. We’re carrying several gadgets on our bikes that heightens interest on the journey. Each North American rider has a cycle computer, which measures such things as current speed, average speed, distance for the day, total distance for the trek, rpms/cadence, duration of the ride, maximum speed for the day, etc. One also has a handlebar-mounted e-trex GPS unit, which adds information like altitude, direction, and hundred other interesting geo-positioning facts. Two of us are carrying binoculars. We’re taking still photos and video footage each day. Bob is making audio reports into a tiny digital voice machine. John is the only one listening to music and books along the route, clipping his nano iPod to his waste. In addition to music by Sufjan Stevens, Caedman’s Call, Lifesong, the Beatles, etc., he’s listening to four audio books: Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton, Plan B by Anne LaMott, When Fish Fly by the guys from Seattle’s Pike Place Fish Market, and The Leadership Pill by Ken Blanchard.

LOOKING FORWARD TO HYDERABAD. We’re looking forward to getting to Hyderabad. Marilyn, Joe’s wife, will meet us there. We will meet a number of folks Joe and John met there last January. We’ll have Sunday and Monday as rest days. Our ride from Bangalore has been swift as we have settled into a daily rhythm and routine. Friday will be our 13th day to ride. Nagercoil seems like such a long time ago and such a distant place. Thankful for the opportunity to ride for Umri Christian Hospital, we’re enjoying each day and looking forward to what lies ahead.

PLEASE CONTRIBUTE FOR UMRI. If you haven’t yet made a contribution to rebuild Umri Christian Hospital, we encourage you to do so today. Every gift is important…and it also encourages us as we ride through the heart of India. Please tell someone else about our ride and project, this blog, and encourage them to join other in contributing to rebuild UCH. Thanks for your interest and support. God bless you.

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