SIXTH DAY OF CYCLING THRU INDIA

POST #9

TO DHARMAPURI. We rode 77 miles from Dundigul to Dharmapuri today. We are nearing Bangalore, our weekend destination. The “Silicon Valley of India” is about 90 miles to the north. On Friday we cover about 60 miles, finishing with a 30-mile jaunt into the city before noon on Saturday. John will speak to two groups in Bangalore on Sunday. Joe and Bob will travel to Vellore to a medical school to recruit medical personnel for Umri Christian Hospital.

FIRST BIG HILL. Along today’s route we encountered our first major hill, a 3 kilometer-long climb up into a high plane. I thought the steep hill would never end. Half way up the hill we encountered monkeys for the first time. A group of fifteen or so of the critters were frolicking by the roadside. We were too focused on making it up the hill to stop and take photos. Near the top, a roadside vender was selling coconuts, so we drank coconut milk and ate some of the soft center before carrying on.

DAILY ROUTINE. We’re into a daily routine now. We start our rides at 6:30 am, after loading our luggage in the Tata Victa, having a cup of chai, and praying together. We ride for 14 to 16 miles and stop at a village restaurant for breakfast (like the one in this photo). After breakfast we ride pretty hard, with one rest stop, until lunch at 12:30 or so. We are getting over 50 miles behind us by noon each day. Lunch is also at a village or town restaurant. We finish the ride by 3:30 pm, arriving in our destination town and checking into a hotel or the guest house provided for us. We shower, rest, make repairs, make arrangements for the next day, journal, read, and then eat dinner together. We’re asleep before 10 pm.

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