REFLECTIONS OF INDIA - JOSE & ANAND

January 7, 2007 - resting in Bangalore, Karnataka and visiting in Vellore, Tamil Nadu

THREE PLUS TWO. Little did we know how much of an impact the Indian riders would have on our 2,000-mile cycling trek from the southern tip of India to New Delhi. Three of us were North American--two from the United States and one from Canada. Two riders were from India--but a different two riders each week and each state. The Indian riders were companions to orient us to their particular area, language, culture, customs, etc. Since India has so many different languages and tribes, we felt it was important to spread the experience and sensitize ourselves as best we could to India's diversity.

FROM NAGERCOIL TO BANGALORE. The first set of riders were two teenagers from Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu. Jose and Anand were best friends and Christians, though not Free Methodists. They were great traveling companions. Their humor and earnestness won our hearts. They rode slower than we wanted to ride and we tried to coach them in how to use the multiple speeds on the bikes we provided to their advantage. They eventually sped up--a little. For untrained riders, they rode hard and performed well. As it turns out, they kept the best pace of any of the many wonderful riders who joined us in the remaining five weeks.

WISHING TO RIDE TO NEW DELHI. Jose and Anand hoped other riders would not be found in Bangalore and that they could ride with us all the way to New Delhi. There's a part of me that still wishes that could've happened for them. I have no doubt they were capable of making the entire trek. Watching them head to the train station in Bangalore on this day one year ago was difficult. I hope I will see them again someday. -- John Hay, Jr.