Woke up bright and early (again !!) as in, did not mean to. Head out to a beach nearby, well I was told it’s a beach, but after navigating a series of winding 5ft inroads on foot, and asking for directions to the beach, and getting blank looks, followed the sound of the water and finally made it.
No beach, just a rocky shore, beautiful nevertheless at 630 am. Stood there for almost 30 mins, watching fishing boats. Decided to walk along the coast line and 2 kms down found a small fishing port. Well basically a fish boat parking, a really big one at that. Most had just come back after a long or short morning at sea. Continued to stand at the 5 feet sand beach looking at the boats out there. It’s an experience from another world listening to waves. It can never bother you, well atleast I think so. Spent 2 winters in a snowy country and used to get sick of seeing everything covered in snow… Cars, roads, mountains, houses, people. Not sure if I’d feel the same if I lived across from a Beachfront though.
Was pretty lost in the waves and a guy emerged from the water. Waved at him and he waved back and came and started talking to me. It was a 45 min discussion, him in the local language, me in Hindi or English, both trying hard to catch what the other was saying. I’m pretty certain he knew I’m on a solo bike ride and where I’m headed. I’m also certain he wanted me to visit a place enroute – a tombstone of someone with a following. He ensured I told him I will stop there en route and well I knew I wouldn’t and I didn’t.
Walked back to the hotel and had breakfast, packed and headed out. 300 kms out, munnar was the plan. It started getting hot. Was also a Monday morning, and the roads were fairly busy, even the highways. A slow moving Vulcan gets super hot very fast, the radiator not getting enough wind to cool off, sends it all straight to the shin. It gets so hot that you can get down, use a hammer and twist your shin to any shape you like after that. Ok that was an exaggeration, but it does get hot and uncomfortable.
The roads had been fab today, mix of palms and coconut trees, was riding on a road just parallel to the Arabian Sea, and the occasional drying fish smells were good too. Had it not been for the heat.. which started hitting my head, was about 36 degrees and the breaks and hydration got more frequent. This is the stretch before you hit the mountains inland where I needed to be today.
After about 150 kms I realised my saddle bag was rubbing against the tyre and wearing off. So I had to use a bungee cord to lift it up and away from that side. This bungee was one of the 6 holding my backpack which started losing it’s hold on the seat. Meant I had to stop and buy a new set of bungees.
Asked around, was told to head to a place called bandidos. Pretty good place in Thrissur. Got what I needed, and decided there was no way I could continue riding today.
5 hours to do 160 kms, an overheating brain, didn’t feel like lunch in such hot weather either. Decided to make the wiser choice and stay back here. Better than to be stranded on the highway with a heat stroke. Embarassing to be coming from someone who belongs to Jaipur, where summers touch 48 degrees every year, but hey – that’s just how we roll now.
This is also why I don’t make reservations ahead of time. 3rd night in a row, not landed where I planned to. Day 1 .. landed in Mangalore instead of kalasa. Day 2.. stopped 25 kms short of Kozhikode because I don’t ride at night. Day 3.. 160 kms short because of a frying brain.
Was 36 (feels like 39) degrees when I finally checked into a hotel, waited for 30 mins, but the AC wasn’t working properly , got them to fix it, cooled myself down, had a paracetamol for the headache, ordered a Sandwich, freshened up, and (didn’t go anywhere).
Came out after dark, to find local food.
All in all, an ok day, not too many pictures considering I had plenty of unneeded stops.
Tomorrow is a new day.. off to the mountains, at 10-15 degrees lower, can’t wait !
…And now my fish fry is here.
