The Wobbling Sprocket » India

F&A Cycling: India and Laos added

Bob_Thompson — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:11:21 +0000

February News: Get psyched up for The Criterium Internationale which takes place in Corscia starting March 27. Also, promos on India and Laos.

February = Love at first bike

F&A Cycling: India and Laos added.

Kerala

Bob_Thompson — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:56:36 +0000

Check, check, check… we aren’t the only fans of Kerala.

http://www.articleszoom.org/travel-leisure/destinations/kerala-tours-–-attractions-tourism/

India Thekkady 11-11-09

Bob_Thompson — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:03:33 +0000

We did the spice tour this morning. It’s always interesting. If there was a downside, it was that all the wet weather meant that there were plenty of mosquitos around. We were swatting so much, the guide ran back and got some repellent for us. About half the group opted for the elephant ride. The other half wandered up the road while we waited.

We ate lunch at the hotel restaurant and while we waited, guess what? It started to rain. We attempted to outwait it, but as is usually the case, one person flies the coop and the rest quickly follow. It didn’t rain hard…at first, but at about the 30k point in the short 40k ride, a huge cloud rolled in and it started to pour. I took refuge until it let up and then took refuge yet again, when I concluded I had gone too soon. I think everyone else just plowed through it.

Anyway, we are now in Thirasangu Haven in Kuttinam. There is nothing around here and, at the moment, we are looking at fog. That’s a shame because the view from here is terrific. I’m not sure of the weather to expect tomorrow. The manager of the hotel seems to think it will clear. I’m not so sure. So far, we have not had a completely dry day since the first day’s ride to Varkala Beach. We are using lots of lube.

Best, Bob

******

A rarely seen sight in India…and empty street at 6am in Theddady. Still a shopkeeper washing his car flagged me down and had his son get out of bed so I could use the internet.

India Cycling Tours

The spice tour:

India Cycling Tours

Nutmeg:

India Cycling Tours

Pouring rain:

India Cycling Tours

These guys helped me take refuge from the rain:

India Cycling Tours

India – Palani 11-6-09

Bob_Thompson — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:56:16 +0000

It’s 6:30am in the morning and I have just looked out the window. It’s raining outside now and it’s been raining all night as far as I can tell. In fact, it’s been raining almost ever since we arrived. It’s damp everywhere. I can’t really say that it is cold. The locals seem to think that it is. They are virtually bundled up and are sporting headgear and earwarmers…even the the two guys behind the reception desk.
We plan to leave this morning around 9am. However, there really is no need to rush. Our destination is Palani. It is only 60k away and most of that is downhill. The ride is nice, but there is no place to eat lunch until Palani so we plan to eat lunch after we arrive. The question of the moment is whether the rain is likely to last. If it’s not going to let up, we might as well just head out. If it it likely to break, we should wait and go then. At the moment, it seems as though we are in a cloud. There is a breeze so perhaps it will blow over. I’m not really counting on it though. Of course, there is always the van.
The Kodal International Hotel has large grounds. There is a ayurvedic massage center, but I don’t think anyone has made use of it yet. It’s been so rainy and wet. I don’t think anyone has spent much time exploring what is actually here.

######

Well we made it out and now in Palani. We went up on the cable car. We checked in to Vel’s Court. It’s a very nice place.

We rode in the rain for maybe 2/3 of the 60k ride, but it really wasn’t uncomfortable.

India Cycling

India: Kodaikanal – 11/4/09

Bob_Thompson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:06:03 +0000

India is not the safest place to ride a bike. Up to now we really haven’t had any serious spills. That changed today when some guy with a cart behind his bike pulled into the road without looking at what was coming. He wasn’t going terribly fast, but when he finally realized he was looking at some bikes bearing down on him he stopped in the middle of the road. This created more confusion and some reactions on our part and Abby went onto the road, chin first. She split her lip and chipped several teeth to the point she is need of dental work and, unfortunately, must take an early departure for home.

She is going to be fine and is in good spirits considering. The reality though is that biking is dangerous and biking in India is more so than elsewhere. On well traveled roads there is just a lot going on all the time and the rules of the road you might expect elsewhere are virtually non existent.

After the turnoff for Kodaikanal traffic thankfully died down and the climb was pleasant. It was overcast and not terribly hot. We rode in the rain for 20k and it felt good. Along the way we passed the usual monkeys. One chased me for about 100 feet. I had stopped to buy some custard apples and had tied the plastic bag holding them to my handlebars. Maybe the monkey knew an opportunity when he saw one. The next time I looked down to check on my custard apples the only thing left was a plastic bag. The bottom had ripped out and the only thing left was the bag.

We have a rest day tomorrow. Right now it is raining and we understand that it has been raining here for about a week. Hopefully, it will be sunny and nice when we wake up tomorrow.

Best,

Bob

Group shot before heading out from Theni.

India Cycling

Allen with some new friends:

India Cycling

Rest stop:

India Cycling

Graeme on the road:

India Cycling

The Western Ghats:

India Cycling

Jamie, Graeme and Ben taking a break on a bridge. Jamie and Ben a father-son pair from the UK. Ben is the youngest ever to do a tour (20).

India Cycling

This is 3/5 of our support crew. From L to R: Mr. Sainu, Mr. Biji and Mr. Mohan.

Fruit stand:

India Cycling

Monkeys all over:

India

Article in Hindu Times

Bob_Thompson — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:56:43 +0000

Here is our article appearing in the Hindu Times:

India cycling

Priest in India

Bob_Thompson — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:45:45 +0000

We ran into this priest/shaman on the way to Marayoor. He told all our fortunes. It all had to be interpreted by Raj. He was good. He got most things right on. I’m going to have an accident, but after that I’m going to be very happy. I’m happy anyway and I’m hoping he’s got the accident part wrong…..

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkAZpXLPPOk

Nov 16 BKK

Bob_Thompson — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 11:22:34 +0000

Well, Graeme and I both did a lot of nothing today. We got on one of the Chao Praya commuter boats and cruised up and down the river for about a $.25 each way. We are easily entertained these days. I am not sure how our departure from the Riverview is going to go tomorrow. We need to leave about 10 or 10:30am for our flight to Hanoi. That is exactly high tide. I noticed a kid today paddling around in a plastic tub, I might try to rent it so I can tow my bag in something. I think they are expecting really high water here. I noticed people trying to fortify their little personal seawalls in front of some homes. The elevator at the Riverview was also out as there was about an inch in the lobby. The floor to the elevator is feeling might soft. No one seems fazed though.

High tide at the Riverview…

Bob_Thompson — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 11:43:32 +0000

I forgot all about this. I don’t know how I could. I think it was the first time Chantal and I ever came here that this happened. Every nite the tide comes up the Chao Praya River. it inundates everything within several blocks of the river. There is a foot and a half of water surrounding the Riverview (they have built kind of seawall) and about a quarter inch of standing water in the lobby being squeegeed around by a couple friendly ladies.

The people living around here (and there are many) exist with a daily flood coming into their homes for about 9 or 10 hours each day. Electrical stuff will be elevated as will beds, but they will walk and work and live in at least a foot of water all morning. By noon, the tide goes down. Tomorrow, the same thing will happen and the next and next….for what? maybe a month…I’m not really sure.

I thought I was going to go down and see the guy who sits outside and arranges travel things and have hiim get me a Laos passport. His spot is under at least 18 inches and he is nowhere to be seen.

There is a lady down the block with a couple washing machines that I wanted to visit. Her place will be under but I think her machines are elevated.

Anyway, for anyone who thinks it is a pain to have a couple inches in their basement, give this some thought…a foot of suspect looking water up and down in your living room/work space for 9 or 10 hours every day for a couple months. I’ll go take some pics. I will need to be careful not to drop my camera.

This is at the Royal Orchid Sheration down the street. There is a ferry that takes a lo t of people here. This is with the River out.

This is with the river up. Sometimes there is two way traffic. That actually is pretty interesting to watch.

Shoes that walked…..

Bob_Thompson — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 11:40:44 +0000

Well, I had a pair of brand new cycling shoes that Mr Joe (our guide in Vietnam) had asked me to buy and bring to him in Hanoi.

When I got to Chennai, I knew something was amiss when my bag came off first and I noticed one of the zippers was open in the side compartment. A single shoe was in there and it’s pair in another compartment. I checked and found they were both gone. Some Indian baggage handler is the new owner of a pair of brand new cycling shoes. Won’t that seem kind of obvious to his friends and family? Perhaps that doesn’t matter.

I had time so I went to an Indian Airlines customer service desk to report it. They sent me to a baggage desk. It was closed. I talked to a security guy at the entrance. He says I should talk the check in people. I do and they in turn send me to the “duty manager” at the airport. I go back to the duty manager who must be fairly important since he is in a pretty big office. I tell him, my shoes are missing out of my bag. He immediately (and dismissively) tells me my shoes are at the arrival baggage conveyor. It seems odd he would know that, but things seemed to be looking up. Maybe they opened the bag for security reasons and didn’t get the shoes back in.

I fight my way back into the arrivals hall. No easy thing since they don’t normally let you in from the sidewalk. I go to the conveyor. I look and find a guy with a badge. He points to single rubber overshoe….like for rain. Only one at that. It’s not what I am missing.

I talk to the badge guy for awhile. He’s telling me that there is nothing he can do since I had left the luggage area. I am telling him, that it is not an issue of leaving the luggage area or even about my single pair of shoes, it is about knowing that baggage handlers are swiping stuff out of bags. He assures me he will talk to the duty manager again. I give him my luggage tags for the hell of it.

I will probably give up on the whole thing, but I am much more likely to write a letter to the Prez of India Airlines. It won’t get me my shoes back, but I still feel like people should know and care about what is going on. You can have the best service airline in the world, but it isn’t enough to overcome arriving at your destination without your shoes. I’m more peeved at the lack of interest, than I am about a pair of shoes.

Now that I think about it, that Duty Manager never got up from behind is desk so I could see what was on his feet…….