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BANGALORE-Mysore-Bandipur-Ooty-Coimbatore-Palini-Kodiakannal-Maduria-Tirunelveli-Kanyakamari-Kovalam -VARKALA
Ride Time : 57hrs
Distance : 753 miles
Total distance : 3396 miles
The last couple of weeks has been another mixed bag of visiting cities, hill stations and beaches, although everywhere I 've travelled has been much more developed and set up for tourism, so no problems finding accommodation or having to sleep on random peoples floors.
Mysore was quite a nice city.Much less polluted than others I've been and centred round an impressive Palace.Felt like the place had a bit more of a purpose, rather than endless crowds of people just living in squalor.
Done a woodland Safari in an area called Bandipur.I stayed in a camp for a couple of days and had two Jeep safari tours.They were better than expected actually.We sore a couple of Leopards, hundreds of different monkeys and loads of other stuff that I don't even know the name of.We also 'heard' an elephant yelp, shout, scream what ever it is they do, but we couldn't see it.I'm sure it was just a speaker hidden in the bushes that the guides activate from remote control. I sore a wild elephant later the same day when I was cycling to a hill station called Ooty.The climb up to Ooty was the hardest riding I've had to do up to this stage.There was two different routes you could take up.One shorter than the other but much steeper.I was discussing which way to go with a local at the turn-off point.He said 'go the short way, it ain't that bad.You'll be fine'. It was one of the hardest things I'd ever had to do.It WAS that bad and I certainly WASN'T fine?Very nearly didn't make it.Took over 4hrs of spinning in my lowest gear.It was so steep for the majority that if you stopped pedalling for a single rotation you had apply the brakes with force to stop the bike rolling back.If I'd of seen that local again half way up I'd of thrown him off the mountain edge, but reaching the top and just rolling to the accommodation to stop for the night felt amazing.The air temp at the top is cool as well.I think it worked out about 1500metres of climbing to about 8 miles of riding.
Carried out a bit of maintenance on the bike whilst up in the hills.Should of just left it.I ended up creating problems.I switched my tyres because the back one had worn so much more than the front, but in doing this I split one of the inner tubes which was frustration.Done over 3k miles without puncture, then manufacture one myself.Changed the brake pads as well, which in hindsight didn't really need replacing.The next day when I come down the mountain the front pads were screeching the whole time whilst braking.Gave me headache.I refitted the original pads after that.
After leaving the hills I continued further south into Tamil Nadu.This state has a completely different feel to everywhere else I 'd been.It's got a tropical vibe.Forrest's of Palm trees and lots of fresh fruit being sold at road side stalls.Most of the food I've had is being served up on Banana leaves instead of steel trays which is a nice touch.Mind you most the food is too spicy now.I have to tell them to calm it down a bit.
Reached the most Southern point of India on March 12th.Kanyakumari.Kind of feel now that the challenge is over and it's case of just bouncing up the Coast to Mumbai from now onwards.I'm in holiday mode now.The Coastline of Kerala seems incredible.Pristine beaches and great seafood.Lots of backpackers and holiday makers.Looking forward to a relaxing time down here.
