On reflection the first three days motorcycling have been quite challenging for some, maybe even terrifying for others. I have just really enjoyed being on the bike again as I have not ridden for months.
Today’s ride was quite tame by comparison. We covered many miles in quite a short time as the main part of the journey was dual carriageway. (Shafi our tour guide has informed me that in India they are called four lane highways). I would imagine that such a beast as a dual carriageway is quite a new thing here in the south of India, judging by the way the Indians use these arteries of communication anyway.
Pedestrians just stroll across without a care in the world. Motorcylists think nothing of travelling on the wrong carriageway. (Some of them travel on the left, so if they were on a normal they would be on the right side of the road so that is some consolation I suppose). Lorry drivers drive in the right lane leaving and empty left lane forcing us to overtake on the left. (Which we do all the time anyway so nothing new there.) In addition to these hazards you get the stray dogs who to give them their due do have a degree of road sense. The ones who did not are left rotting and bloated in the gutter.
We had a good late morning break at roadside 'chia' outlet who had a good selection of sweet and savory snacks. This time we did not have to use banana leaves for plates. The girls had to go alfresco with their comfort break.
The next part of the journey was quite exciting. We arrived at a town called Salem; relying on GPS we ended up in what must have been the most congested street in India. There were retail outlets on either side of the road and it was a hive of activity with deliveries of goods taking place all along the street whilst normal retail activity continued. We vied for position with Ox drawn heavily laden carts and human drawn carts of equal weight. The Oxen have painted horns by the way usually one red one green but I have seen other colours. We emerged the other end after what seemed like 30 minutes of start stop riding. I made a comment to Gordon that I would like to go around again, in one of his sensitive moments he thought I was being sarcastic but I meant it, it was the highlight of the day.
No damage no injuries today. The squashed lemons are working.
We arrived at the Hotel Grand Palace Yercaud at about 2pm. The welcome that the manager Mr Jose’ had arranged was second to none. They greeted us with trays of lichi juice which was very refreshing.
It really is a ‘grand hotel’. Sitting on the top of a mountain with panoramic views it must be the jewel in this lakeside resort. Some of us have booked full body massages in the hotel spa already. They would probably be unaffordable at home, but at £22.50 quite reasonable.
I was reflecting today on how I got to where I am with my motorcycle riding. All those years ago in 1974 I did my standard course with Bill Rowell. Then in 1976 I did my advanced course with Brian Doris and then tongue in cheek I applied to be a motorcycle instructor, Charlie Gray took me through the course with Russell Oaten. I passed and became a motorcycle instructor in 1976 on the regional driving school. Just imagine I got paid for thrashing around the countryside at high speed. I thank those people for the knowledge and skills they imparted to me.
Nigel
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