Still Alive...

Synopsis so far...

Day 2: Shadnagar to Kurnool : I was excited to get out of Shadnagar early in the morning. It did not last long as it was uphill for most of the first 50 kilometers. Stopped for tea and gulped down 4 cups.Wish I had carried my big starbucks coffee mug as it was a pain to tell him to get me a cup after the other. Saw a school where the kids were sitting outside in the ground (on the floor - 30 degrees ) and writing exams. Spoke to the headmistress and the maths teacher and they let me talk to the kids. It was fun to interact as they answered that Kanyakumari is in Kashmir (Kashmir is 3000 kilometers north of Kanyakumari ;-) I encouraged them not to drop out of school and to study well. Of course, it turned out to be very chaotic as all the kids started to crowd around me and I had to run out of the place to save myself and my bicycle. Few meters down the road, I met a bunch of kids from the same school, who were much better behaved and spent a good 20 minutes showing them my gear and answered a lot of questions. One of them wanted to ride on my front bar. I had to convince that it was not safe. The sunset was the most amazing as the traffic got stuck on a bridge almost 2 kilometers long as the shepherds were taking the sheep home. Checout the picture Mercedes-Sheep-traffic jam to get an idea of what I mean. Took a new highway that was under construction, only to realise after a while that there were women using this section of the highway, to seperate grains from the dried plants. Had to walk thru the, and the dried plants. It was getting dark and so used my headlamps and cycled for almost 15 - 20 kilometers in the dark. An auto (tuk-tuk) guy asked me, if I need a ride. Resisted it twice. The best way to resist temptation was to give into it. So, I hopped on for the last 15 kilometes into Kurnool. Met Shekar who had studied until class 8, but had to give up studies and is now helping his brother study engineering. Checked into a decent hotel for the night with warm showers, air conditioned room etc. Even here, I managed to take everything into my room and slept well.

Day 3 : Kurnool - Nandyal : The school vacations had begun for Shankranthi - Pongal. So, visiting schools was out of the agenda for the next few days. My cousin picked me up from the hotel room, ate breakfast in his place and started off from the hotel around 10:30. HAd only 79 kilometers to cover for the day. My cousin had booked a guest house for me in Nandyal. The ride was a bit uphill and to top it, my GI track acted, having to use the natural toilets... Ate steamed rice and youghurt for dinner in an attempt to stabilise my stomach.

Day 4 : Nandyal - Cuddapah : Started off early, but the ride was sluggish. My thighs and knees were complaining of pain. Had to be in Cuddapah by 18:30 as one of my cousins was leaving town that evening. The highlight of the day was a farmer called Krishna Reddy, sensing that I was hungry and tired, offered me some food to eat. I had to tell him that I have a bad stomach and would not like to eat much. Stopped at another hotel as I was super hungry and the restaurant owner refused to take money from me as he felt that I was doing some good in my little way.

Day 5 : Rest Day in Cuddapah : Didn't touch my bicycle, instead walked around the town, where I was born. Visited my grand father's house (which was sold off to someone else in 1983). Visited the first school that I had studied in. The school is being managed by someone else and has been turned into a complete commercial establishment. Met two of my old schoolmates and managed to get a contact number for an old friend. Had a very heavy vegetarian meal with one of my old schoolmates.

Day 6: Cuddapah to Kodur : Nothing much to write back home except a lot of mango, banana and papaya plantations on the way. Stayed in another cheap motel and met one gentleman who has been working with street kids for the past 13 years. Had a very meaningful and interesting conversation as to how many of the non-governmental organisations function. Understood that there was a lot of curroption even in this sector.

Jump to Day 7: I did 559 kilometers in 5 and half days and stopped for lunch, when I got a call from my wife that she has been hospitalised. I ordered a taxi - thanks to Srikanth - my cousin who arranged the taxi, tied my cycle on the roof and rushed back to Bangalore. She got discharged from the hospital and then my son and I fell ill. Temperatures soared to 102.8 degrees Fahrenheit (almost 39 degrees Celsius) My family will leave for Germany on the 22nd and I will hit the road again. Will be going from Bangalore - Chennai starting on the 22nd. Until then I will be in Bangalore....