Day 38: 28th October 2019
Happy new year to all. Got many messages from friends enquiring about the entry point I would be using to enter Mumbai after seeing my day 37 posts You all know me very well and I prefer a peaceful entry into the city and to my home. We all can meet over a celebratory drink next week or after and discuss and share my experience.
Thanks for responses and I was not serious about the welcome party and i was just making fun. My entry would be done smoothly and I am not going to tell the time and point of entry.(for that matter, I don’t know the time of entry at this point). Went to a local dhaba at 10 pm and respectfully told that food got over.
I really liked the place and disappointed with the response. Came back to the hotel and it was really busy. Seeing a guy without slippers made them feel skeptical and one of them asked for my room details. I give a damn to all these things but gave them the response with dignity. Had one of the best foods and didn’t even order the gulab jamun because of packed stomach.
Slept like a baby and the biological clock did the duty before the electronic clock. Relaxed morning (no posts or upload to be done) and got ready for the road. When I started this journey, 400+ km on a single day used to be long distance and I used to argue with Manish about stretching.
Now, I consider the same as doable and today would be one of those. Indore is going to be the destination for the day and just 476 kms from my Jhansi hotel (try this place and a very good one to use when you are in Jhansi). Not going to be a tough ride and I am mastering the art of doing long distance without any hassles.
The weather is good. Very cold in the morning and pleasant during the day and great for such a long ride. I thought the October heat would hit me during my return and It became hot only after I reached Indore in the evening. If the weather and roads are good, then keep riding and you will reach where you want to for sure.
Another thing like distance is Ghats. I used to be cautious (extreme levels) while handling ghats. Covered lots of ghats during the last 4 weeks and I am confident now and understood the tricks that is required for handling ghats. Today while riding between Guna and Indore, saw a sign board with “Ghar ends”.
Didn’t realize that I was doing a ghat section and that could because of the smooth roads and not many turns. Laughed after seeing the signboard. You feel sad when the vacation gets over or someone you really like leaving you. I got that emotional feeling when I had to take a turn to some other national highway and leave NH27.
I took it on day 36 on my way to Ayodhya and it was there till (close to 1,200 kms) today. Now that I am going southward, I had to exit NH27 and felt weird. Stopped for few minutes and said “bye” to NH27 (Silently) and I am sure to take it on another adventure ride. One of the longest in the country and could be the best as well.
Reached Indore by 3 but getting to the hotel in the city took more than an hour and that’s painful. Don’t know which part of the city is outskirts and checked with someone and selected this hotel. But this seems to be in the heart of the city and traffic kills you. Took some rest (extreme power nap again) and no plans for the rest of the day.
Don’t want to get out of the hotel and get into that maddening traffic for sure. Less than 600 km to be covered and don’t know whether I can do it tomorrow itself or need one more day. Not deciding anything now and would allow the moment to take care of it. Return journey syndrome has hit me and didn’t feel like clicking many pictures. I was having a cup of tea and was looking at my “Rath”.
I have been ignoring it and didn’t take any pictures of it so far (other than some group pictures). Thought of dedicating the rest of the ride to my bike and going to click some pictures of it. Sharing some and enjoy the “beauty” which has been part of my daily life for the past 38 days and helped me cover 13,000 km so far without giving any major trouble.
Respect and bowing down.
