January 9, 2025 to January 11, 2025
Mumbai
I left a cold and frosty Taunton on a Wednesday morning and about 14 hours later I arrived in Mumbai. Indian time was 8.30am but my internal clock was telling me it was around 2am.
Having little wooden wheels on the box made it easy to move between trains and once at Heathrow there were trolleys.
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All went smoothly but by the time the bike reached Mumbai the box was a little torn. Thankfully all inside was OK and a 40p reel of tape got it repaired later in the day.
I had asked Hotel Broadway where I am staying to organise a taxi and it was a Toyota estate so the holed bike box fitted inside rather than on the roof and nothing fell out.
The taxi ride took about an hour to reach near Fort where I am staying and for the first time I went on the new coastal motorway which is mainly built of ugly elevated concrete structures but also has a 3km tunnel under the sea. More and more elevated sections are being built and the photo is from an offshore section looking inland to shacks and skyscrapers.
I rode the bike briefly to check it out and cycling across 10 miles of Mumbai traffic at 2pm on Saturday does not appeal.
I ate this evening at a Muslim restaurant nearby. I used it when I was here last year and the faces are familiar. The meal in my photo with tea was £3.50.
Prices here are crazy high or crazy low. I needed another long sleeved cotton shirt to ride in and got shown to a place where they would make one for me, Rs5000 (£50). I found a good quality ready made one for £6.
Contrasts everywhere. Modern concrete and Victorian Gothic buildings.
10th January
I took a local train to Dadar station to try to book the bike on the train to Hubblli but they want me to do that tomorrow. At least I discovered that I can take the bike with me on the local train - for Rs200 (£2.00). My ticket is Rs10. (£0.10) so I can understand why no one commutes with a cycle.. So tomorrow’s plan is a short ride from where I am staying to Churchgate Station, local train to Dadar, then get the Express to Hubblli. I may try to upgrade to First Class as I am not sure if I can cope with an Indian toilet on a moving train, and it is a 15 hour journey.
11th January
The ride to Churchgate Station with all luggage on the bike was slow in the traffic but OK, and no problems taking the bike in the luggage van to Dadar.
The bike is now ‘packed up’ ready for the train to Hubblli. I had brought some lengths of an old woollen blanket to pad it ln the flight and I wrapped those around the handlebars and saddle before the professional wrapper at the station added a covering of old plastic sscking.
I now have s luggage chit for the bike to go to Hubblli and the cost was Rs91 (£0.90)which seems too cheap for a 15 hour journey.
Today's ride: 3 miles (5 km)
Total: 3 miles (5 km)
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2 weeks ago
Cheers
Andy
4 days ago