November 2, 2024
Final push towards Guwahati..
Friends often ask if I’m scared of doing what I do. The truth is, every morning I feel a bit unsure. Most days, I only have a rough idea of where I’ll be by night, and I never know what life is going to teach me. So far, it’s always been about following my heart, being kind, and staying true to myself.
The past few days have been great examples of this. Yesterday, I was prepared to sleep by a temple or by the train/police station, but the caretakers of this Gurudwara "opened" their hearts and doors to me. I felt safe, lucky, and blessed, realizing once again that following my heart—even when it feels uncertain—leads to incredible experiences.
This morning, I only had about 50 km to ride, so I started late after attending kirtan at the Gurudwara. Before seeing me off, they served me rotis and sabzis for breakfast and even felicitated me before I left.
As I hit the road, my heart kept telling me to donate money to the temple or to the family so their child could get his bicycle fixed. I hesitated and thought I’d do it online later, even though I was just a few minutes away. That turned out to be harder than I imagined but I’m glad I eventually was able to send some money to the family.
I rode through the heat, past familiar terrain I had crossed just a month ago. When I reached the hills separating me from Guwahati, I knew I was getting closer to a place I knew well. I was returning to Guwahati to attend my Warmshower host’s daughter’s first birthday. Though I met him only a month ago, he already felt like family—and I’d ridden back to celebrate with them.
This is why I ride. When I first arrived in the Northeast, I didn’t know anyone. Now, it’s hard to leave one place for the next.
Today's ride: 50 km (31 miles)
Total: 1,094 km (679 miles)
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