November 1, 2024
MotaaCycle Diaries - Sat Sree Akaal on Diwali.
I woke up early but still managed to hit the road only at 7:45 AM—much later than I’d hoped—but having gone to bed only at midnight, I couldn’t complain.
Today's ride was on a familiar flat route, lined by paddy fields. Due to the sweltering heat, I rode in short bursts and took breaks whenever my body needed.
During one such stop outside someone’s front yard, the folks there invited me for breakfast and tea.
And, then they sent me off after felicitating me with a traditional shawl, which became a constant as I traveled more in Assam.
One of them even joined me for a stretch of the ride, taking me to a nearby tourist attraction via the scenic backroads.
I spent about two hours on this detour but resumed riding as soon as possible.
The heat became overwhelming, so I took frequent breaks. At one stop, a tender coconut vendor kindly treated me to one coconut, and then I bought three more from him.
Because it was the day of Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, many houses were lit up and kids were lighting oil lamps and firecrackers.
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Some folks suggested I camp at an ancient temple for the night, but when I got there, the villagers warned me about elephants visiting the nearby lake, so I decided to move on.
I stopped at another temple, hoping to spend the night, but wasn’t allowed to stay. As luck would have it, a few houses down the road, I met a Sikh man standing outside while a little girl played with firecrackers.
He welcomed me into the compound, which turned out to be a Gurudwara—a Sikh temple—and offered me a safe place to spend the night.
Today's ride: 113 km (70 miles)
Total: 1,044 km (648 miles)
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