December 16, 2024
MotaaCycle taking me back towards Assam
Nongstoin to Shangoi Resort, Mairang:
After attending the annual day function at Nongstoin's Warmshowers School, I did some work in the school's yard while planning my next route back to Guwahati.
December is winter in Meghalaya, and the winters here are quite different. I love winters and had spent about 10 years enjoying Boston's snowy seasons, but the cold in Nongstoin is a different breed altogether. I was already struggling to adjust to the chill while prepping myself for a two-day ride to Guwahati.
Despite all that, today’s ride was beautiful. The climb out of Nongstoin was scenic, and local kids stopped me for pictures with MotaaCycle.
Most of today's route was highway so not much to speak of except when I passed the Dzuku Valley..
I paused repeatedly for chai so I could warm myself but also recharge my Garmin Instinct—until I finally gave up on it.
Along the highway, I saw a lot of villagers selling some kind of white stuff(?). Despite us not having a common language, I learned that it's some kind of local, edible root. So, I bought some to munch on.
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The afternoon ride was mesmerizing. Meghalaya never ceases to surprise me. The route passed through surreal pine forests, and I even spotted a roadside storage area with a truckload of pine cones. Unfortunately, I couldn’t figure out what they were for, as no one could understand my language/questions.
Towards the evening, I stumbled upon a house with an orange orchard and bought 20 oranges. This is why I love riding MotaaCycle—it’s all about these unexpected moments. After hearing my story, they gifted me a few more oranges and told me to visit in the middle of winter for even sweeter ones. Honestly, I’m not sure how much sweeter they can get—they were already incredibly sweet.
As the evening chill set in, I stopped for more chai and Pusaw (Khasi cake) to lift my spirits.
Eventually, I hit the downhill stretch, hoping to reach the hotel in Mairang where I planned to spend the night. By then, it was getting dark, and I was disappointed not to fully enjoy the ride through the mountains and forest.
I was already planning a return trip along this route in reverse. It’d be very challenging, but I know it’ll be breathtakingly beautiful.
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Today's ride: 72 km (45 miles)
Total: 1,902 km (1,181 miles)
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