September 24, 2024
When god opens a door..
I woke up early, packed my bike, and hit the road by 7 a.m., fueled by some hot chai from my “friends.”
The heat cranked up fast. I found myself stopping at car-washing stations, soaking myself only to dry off in minutes, repeating the process over and over. Eventually, I upgraded to gas station washrooms for water refills and shade, dousing myself in their washrooms.
Gas stations have been my lifesaver. I avoid bottled water (thanks to the whole “greenwashing” thing) and instead rely on their filtered, ice-cold water—no chlorine pills needed. My microbiologist dad would probably "disown" me, given our boiled-water-only rule at home, but luckily, my "westernized" gut has handled it like a champ.
Despite the heat, today’s ride was a blast as I rode past tea gardens and starting seeing mountains.
And, met more “strangers” curious about my journey, offering fruit, water, and even shelter. One goodbye was tough when that family told me I reminded them of a loved one they had recently lost.
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As night fell, I was eager to use my new BioLite Headlamp 325. To my dismay, it died within 15 minutes, fully charged. My backup Blackburn clip-on wasn’t much help either, so I resorted to my final option: a Facebook buy-nothing bike headlamp/horn combo. It got me to my destination, but not before I hit a pothole and nearly thought I broke my knuckles. (Side note: I’m night-blind, which is why I carry so many headlamps.)
I arrived safely at 8:30 p.m., taught my Kannada class online sitting outside a closed storefront, then began searching for a place to rest. Motels were too pricey for a few hours of sleep. At 10 p.m., I walked to a nearby police station, and they directed me to a temple next door.
Knowing I was "unclean" from the road, I asked the priest if I could sleep on the steps outside. To my surprise, he insisted I stay inside, saying, “Temples are for the tired and those in need.” He even offered me fruit and food. Truly, God opens doors..
Today's ride: 88 km (55 miles)
Total: 403 km (250 miles)
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