Day 16 Mcleodganj to Chandigarth
(250kms)
Set off about 6.30 am and
it’s a great morning with it being nice and cool. I head south down the
mountain and the road is good so it’s a great ride. The route is not well
signed so I miss a crucial turn and have to double back about 10kms. The names
of the villages are not signed either so I really don’t know where I am but
just have to try and relax. Further on in the Punjab, village signing is done
but not here. After 2 hours I stop at what seems to be a more westernized
dhabba, because the basics ones just don’t do toast and tea. Even so I end up
with a toasted butter sandwich and honey or jam is not available. Still, it’s
food.
The road winds around the
hills and climbs occasionally through cuts in the hills and the ride is great.
The last couple of days have been the best, visually and road condition wise
and I’d like to be visiting more of the hill towns. I cancelled Shimla and
Mussoorie because I realized that I just wouldn’t have the time to get to them.
There are still the
drivers who run up behind you, honking madly , and there’s one TFI in a Tata
shoebox which looks as if it would have all the dynamic stability of two Vespas
tied together, who just about takes us both out as he passes and comes head on
with a truck. Some how gets past, brake lights flashing at every corner (the
sign of a truly great driver) and then I pass him minutes later when he pulls
up at a shop. So what was that all about ? – getting there before the shop went
into liquidation ? .
I beginning to think that
there’s an inverse relationship between the size of these guys cars and how
much of Michael Schumacher they think they have in their genes.
The boys on bikes, hot
little 150 CBRs and things like this, ride as if they’re practising for the
Moto GP and their level of competence seems higher but again they are scary
head on.
My overnight stop is
Chandigarth ( not a good choice ) and the traffic into it is pretty bad. I
should have printed off a large scale google map and finding the hotel in
sector 22 (this is how the city is cut up) is beyond me. I ask a Sikh
(generally likely to speak English) the way and ask him to tell a tuk tuk
driver to lead the way and I will follow. Next thing he climbs into the t t and
when we get to the hotel he has paid the driver, refusing the offer of tea. I’m
blown away by the kindness of so many people and I have his e mail address so if he comes to Australia………….
The hotel is a bit of a dump and overpriced but it will have to do. I go
out on to the street past all the electronic and phone shops and the latter are
packed. Phones are a must fashion accessory and even the some of the bicycle
rickshaw guys have them,despite the fact that in India they are a very
expensive bit of kit
Should have used the maps installed in the phone to help you locate yourself!!
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