DAY EIGHT… 36.23 miles (58.30 km)
Woke to the deeply depressing news that Trump is probably set to win the USA elections. What a nightmare.
Ride today was through lovely leopard country, gently undulating jungle scrub and trees. Interestingly we did not attract the usual attention and questions…. Where are you from, where are you going … what country are you from? Followed by … just one photo. It was more relaxing.
However, we were trailed for many miles by a lone motorcyclist, Suzy feeling ‘hunted’. He stopped when we stopped, and just stared at us. When I stared back at him, he came over, and whispered to Tim that he would like to show us a temple. This did not seem like a good idea at all. His strange and sinister look made me think he only had bad intentions. We set off again quickly, and he followed again, but eventually gave up.
Arrived in Dabra, Anna feeling unwell and in urgent need of a toilet. I managed to procure one nearby, but it was locked with a padlock and no one could find the key. Obviously not a heavily used toilet. Anyhow the padlock proved no obstruction, a man showed up with a brick, smashed the lock, and hey presto, toilet was available.
We had decided that tomorrow’s ride was far too long so we would ride in a Bolero pick-up truck with our bikes 30 km to a nearby town. This was far from comfortable. Anna and Tim got into the cab, leaving me and Suzy in the back with the bikes. My bones have reorganised themselves in ways that I will never fully understand.
Arrived at the best hotel the town had to offer. Anna was promptly very sick. Not a good start. Tim and I got a ‘Super deluxe room’ which came with a resident mouse, which Tim managed to persuade to leave. I’ve presented the hotel owner with my box of sweets (from the Queen in Gwalior). I’m glad not to lug them around anymore, though they are rather nice. It was a good move as he has had to be employed in some additional services like arranging a taxi transfer for Anna and her bike tomorrow.
