DAY THIRTY SEVEN.. 41.51 miles (66.8 km)
Last night women were decorating the threshold of their homes using the notorious cowpats to smear an even surface and then a white rice paint to make intricate patterns. This morning each threshold looks beautiful with small marigolds and holy Tulsi added to the centre of each pattern, all held in position by more of the handy cow dung.
We were re-routed today by one of the lads at the eco-community venture. Our new route was all along horrid concrete roads which consist of very large concrete slabs. As you move from one slab to another there is a horrid jolt, and over miles this is not a comfortable experience!
The National Highway, which we eventually reached was busy and unpleasant in a different way. It got busier and more crazy as we approached Puri. But we finally made it to the Arabian sea in the Bay of Bengal. We felt great putting our feet in the ocean and taking selfies!! We had made it.
Not so great when we noticed that the fishermen are using the beach as their toilet, and have no qualms at all about dropping their trousers to take a dump in broad daylight with onlookers.
