PRIDE'S INDIA 2018 MOTORCYCLE TOUR OF SOUTHERN INDIA

day one One day one From Airlink hotel to Nilambur Total distance 103 miles Total riding time 6:47 minutes  average moving speed 17.1 mph with a maximum speed of 47 mph Day two  to Massingudi  51.53 miles Total riding time 6.19 average speed 8.1 mph maximum speed 39.1 mph Day three Clover leaf from Massingudi Total distance Day four To mettuppalaiyam 59.40 miles

For some reason I can't send photos so will have to be a be a bit more descriptive, last night we had a typical Indian evening, I know we are in India and can't except anything different but that's not what I mean by typical, having returned the bikes and then emptied the van the greater amount of what remained in the tuck being beer which the resort kindly offered to put into their fridge to cool, we then set about reducing this beer mountain, well should I say we helped the two Johns, start to demolish this strain on the resort's electricity. Everything  was cushty until just before we sat for our meal when I was approached by the manager who was very apologetic and asked very nicely if we could refrain from drinking as there were, 1, Other guests 2. They didnt have a licence, 3 the local might want some, In atypical Indian manner of beating around every available bush rather than come to the point.  Of course, we agreed it was no great shakes for us and said w...

we reached our destination LE plage a hotel literally 10 meters from the Arabian Sea yesterday after a long and hot ride down from Thekady made longer by the big religious festival we had to thread our way through. This is the only part of the trip I find uncomfortable with its hot and especially when you leave having to dress a bit warmer. I normally wear two beer towels sew together to make a scarf in the hot weather I soak this in water and the evaporation takes care of the heating, leaving Thekady I used the scarf dry as a scarf just to keep warm within a short time we hit the heat one minute we were in the cool and the next i was sweating Anyway food is up so as John K would say time to get the nose bag on.

ok it's been sometime since we have had internet, yesterday we stayed in Valpari in the tea plantation, having ridden from Black thunder, firstly let's cover the two nights at Black thunder I think it could be judged a great success, even though we had to get up at silly o'clock to catch the steam train ,everyone thought it was worth it. Our ride from Black thunder lived up to its name as we hit a rain storm like nothing you have seen before, rain so heavy it was bouncing off the roads a good foot, and so intense 

If there was a day that I was worried about its today,we are planning to stay at an Indian water theme park, Black Thunder, not somewhere that I have previous experience of and it's the first day of the hills. Leaving Massingudi yuh faced with another near vertical climb over the space of about 5 miles you raise up several hundred feet without actually driving forward very far at all. Those attuned to it will start to smell the brakes of the lorries going the other way, which is the first warning the second being the sign st the bottom warning you  that your approaching hairpin 36 of 36 what follows is a switchblade of twist and turns similar to an Alton tower ride, although much safer, We stopped at bend 11 for a cup of tea at the Nilgiris tea stand. Where I had for the first time chocolate tea, all I can say is I have bought a packet against the advice of my wif who had told me not to buy any this year as we have three years worth to drink left at home, all I can say in my def...

We are currently staying at Casa deep wood Massingudi south of Mysore in what's know as the jungle region not really a jungle as in my books but maybe what dartmoor looks like in one of those once in twenty year heatwave. Yesterday we dove from Nilbursm into the start of the hills, In India the Nilgiris hills rise almost vertically from the plains nearer the coast. They rise almost vertically and make for interesting riding and glorious views. The ride went with very little problems about 50 miles and pleny ts of time to stop for lunch. We even managed morning and after tea stops Today Tuesday we went for a ride out, we were a little delayed as Liam was making friends, very good friends with the Masseur Charles, let say Charles rubbed places on Liam last seen by his mother, all in the name of a good full body massage, We left the retreat at about 1045 and rode through Two tiger reserves led by Juz a really talented Tour Guide and wild life photographer. Today we saw about a ...

Elephants eating tomatoes Andy and Kathy going for an overtake An alternative delivery of firewood A Ride-out for Lunch through the tiger reserve

Andys video 

we are at the end of our first night, Nilambur follow a 100 mile day. Things went well they couldn't have gone much better in fact, it was hot The band of brothers John John and Liam fell out of their riding clothes at the end of the day and all I can say it reminded me that I had to buy some dried prunes when I get home. It was hot and hectic and a bit testing, we were joined by Mike and Pam who have been sunning themselves here for a couple of months . Our ride starting on  a busy but tame 20 or so miles of dual carriageway, before we moved onto the 

For anybody that thinks India is hot I will willingly  swap places tonight, it's not quite freezing, but still bloody cold we are currently about  980 metres above sea level staying at a jungle retreat near Masinagudi.  Today was ....interesting Breakfast was great and the plan was to be on the bikes at 9:15 only nobody told the mechanics who rolled up at 9:20, and required to put new pads into Steve's bike, which they did in a relatively short time   Left out of hotel and very shortly right at a main road. The riding is starting to come together, one lead rider goes through the second forms a physical barrier across the roads while the remainder scuttle out the the proverbially rats leaving the sinking ship and we are across and through the junction in seconds. Sounds a bit harsh but actually it's accepted, the jackets and union jacks helps but hey ho it's India .  The highlight of the morning was seeing a tut tut  driver, imagine a Vespa scoo...

We thought, it being Saturday, our first night and we'll just a bonding exercise, it would be prudent to taste the local brew, so having had our excellent meal a buffet with chicken masala, fish masala ,coleslaw rice and all things nice to,take off to the nearest bar, now one of the endearing thinks about India is the quirks the thinks that ar just India with a capital I , here is an example the Airlink casltle is a modern good quality hotel and in previous year it had a thriving bar attached, but in its wisdom the government has decided to close down all bars situated on a main highway so from thriving bar to a fresh fruit salad bar in one swipe of the legistlational pen and us having to get to the nearest bar which was 400 metres to 6 Kim's depending who you listen to. It was in fact about 1.6 Kim's or a mile in old money too far to walk. So taxis and tut tut 50 pence for the tut tut for three of them and £2,00 for the luxury of a taxi. Beer, talk beer talk laugh beer b...

It's 4:30 am I have spent the last 20 minutes trying to correct the typos and mistakes on the previous post. In the dark with an I phone and all the other excuses it just not worth it so a bit like India itself take the bad with the good accept it and understand ITS INDIA I was going to finish yesterday's post but as above it simply is THD, too hard to do. Phones are now sorted and most have credit, again another Indian problem sorted Shafi had topped up the wrong numbers, not his mistake, just a knock on from the one I am trying to absolve myself from, but was able after a fair number of calls to get the top up put on to the correct numbers . Anyway  back to diary, landed van to hotel checked in slept, too long for some, swim bloody hot floor burnt feet, blooody cold water, shrunk dangly bits, checked bikes  ride out. RIDE OUT. what can I say  I shouldn't lie, but there again telling the truth always hurts someone , but then as I always told tell the truth. Sha...

I t would be great to say it was not my mistake and it would be even better to prove that is was not, now those that know me know that if i can prove it was not my fault then somehow your all going to know so maybe in a months time when I get back to England or sooner if I can. I will produce the evidence to support my crime for innocence or other wise realise it was my mistake and slink off quietly . So watch this space for proof of innocence or not. Even I am thinking what drivel as I am writing this , the problem is, or was I put the phone numbers out incorrectly I published the numbers as being 07894 when in fact they should be 07594, so if your at home wondering why you can't get hold of your love ones, someone, not me (yet to be proved) copied the wrong numbers, Now members of the jury, my defence is I copied the numbers from a spreadsheet straight into the document to be published I never actually wrote, do you write numbers? Perhaps there is a particular word for wr...

The day started with the normal excitement and apprehension that precedes any long trip. Bags had been packed weighed and sealed, tickets checked,rechecked and checked once more before being safely stored away only to be taken out and checked again. I normally have several files one for tickets out, one contains the e-tickets for both directions, visa and passports, a printed copy of each e-visa along with a copy of each passport, whilst I realise that having the passport copy is of little use it does  mean that I have all the necessary details for the online check in. I also create a copy which I call the "hotel information pack". This contains all paaports and visas , the neccesary information required by the hotel each night. I have found that this satisfies most hotels and results in not having to leave passports at reception each night and the inevitable risk of forgetting one in the morning. This hotel book then becomes a further spare copy. Sam gets a copy of the vis...