A Little Up, & Too Much Down

We all mustered at 08:45 to start off today's ride. I did some maintenance on Anne's bike ... most important job was to source a simple paper clip to make a more substantial pin to hold in Anne's replacement brake block. India doesn't appear to do paper clips so this search was an epic fail. Still, the bent staple remained in place and was still securing the rubber.  Today's ride was a beauty.  Described as undulating, it started with a descent requiring an extra layer to keep warm, and progress was faster on the bikes than in the minibus (much to the lead driver's annoyance as folk were missing the junctions and needed redirecting). The descent was via a hairpinned busy road so it was a relief to lose that and regain quieter country roads despite the reduced surface quality. The route again took us through beautiful tea plantations with pleasant, if warming, temperatures.  This was the last day in the Western Ghats and the final refreshment stop was at a derelict half-built building on a hairpin that revealed amazing vertiginous views of the road ahead.  Handrails, barriers?  Come on, this is India!  All that remained from this point was a plummeting descent to the hotel at Kumarakom (60km short of Kochi). The road was busier and the surface was diabolical so, having done the bulk of the ride, Anne wisely decided to load the bike and keep me company in the bus.  Those who did ride the last bit did not enjoy it, ending up with numb hands and shaken arms.  Momentum could not be maintained because of the plethora of massive potholes and rubbled sections of road.  The hotel resort (Lakesong) was truly beautiful.  Immaculate grounds, good rooms, fine food and helpful staff.  It was just such a long hike on crutches from the room to the restaurant!  At least the wifi was reliable so I could restart dialogue with the insurance folk.  To cut a long and frustrating story short, I was told a taxi would meet us tomorrow at 11am and take me to the nearest hospital.  I was unconvinced ... let's wait and see.  Thankfully we have 2 days at this beautiful hotel.

Anne rode 36.6 miles.