More Tea Vicar?

Today commenced early with a mass start from the hotel in Palani through the chaos and out into a major road. It was busy; it was hot. Well not for me; I see all from the window of my air conditioned cocoon. After not too long we turned on to minor roads and continued along at a pace on the flat. Jomy the driver (and my personal security detail and carer!) bought fresh watermelon from a roadside stall and this was well received at the first break. The ride continued for 27 miles, pretty much on the flat, before reaching the Wildlife Reserve where you are not permitted to cycle (tigers!). We rolled through very rural farming country seeing fields of onions, cabbages, bananas, rice paddies, coconut, all with a string of shacks and stalls along the way. There was even a short break at a crocodile sanctuary. The crocs were pretty unexcitingly immobile, but a couple of monkeys put on an impressive porn show right in front of us with at least 3 positions from the Kama Sutra. No shame!
We all drove up through the reserve with a lunch stop at a local restaurant where the food was so good we all ate too much. Once clear of the reserve, at 1000m, the bikes were unloaded and the highlight of the holiday began. The road climbed steadily for 16 miles with no break in the gradient through magnificent sandalwood plantations and, more dominantly, tea plantations with wonderful scenery. The temperature dropped with the gain in altitude and all was very pleasant. What a fabulous ride, it was so disappointing not to take part. There was a break part way at a tea stall where everyone had, unsurprisingly, a cup of tea. Pretty locally grown I'd wager! At the top of the climb we waited for the riders and watched a troop of Nilgiri Langurs, a shy species of  so-called Old World Monkey, which are endemic in this area of the Western Ghats.  They are classified as ‘vulnerable’ due to habitat destruction. Anne summited the climb at 2000m around 16:45 which left 7.1/2 miles of descent and flat before reaching the hotel. We were now risking running out of light (twilight at these latitudes is very brief and light fails very quickly) so Anne decided, having done the hero section, she'd join me in the bus for the descent. Wise decision as it was almost dark when we reached our destination. At the point Anne joined me in the bus there were already 5 other riders in the broom waggon for various medical and physical reasons, so no shame there. It was rush-rush to get showered and down to tea, then back to the room for laundry duties and bed. What I would have given to have cycled today with Anne. Hey-ho, such is life.

p.s. see what passes for RAC Recovery in these parts!