Thursday, January 05, 2006

Jan. 4 : near Vangurla, India

Wednesday, January 4 :: Beach hut 20km South of Vangurla, India :: 152km today / 1702km total

The map suggested that today's ride would be a repeat of yesterday's torturous hills, so I left Rajapur mentally prepared to have my ass kicked again all day. The early 3km climb out of Rajapur reinforced this notion, as again I was forced to dig deep in the early morning hours. But after a difficult 30km the road stayed high, following the tops of the Ghats, never descending too deeply, and in turn never forcing me to climb for longer than about a kilometre. It was very, very hot, but I ignored the heat, thankful that the massive climbing seemed to be over.

The terrain on top of the Ghats was rolling, much like farmland Southern Ontario that I've spent many years cycling, terrain that I know how to ride quickly and efficiently. Thundering through the bottoms of descents, hammering the lower slopes of shorter climbs to build enough momentum to roll over the crests, often without having to stand and dance on the pedals... this was more like it! Now I could use the tailwind that blows down the Western side of India at this time of year; crouching down on the aerobars, flying. By 1 p.m. I blew past the 100km that I had previously set as a goal for the day, and for the first time since leaving Bombay I felt IN CONTROL of my destiny... the bike was working, I was flying, I could pick and choose where I would sleep that night. Things were beginning to look up.

I dropped out of the Ghats and met the Arabian sea at Vengurla, the most Southerly town of any size in Maharastra State. There was no accomodation there, but I was not worried since the road stayed coastal... coastal means beaches and accommodation. 20km along I stopped at a relatively deserted cluster of beach huts... that night I slept in a hut that was literally beachfront. Even though I was quite tired I hiked to the summit of the neighbouring volcanic headland for a spectacular view of the setting Sun over the Arabian Sea.

4 Comments:

Blogger oakleyses said...

mont blanc pens, vans outlet, marc jacobs outlet, chi flat iron, valentino shoes, mac cosmetics, giuseppe zanotti, canada goose outlet, ugg outlet, insanity workout, north face outlet, asics shoes, jimmy choo shoes, canada goose outlet, north face jackets, ferragamo shoes, herve leger, reebok shoes, bottega veneta, abercrombie and fitch, celine handbags, canada goose, beats headphones, ugg boots, ugg soldes, soccer shoes, nfl jerseys, canada goose outlet, mcm handbags, p90x workout, soccer jerseys, roshe run, new balance outlet, rolex watches, instyler ionic styler, uggs on sale, babyliss pro, uggs outlet, longchamp, lululemon outlet, uggs outlet, wedding dresses, hollister, birkin bag, ghd, ugg, ugg outlet

5:21 PM  
Blogger oakleyses said...

nike roshe, jordan pas cher, christian louboutin outlet, replica watches, louis vuitton outlet, longchamp outlet, tiffany jewelry, sac longchamp pas cher, kate spade outlet, louis vuitton, louis vuitton outlet, polo ralph lauren, nike outlet, chanel handbags, polo outlet, air max, polo ralph lauren outlet online, prada handbags, louis vuitton, jordan shoes, longchamp outlet, tory burch outlet, oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, prada outlet, replica watches, oakley sunglasses wholesale, nike free run, ray ban sunglasses, ugg boots, tiffany and co, uggs on sale, christian louboutin uk, louboutin pas cher, nike free, nike air max, burberry pas cher, gucci handbags, louis vuitton outlet, longchamp outlet, christian louboutin, nike air max, cheap oakley sunglasses, ugg boots, oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, michael kors pas cher, christian louboutin shoes

5:25 PM  
Blogger oakleyses said...

lululemon, nfl jerseys, instyler, oakley, p90x workout, bottega veneta, ferragamo shoes, iphone 6 cases, nike trainers uk, mac cosmetics, giuseppe zanotti outlet, s6 case, hollister, nike air max, ralph lauren, timberland boots, iphone 6 plus cases, reebok outlet, iphone 6s plus cases, ipad cases, beats by dre, insanity workout, soccer jerseys, louboutin, nike roshe run, hermes belt, herve leger, chi flat iron, celine handbags, valentino shoes, babyliss, vans outlet, iphone cases, longchamp uk, new balance shoes, iphone 6s cases, abercrombie and fitch, iphone 5s cases, mont blanc pens, ghd hair, soccer shoes, baseball bats, wedding dresses, north face outlet, hollister clothing, nike huaraches, north face outlet, asics running shoes, mcm handbags, jimmy choo outlet

5:31 PM  
Blogger oakleyses said...

swarovski crystal, ugg pas cher, karen millen uk, converse, pandora charms, canada goose outlet, canada goose outlet, barbour uk, nike air max, wedding dresses, converse outlet, ray ban, vans, juicy couture outlet, swarovski, canada goose uk, barbour, lancel, montre pas cher, louis vuitton, pandora jewelry, moncler, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, moncler, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, toms shoes, moncler, louis vuitton, louis vuitton, supra shoes, gucci, canada goose outlet, louis vuitton, thomas sabo, hollister, pandora uk, louis vuitton, replica watches, hollister, doudoune moncler, canada goose jackets, canada goose, moncler, pandora jewelry, ugg, ugg uk, coach outlet, canada goose, juicy couture outlet, links of london

5:37 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home