Day 4 to 6

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Day 2 and 3 continued.

Hi all, so far I have rode ~ 900 kms and I am in Mandu, Madhyapradesh. Post crossing Osmanabad on Day 3 I met Mr Ritesh and his family who happened to come to the same dhaba where I was having my lunch. He is basically from Dhule and currently working in Hyderabad. He has two kids (twins) who have acted in a bunch of telivision ads (peter England, Good day biscuits..etc) and he was sharing those videos from his cell phone. He also asked me to give a call when I reach dhulia and also asked me to stay in his place. Post shooting few snaps of the kids I moved on to Gevrai.

Day 4

The entire scenario changed from day 4. I had to ride 85 km to reach Aurangabad, I am not sure if it was because of the good roads, I reached Aurangabad in just 4 hrs (20km / hr) and was feeling really fresh. Aurangabad is a very modern city like Bangalore. I reached Bai mahal (also called mini Taj mahal) by 12.30 and started my journey towards Ellora. I had my lunch (chicken Bhuna and paratha) in a restaurant called Rasoi Ghar and the taste was as usually good. On my way to Ellora, near Daulatabad I got to know that Ellora caves as closed on Tuesdays, which means I need to stay another day,. Without wasting time I visited Daulatabad fort and then realized it was a great decision. By 3.30 I was out of the fort and started towards Ellora and planned to see the caves the next day morning at 6. I stayed in Vrindhavan resorts and a young chap Armit Jain owns it and he offered me a room for just 180 Rs which sounded dead cheap. I spent the whole evening walking across the same rode (hardly 300 mts) more than 20 times and would have drank at least 10 tea. I had jeera rice for dinner and hit the bed at 10. Total distance for the day was close to 120..

Day 5

I wokeup at 5.30 and the temprature outside would have been close to 5C. I was the first to enter the caves, and the entry fee is Rs 10. There are totally 34 caves and we need close to 15 days to visit all the 34 caves and the distance between each cave is close to 3 km. I hired a auto rickshaw for 60 Rs ( as I had just 2 hrs) and he also acted like my guide and took me to the 7 most important caves. These excavations show they are as old as 600 or 800 AD. Its worth visiting and exploring the place.

In was out by 8.30 and started towards Dhulia post breakfast (onion Dosa). Most part of the ride was a downhill, but very narrow. With few breaks in between I managed to reach Dhulia by 5. I found a lodge nearby and called up Ritesh and he guided me to his house which was hardly 5 kms. He stays in a joint family and we chatted for an hour post introduction to all his family members. I told them bye and had my dinner by 9 and was fast asleep by 10.

Day 6.

Today my destination was Julwania. I knew today would be real cycling as I had to climb an uphill of over 1000 meters and 20 kms long. The ride was very smooth till lunch and the uphill started post lunch. I could see trucks finding it hard to move even and inch further but I over took them at a speed of 18 and they were all smiling looking at me. This show off was just for 3 kms and I slowly started to loose my energy and struggle to breath. I could feel the latic acid rush on my knees and I kept on pushing myself and when I had 8 more kms I shifted to granny’s gear. The later part was a reward for my climb, a 20 km downhill.

I have been observing a white power patches all over my wind jacket from day 1 and I thought it was dust. On day 6 I realized it was the dried salt that I have been loosing from my body as sweat. I immideatly opened a pactek of electrol and had it with water. I reached julwania by 6 and found a pathetic lodge as usual and was asleep by 10.